A'ja Wilson Sets WNBA Scoring Record with 45-Point Game

On May 15, 2024, A'ja Wilson, a 29-year-old center/power forward for the Las Vegas Aces, scored 45 points in a 101-94 victory over the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Wilson converted all 13 of her free-throw attempts and shot 80 percent from the field. She recorded six of seven field-goal attempts in the first half, including a perfect five-for-five in the opening quarter. Her 45 points accounted for 44.5 % of the Aces’ total points, and the perfect free-throw shooting contributed to a 100 % free-throw rate. The win marked the Aces’ third victory.

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Wilson’s 45-point game was her fifth career 40-point effort, the most in WNBA history. She is also the only player to achieve a 45-point performance while shooting at least 80 percent from the field. At 6’4”, Wilson plays the center/power forward position. Prior to joining the Aces, she led University of South Carolina Gamecocks to the 2017 NCAA women’s basketball championship and finished as program’s all-time leading scorer. In April 2024, she signed a five-million-dollar Supermax contract with the Aces, largest single-player deal in league history.

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The May 15 contest produced the following key metrics: 45 points, 13 of 13 free throws, 80 percent field-goal shooting (13 of 16 attempts), and a 6-of-7 field-goal conversion rate in the first half. Wilson’s 45 points represented 44.5 % of the team’s 101 points, underscoring her scoring dominance. The 13 free throws contributed to a perfect free-throw percentage, a combination with a high scoring total. The Connecticut Sun recorded 94 points. The 45-point output remains the highest single-game total for a player with at least 80 percent shooting efficiency in WNBA history.

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Wilson’s performance establishes a new benchmark for individual scoring efficiency in the WNBA and underscores the league’s increasing competitive standards. Coverage of the game noted a period of heightened media attention on women’s basketball, with commentators observing growing interest and excitement in the sport. The record-setting $5 million Supermax contract set a new financial benchmark for the league and may influence future contract negotiations for elite athletes. The achievement contributes to visibility for women’s professional basketball.

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The Aces’ schedule lists a May 17, 2024 matchup against the Atlanta Dream at State Farm Arena, featuring Angel Reese, a leading scorer for the Dream. The close 85-84 result of that game, described as a “Battle of the Bigs,” offers data on Wilson’s performance against competition. Continued monitoring of Wilson’s scoring output will determine whether she can surpass her own record or set new league milestones during the 2024 season.

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No conflicting reports or discrepancies were identified in the available coverage of the May 15 game.

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