Wilson’s Perfection Silences Brink’s Comeback as Aces Crush Sparks 89-74

Kelsey Plum, Azurã Stevens, A'ja Wilson and Rickea Jackson face off at Crypto.com arena on Tuesday July 20th - Photo by Jackie Rae

Cameron Brink made her season debut in Los Angeles against the Las Vegas Aces and immediately made an impact. She came up big with a block and an assist in her first two minutes of play.

Her appearance served as a morale boost for the team, but nothing more. Instead, A'ja Wilson set the tone for the Aces early, going 10-for-10 to start the game and proving that Las Vegas has plenty to fight for as they try to maintain their playoff positioning.

In the first quarter, Wilson put up 17 of the team's 23 points, overwhelming the Sparks' defense. Los Angeles would close out the quarter trailing by 13 points—a deficit they would never recover from.

Wilson finished the night with 27 points, three steals, and three blocks, leading the Aces to a commanding 89-74 victory over the Sparks.

The loss drops the Sparks to 11-15, giving them an uphill climb if they want to secure the eighth and final playoff spot. The team hasn't reached the postseason since 2020, making each remaining game crucial.

Despite the loss, Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts remains optimistic that with Brink's return, the team now has a complete roster and will hit their stride in August.

"We have to keep our foot on the gas and keep improving," Roberts explained. She said she doesn't think it is a coincidence the team is 6-3 since Rae Burrell came back.

The Sparks did have some bright spots in the loss. Burrell not only scored a season-high 10 points, but she was also plus-five off the bench and says she finally feels completely healthy after her extended absence.

"I feel like the team did a good job of just preparing me to come back," Burrell explained. "I feel like I didn't have much of a time where I felt like 'oh I'm out of breath.'"

Still, Brink proved she is ready to face the rest of the season with the confidence of her team and coach. "I thought she did a good job," coach Roberts said. "She was more comfortable out there than I anticipated her to be."

Offensively, the Sparks struggled throughout the night, shooting just 3-of-20 from three-point range and 20-of-57 from inside the arc. The poor shooting performance made it difficult to keep pace with Wilson's dominant scoring.

Late in the fourth quarter, LA seemed to find a spark, going on a six-point run to cut into the deficit. But Wilson's two-way excellence, combined with Chelsea Gray's veteran playmaking and Jackie Young's triple-double, put the game out of reach midway through the final frame.

The Sparks will look to bounce back when they travel to Seattle to face the Storm on Friday before returning to Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday to host the Indiana Fever. With time running short, the team will need to string together several wins if they hope to end their four-year playoff drought.

The LA Sparks head to Seattle to face the Storm on Friday, and return to Crypto Arena on Tuesday to face the Indiana Fever. The team will have to find a way to string several more wins together if they want to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.