Aces close in on Golden State as Tempo battle injury crisis
A’ja Wilson’s near triple-double propelled the Las Vegas Aces past a depleted Toronto Tempo, narrowing the gap to second place in the league.
The Las Vegas Aces moved within a half-game of second-place Golden State in the WNBA standings after defeating the Toronto Tempo 88-78 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The victory improved the Aces’ record to 26-13, a significant step in their pursuit of a higher seeding as the regular season progresses.
A’ja Wilson was the driving force for Las Vegas, recording 27 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Jackie Young provided additional firepower with 21 points, helping the Aces maintain control throughout the contest. The team’s depth allowed them to withstand a late-game push from Toronto, securing the win in front of a crowd of 15,877.
For the Tempo, the loss marked the end of a brief resurgence. The expansion club had snapped a 12-game losing streak with an 82-79 victory over the Portland Fire on Friday, but they fell to 11-26 with this defeat. The game was played in Vancouver, the Tempo’s second consecutive contest at Rogers Arena, as they navigate the challenges of being a new franchise in the league.
The Tempo’s roster was significantly impacted by injuries, with several key players sidelined. Brittney Sykes and Aneesah Morrow, both injured during the previous win over Portland, were confirmed to miss the remainder of the 2026 season. All-Star Marina Mabrey, Nyara Sabally, and Maria Conde also did not play due to adductor and calf issues, respectively.
Kia Nurse led the Tempo’s scoring efforts with 19 points, while Kiki Rice added 14 and Temi Fagbenle contributed 13. Toronto showed resilience in the second half, closing the first half on a 6-0 run to make the score 43-39. Isabelle Harrison briefly reduced the deficit to two points early in the third quarter, but the Aces reasserted their lead and did not look back.
Head coach Sandy Brondello indicated that Mabrey will be evaluated in a few weeks, offering some hope for her return. The Aces will host Toronto again on Friday, while the Tempo will travel to Seattle on Wednesday, continuing their road through the final stretch of the season.
