August 11, 2026 - 9:12 pm

Home sweet home.

The Las Vegas Aces returned to Michelob Ultra Arena after going 2-3 during a season-long five-game road trip and rediscovered their footing, defeating the Washington Mystics 86-76 on Tuesday night.

A’ja Wilson posted a game-high 26 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks, for her 17th double-double of the season leading the Aces to their third consecutive home win. Las Vegas snapped Washington’s seven-game winning streak and ended its own two-game losing streak.

Guard Jackie Young finished with 25 points and eight assists, including nine consecutive points in the first quarter that erased an 11-5 Mystics lead.

“When (Wilson and Young) get it going, they’re really exciting players to watch, and both are so versatile,” said Aces coach Becky Hammon. “Jackie with her playmaking and her ability to shoot the ball, but also involve everybody, and then A’ja brings a lot of attention, so her presence a lot of times just gets people up.

“They both pose different problems, and I think they are a problem when they’re in action together, so you just have to pick your poison.”

Young’s hot streak sparked a 17-8 run to close the opening quarter and helped her become the 27th player in WNBA history to reach 4,000 points and 1,000 assists. Young accomplished the feat in 275 career games, making her the seventh-fastest player in league history to reach the milestone and surpassing Sheryl Swoopes, who reached it in 312 games.

The victory gave Las Vegas a measure of revenge after Washington escaped with a 100-99 win on July 22, when Shakira Austin converted a late and-1 before Chelsea Gray’s potential game-winning shot came up short at the buzzer.

Las Vegas is now a game behind the second-place Golden State Valkyries with 11 games remaining as the Aces continue their push toward an eighth consecutive postseason berth.

After a tightly contested three quarters, the Aces created separation in the fourth quarter, using their defense to turn a three-point game into a 13-point lead thanks to their defense.

The Aces closed the game by limiting open looks from 3-point range and forcing 16 turnovers. The Mystics finished 5 of 18 from beyond the arc and were held under 20 points in three of the four quarters.

“We started playing out of our defense,” said Wilson, who is just three blocks away from 600 for her career. “We started to get things going on that side of the basketball and when you’re playing a team like Washington you have got to get as many stops as you can. You don’t want to live in half-court.

“Once we get the ball running and gunning, it helps us flow into our offense.”

The Aces will continue their five-game homestand Thursday when they face the Mystics again at Michelob Ultra Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.