A’ja Wilson powered Las Vegas to a 107-99 victory over Chicago. Photo by Jacob Nunez/Sportspage Magazine

You don’t tug on Superman’s cape. You don’t spit into the wind. And you don’t run with Las Vegas.

Transition defense was the difference in the Aces’ 107-99 victory over Chicago on Sunday at the United Center, site of the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game.

If you’re going to run with the Aces, you’d better shoot lights out. And while Chicago did shoot 46.2 percent and scored 90-plus points for the sixth time in its last seven games, averaging 97.1 points per game during that stretch, the Sky couldn’t keep pace with an uber efficient veteran Las Vegas squad that set a team record for points scored in a game this season.

Las Vegas Head Coach Becky Hammon lamented the fact that neither team played defense. But the Aces did just enough in transition to get the job done. In doing so, they improved to 9-2 on the road this season (both losses at Dallas). Only Minnesota (9-1) owns a better record away from home.

Topping the century mark for the sixth time this season, Las Vegas was paced by four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson. The league’s leading scorer solidified that position with a game-high 30 points on 8-of-14 shooting. She made 13-of-15 free throws and completed a double-double with a game-high 15 rebounds. The WNBA leader in blocked shots, averaging 1.9 per game coming in, added to that total with three more.

Just to show us she can do it on both ends of the court, Wilson nabbed a game-high four steals.

“She just has her finger print all over the game,” Hammon said. “When she wants basketballs, she just goes and gets them. That’s a luxury to have.”

Wilson turned her ankle early in the fourth quarter and briefly went to the locker room, but returned to the court shortly after to help the Aces finish off another victory.

The Aces (14-5) won for the fourth time in five games and 10th in 12, while Chicago (6-13) had its two-game win streak snapped and will begin a four-game road trip on Friday in Las Vegas.

The game was basically decided in the second quarter where Las Vegas broke a frantic 31-31 tie after one quarter with a 30-19 advantage in the second period to take a 61-50 lead at intermission.

Jackie Young drives to the basket while Skylar Diggins gives chase. Photo by Jacob Nunez/Sportspage Magazine

The tandem of superstar veterans Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young handed in eight points each during the crucial stretch and Kiersten Bell came off the bench to score all five of her points during the critical span. The trio combined to shoot 6-for-8 from the floor, including 4-for-6 from long range. Together they were 5-for-5 on free throws while adding five assists.

The Sky got no closer than seven points the rest of the way.

“The second quarter kind of got away from us,” said Chicago Head Coach Tyler Marsh. “Our pickup points weren’t where they needed to be. We didn’t engage the ball early enough, and once you let Jackie get a head of steam downhill, it’s tough to stop.”

Young scorched the nets for 28 points on 9-of-14 shooting (4-for-6 on 3-pointers). She was a perfect 6-for-6 from the line, tied Gray with eight assists, and grabbed five rebounds. The two are among the top five in the league in assists. Gray finished with 18 points (6-for-9), hitting all five free throws, and pulled down six boards.

Chennedy Carter also joined the double-figure scorers for Las Vegas with 11 points off the bench in 15:49 of playing time.

An efficient Kamilla Cardoso, coming off her previous game where she tied the WNBA all-time single game scoring record with 53 points on 13-for-13 shooting (also a WNBA record), turned in another big game for Chicago. The 6-7 center pumped in 24 points (10-for-15) and became the first center in WNBA history to score 50+ points on at least 80% from the floor over any two-game span. Over the last five games, Cardoso has shot 75% from the field (45 for 60).

“I think that when Kamilla decides she’s not going to be stopped, it’s really hard to stop her,” Marsh said. “When she plays at the level she’s been playing the last several games, she’s one of the best bigs in this league.”

In addition, Cardoso hauled in eight rebounds. She kept pace with Wilson early on before the Aces pulled away in the second quarter.

Azura Stevens regained her shooting eye, also scoring 24 points for the Sky. She connected on 8-of-14 shots from the field, including 3-of-6 from distance, and pulled down six rebounds.

Sydney Taylor finished with 14 points and Elizabeth Williams 10 for Chicago.