Jackie Young's Triple-Double Powers Las Vegas Aces Past Atlanta Dream 109-87
The Las Vegas Aces strengthened their playoff push with a dominant 109-87 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Monday night, improving to 21-9 on the season. The win ended Atlanta's five-game winning streak and showcased another outstanding all-around performance from Jackie Young, who recorded her third career triple-double.
Summary: Jackie Young's 28-point triple-double and balanced scoring from the Las Vegas Aces powered a convincing 109-87 win over the Atlanta Dream, while A'ja Wilson climbed to sixth on the WNBA's all-time blocked shots list.
Quick Facts
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Final Score: Las Vegas Aces 109, Atlanta Dream 87
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Aces Record: 21-9
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Dream Record: 18-11
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Jackie Young: 28 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists
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A'ja Wilson: 23 points, 587th career block (6th all-time)
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Angel Reese: 23 points, 16 rebounds
Jackie Young Leads the Way for Las Vegas
Las Vegas controlled the game from the opening quarter and built a lead as large as 28 points, never allowing Atlanta to seriously threaten.
Jackie Young delivered one of the best performances of her career, finishing with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists to earn her third career triple-double. She completed the milestone by assisting Brianna Turner with 2:21 remaining in the fourth quarter, giving the Aces a 101-81 lead.
Young also shot 4-of-7 from three-point range, combining efficient scoring with excellent playmaking throughout the game.
How Is Jackie Young Strengthening the Aces' Championship Chances?
Jackie Young's development into both a scorer and playmaker has made the Las Vegas offense even more dangerous.
Instead of relying solely on A'ja Wilson, the Aces now have another player capable of creating offense for herself and her teammates. Young's ability to score, rebound, and distribute the ball gives Las Vegas multiple offensive options, making it much harder for opponents to focus on stopping one star.
As the WNBA playoffs approach, this balanced attack could become one of the team's biggest advantages.
A'ja Wilson Reaches Another Career Milestone
A'ja Wilson added 23 points while continuing to climb the WNBA record books.
Wilson recorded the 587th blocked shot of her career, moving past Lauren Jackson into sixth place on the league's all-time blocked shots list.
Las Vegas also received valuable contributions from:
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NaLyssa Smith: 18 points
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Chelsea Gray: 17 points and 6 assists
Their combined production helped keep the offense flowing throughout the night.
Why Did Atlanta Fall Short?
The biggest difference came from beyond the three-point line.
Atlanta struggled to find its shooting rhythm, making only 4 of 25 attempts from long range. Those missed opportunities allowed Las Vegas to maintain control and prevent the Dream from mounting a comeback.
Although Atlanta remained competitive inside the paint, the lack of perimeter scoring proved costly against one of the league's top offenses.
Direct Answer: Why Did the Aces Beat the Dream?
The Las Vegas Aces defeated the Atlanta Dream because they combined balanced scoring, Jackie Young's triple-double, efficient ball movement, and strong perimeter shooting, while Atlanta shot just 4-for-25 from three-point range.
Angel Reese Continues Her Strong Season
Despite the loss, Angel Reese once again delivered an impressive performance.
Reese finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds, recording her 20th double-double of the season. She has now produced a 20-point double-double in five of her last six games, highlighting her consistency as one of Atlanta's most reliable players.
Rhyne Howard added 19 points, but the Dream lacked enough scoring support to keep pace with the Aces.
The defeat snapped Atlanta's five-game winning streak, dropping the team to 18-11.
What's Next?
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Las Vegas Aces: Face Indiana on Thursday.
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Atlanta Dream: Return home to host Phoenix on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
The victory reinforces why the Las Vegas Aces remain one of the WNBA's top championship contenders. Jackie Young's ability to contribute as both a scorer and facilitator gives the team another offensive weapon alongside A'ja Wilson, while Wilson's move into sixth place on the all-time blocked shots list further strengthens her legacy as one of the league's elite two-way players.
For Atlanta, the loss highlights the need for better three-point shooting and more balanced offensive production as the playoff race continues.
