CNN
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Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson set the record for most points in a WNBA season in her team’s 86-75 road win over the Indiana Fever on Wednesday.

Wilson tied the existing record of 939 set last year by Jewell Loyd of the Seattle Storm with a free throw in the first quarter before making history with a mid-range jump shot in the final seconds of the first half.

She finished the game with 27 points, giving her a total of 956 points this season, according to the team. If she plays in all four of the Aces’ remaining regular season games, she would need to average 11 points per game to become the first player in league history to score 1,000 points in a single season. Wilson currently leads the WNBA in scoring at 27.3 points per game.

“It’s a blessing, it really is,” the two-time MVP said after the game. “It’s something I don’t take for granted. We have some phenomenal players in this league, and to have my name on the list is truly a blessing.”

“I have to give credit to my teammates because without them I wouldn’t be getting the basketball…they continue to do everything for me so I can do everything for them goes a long way.”

Wilson received an outpouring of support from her peers after breaking the record, including Dawn Staley, a six-time WNBA All-Star and current coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks. Staley coached Wilson for four years in college before she was drafted No. 1 in 2018.

Wilson’s teammates also expressed their admiration after the game.

“The crown is heavy, but she’s there every day and gives everything to those around her,” Las Vegas forward Alysha Clark said. “And I think people don’t understand how special it is for a human being, for a franchise player, for a superstar, for a leader, to do that on a consistent basis.”

“Being a leader is hard in and of itself, but being a superstar – and having leadership qualities to boot – that’s insane. That’s why only a select few are given that title, and A’ja embodies every single aspect of it.”

Wilson also recorded a double-double in her historic performance, grabbing 12 rebounds along with two steals and three blocks. According to the Aces, she has now grabbed 418 rebounds this year, 29 behind the single-season record set by Angel Reese earlier this year. The Chicago Sky rookie is out for the rest of the year with a wrist injury.

Three other Vegas players scored in double figures – Clark had 14 points, while Tiffany Hayes and Chelsea Gray added 12 and 11, respectively, so the Aces are now 23-13, good for fourth place in the league standings. Wilson and Co. will look to make history by becoming only the second WNBA team ever to win three consecutive championships.

It was a disappointing night for the Fever, who are under pressure from the Phoenix Mercury to secure the 6th seed for the postseason. Kelsey Mitchell led the way with 24 points, while star rookie Caitlin Clark scored 16 points.

Clark did not show the accuracy that fans have become accustomed to during her years at Iowa and in her rookie season, hitting just 6 of 22 field goals and 1 of 10 from distance.

A late-season surge has allowed Indiana to push its record over .500 points and clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2016. The team has won seven of its last 10 games. Wednesday’s loss dropped the Fever’s record to 19-18 and is now 1.5 games ahead of Phoenix.

Indiana has a chance for revenge in a rematch against the defending champion on Friday.