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

Wilson tied the existing record of 939, set last year by the Seattle Storm’s Jewell Loyd, with a first-quarter free throw before making history with a mid-range jumper in the closing seconds of the first half.

She finished the game with 27 points, bringing her season total to 956, 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 campaign. Wilson currently leads the WNBA in scoring with 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, so having my name on the list is truly a blessing.

“I have to thank my teammates because without them I wouldn’t get the basketball. The fact that they continue to invest in me so I can invest in them is a big plus.”

Wilson received an outpouring of support from her peers after breaking the record, with six-time WNBA All-Star and current South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley among those congratulating her. Staley coached Wilson in college for four years before being drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in 2018.

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

“The crown is heavy, but she shows up every day and throws herself at the people around her,” Las Vegas forward Alysha Clark said. “And I don’t think people understand how special that is for an individual, for your franchise player, for your superstar, for your leader to be able to do that on a consistent basis.

“Being a leader is hard enough, but being a superstar – plus leadership – that’s insane. That’s why only a few get that title and A’ja is an example of that.”

Wilson also recorded a double-double in her historic performance, grabbing 12 rebounds to go along with two steals and three blocks. According to the Aces, she now has 418 boards for the year, which puts her 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, to move the Aces to 23-13, good enough for fourth place in the league. Wilson and Co. are looking to make history by becoming 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 No. 6 seed for the postseason. Kelsey Mitchell led the way with 24 points, while star rookie Caitlin Clark scored 16.

Clark didn’t have the sharpshooting performances that Iowa fans have come to expect in her debut season, hitting just 6 of 22 field goals and 1 of 10 long shots.

A late-season surge from Indiana has lifted the team above .500 and secured a playoff spot for the first time since 2016. The team has won seven of its last 10 games, with Wednesday’s loss dropping the Fever to 19-18, 1.5 games ahead of Phoenix.

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