The two-time reigning champion Las Vegas Aces got 42 points from star forward A’ja Wilson on Tuesday, the most a WNBA player has scored in a game this season. But it wasn’t enough, as the Aces fell 93-90 to the Dallas Wings.

With the loss, the Aces are now 18-12 and in fifth place in the standings.

“We didn’t defend, we fouled, we didn’t get rebounds. And we shot the 3 horribly again,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “So it’s a bad combination.”

Las Vegas lost just six games in the regular season and once in the playoffs last year to win their second straight WNBA title. But while Wilson is the overwhelming favorite to be named 2024 MVP — she’s averaging 27.1 points per game, the most through 30 games in league history — the Aces have struggled this year.

They are 2-4 since WNBA play resumed after the Olympics, and they also lost their last game before the break. Three of their recent losses came to New York and Minnesota (twice), who are first and third in the WNBA standings, respectively. But Tuesday’s loss was to Dallas, now just 8-22. On Sunday, they needed Wilson’s buzzer-beater to beat Chicago, who is 11-18.

Wilson missed a career-high 20 shots against the Sky, but was back to her usual efficiency against the Wings, making 16 of 22 shots; the rest of the Aces shot 15 of 40. Her 42 points are the most ever by a WNBA player in a regulation (non-overtime) loss.

“I wish I could shoot perfect every game, but that’s not always the case,” said Wilson, who is at 52 percent for the season. “I don’t let a lot of things hang because it takes you out of the moment. I’m going to try to still be productive for my team. Today was that … but we didn’t win, so none of that matters.”

Tuesday’s game marked the third 40-point game of Wilson’s career. Only three other players in WNBA history have three or more 40-point games: Breanna Stewart (4), Diana Taurasi (4) and Maya Moore (3).

Hammon was concerned about Las Vegas’ defense before the season began, and was asked if the Aces could improve it with 10 games remaining.

“We can obviously do a lot better, but it’s about attention to detail,” Hammon said. “There are ways we can take points (from opponents) by just being disciplined, being alert. We couldn’t defend our lunch in the second half.

“At some point, people have to take responsibility. You have to get in the pick-and-roll. You have to block your guy. You have to help the big guys when they’re crashing those big guys out there every time. When you know exactly what the other team has to do and you can’t handle it, that’s a concern.

“I can’t force them. They have to do it. What am I going to do, take them out? Everyone I’ve put in there hasn’t had a rebound.”

The Aces were outrebounded 40-26, with Dallas center Teaira McCowan grabbing 17 rebounds. Las Vegas is seventh in the WNBA in rebounds with 34.4 per game. That’s not much different from last season’s average of 34.8, but the Aces aren’t as efficient offensively this season as they will be in 2023, Wilson aside.

“We’ve got to figure out how to make stops in the final stretch when it counts, and we haven’t shown that we can hold the lead, which is disappointing,” Hammon said. “You’ve got to defend. We’re not good enough on offense this year to give up 93 points. We haven’t shot well, we haven’t moved well enough.”

Last season, Dallas reached the WNBA semifinals, losing 3-0 to the Aces. Satou Sabally, the 2023 WNBA Most Improved Player, was sidelined for the first part of the season as she recovered from a shoulder injury and prepared to play for Germany in the Olympics. Sabally has been a huge help for the Wings in the five games since returning from the Paris Games, averaging 20.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists. On Tuesday, she had 28, 7 and 5.

Dallas has now won two games in a row for the first time since May, with the Wings beating Los Angeles 113-110 on Sunday.