A’ja Wilson left the game in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Sky on Sunday, and for a moment the United Center fell quiet. With around seven minutes remaining, Wilson went down holding her ankle and made her way to the locker room. She returned with 7:05 left, scored 10 more points, made a crucial steal with 3:13 to go to hold the lead, and the Las Vegas Aces won 107-99.

Wilson addressed the ankle issue after the game.

“It’s all right. It’s an ankle, so it’s gonna snap back,” Wilson said, as per CBS Sports.” “I should be good after some nice treatment.”

The return did not leave much room for concern on the night. Wilson’s final line was 30 points, 15 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks. She also became the first player in WNBA history to record that specific combination of numbers in a single game. In this one, she shot 57.1% from the field, 33.3% from the deep, and 81.1% from the free-throw line. The win moves Las Vegas to 14-5 on the season.

The result keeps the Aces on a clear trajectory, and Wilson is at the centre of it. She is averaging 25.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, leading the league in scoring. She contributes 15.8% of the team’s assists and carries a 22.4% defensive rebound percentage, with an offensive rating of 114.7 when on the floor. She is also nominated by ESPY for the Best WNBA Player category. If she wins, she would become the seventh only athlete to win the award multiple times.

The ankle bears watching. Wilson says she expects to recover without issue. However, how quickly she returns to fitness will matter for a team that routes a significant portion of its production through her.

What Las Vegas looks like when Wilson is Healthy

The Aces have built a team around A’ja Wilson rather than relying on her to paper over weaknesses. Chelsea Gray directs the tempo at point guard. Jewell Loyd contributes scoring off the bench, and Ceyenne Parker-Tyus adds depth to the front court.

As a team, the Aces are averaging 48.8% from the field and 36.8% from three, and lead the league with 5.6 blocks per game. Defensively, the Aces hold their opponents to 9.5 second-chance points. Their offensive rating of 112.5 and defensive rating of 107.3 reflect a team that has been consistent at both ends.

Sunday’s game was a reminder of what that looks like when it all comes together and of how much depends on Wilson staying on the floor. However, Wilson’s ankle update will later set the tone for how the next stretch of the Aces’ season follow through.