A’ja Wilson’s WNBA single-season scoring record likely short-lived

A’ja Wilson has been scoring at a record pace all season and is now the record holder for most points in a single year.

It’s an impressive streak, but it’s unlikely the record will stand for long.

Wilson broke Jewell Loyd’s year-old record of 939 in Las Vegas’ win over Indiana on Wednesday night. But consider this: Four of the top five single-season scoring records of all time have come in the last two years, including Loyd’s.

Part of the reason is that the league has several explosive offensive players and the WNBA continues to expand its schedule. When the WNBA launched in 1997, each team played 28 games. From 2003-19, teams played 34 games, and last season each team played 40 games. Next year, each team will play 44 games.

When you combine that talent with more opportunities, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Wilson, Loyd or someone else surpass the Aces’ star player in points this year.

Wilson’s most impressive score may not be her last.

She shattered the previous scoring average set by Diana Taurasi in 2006 of 25.29 points. Taurasi surpassed Katie Smith’s previous record of 23.09 points, set in 2001. Cynthia Cooper originally set the bar with her record of 22.18 points in the WNBA’s inaugural season in 1997.

Las Vegas’ two-time MVP is averaging 27.31 points and Wilson is on pace to become the first player ever to reach 1,000 points in a season with the Aces having four games remaining. That’s a 4.5-point-per-game improvement over her previous best set last season.

“You’re really starting to see a very, very talented woman come into this phase of maturity, not only in her life, but in her basketball career,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “She’s not only the best player in the world, she’s arguably the most beloved and adored by her teammates. I mean, this woman is special.”

Wilson has increased her range. In addition to a consistent 15-foot jump shot, she is now hitting 3-pointers at a rate of nearly 34%.

Not everyone is on a scoring binge. Overall, scoring is down about a point per game this season in the WNBA, with teams averaging 81.8 points.

Below, in alphabetical order, is who can surpass Wilson’s single-season points total next year:

Caitlin Clark

The rookie should make a big jump. She’s averaging 17 points per game for Indiana, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see her numbers skyrocket in the coming seasons. She finished her college career with the most points in NCAA Division I history and has averaged 23.9 points since the Olympic break — her first extended rest in nearly a year. The only thing that could hold her back is Clark’s role as a playmaker — she leads the league in assists.

Kahleah Copper

The Phoenix wing is having a career year on offense, averaging 21.6 points in her first season with the Mercury. She has improved her scoring nearly every year she has been in the league. With Diana Taurasi potentially retiring after this season, Copper could see more scoring opportunities. However, with Taurasi potentially retiring, Copper could get more attention from the defense.

Loyd

The Seattle guard’s run as a leading scorer lasted just one year, but she could get it back in the future. Loyd is adept at putting the ball in the basket from anywhere on the court. One obstacle she’ll face is that there are now more scoring options on Seattle’s roster with the addition of Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike this season. Loyd won’t have to carry the offensive load by herself anymore.

Arike Ogunbowale

The Dallas guard can score points quickly, averaging 20.6 points in her career. Ogunbowale has two of the top 25 all-time single-season performances for scoring average. Dallas has improved over the last few seasons and she hasn’t needed to score as much for the team to succeed, which could limit her chances of breaking the mold.

Breanna Stewart

The versatile New York forward has three appearances on the Top 25 scoring average list, making Taurasi the most of any active player. She had a career-best 22.98 last season, and Stewart is one of the best offensive players in the game. The 30-year-old could come close to tying Taurasi’s all-time career scoring record, but with a great team around her in New York, she may not have to score that much in a single season to truly threaten Wilson’s record.

Wills

At 28, she’s in her prime, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Wilson continue to score at a record pace in the years to come. Last season, she scored 913 points but routinely sat out the fourth quarter when Vegas was up 20. Now she’s averaging a career-high 34 minutes per game. The only thing that could stop her from breaking her own record is if Hammon decides to cut her playing time again.

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