The No. 2 Las Vegas Aces beat the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury 90-88 in a Game 3 that went right down to the wire in Phoenix, and the Aces are actually one recreation away from profitable the 2025 WNBA title.
A’ja Wilson made historical past as the primary participant in WNBA Finals historical past with consecutive video games of 25 factors and 10 rebounds. She completed the night time with 34 factors, 14 rebounds and three blocks, together with the bucket that sealed the Aces’ win.
Satou Sabally exited the sport late within the fourth quarter after a head damage.
The most effective-of-seven collection stays in Phoenix for Game 4 on Friday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN), when the Aces will try to brush the Mercury for his or her third championship in 4 years.
Right here is all the things that occurred in Game 3.
Recap all the things that occurred through the recreation
How the Aces gained
Go away it to A’ja Wilson. The four-time MVP, who’s shortly changing into the best participant in WNBA Finals historical past, made the game-winning jumper with 0.3 seconds left — saving the Aces after they’d blown a 17-point lead. With the rating tied at 88 with 5 seconds left, coach Becky Hammon referred to as a timeout and drew up a play for Wilson on the elbow. Single-covered a lot of the night time, Wilson beat a double-team with a 7-foot turnaround bounce shot. After DeWanna Bonner’s miss on the buzzer, the Aces are one recreation away from a 3rd title in 4 years.
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Wilson was the Las Vegas reply all night time. She completed with 34 factors, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and three blocks. It is her ninth profession 30-point recreation within the playoffs and her fourth this postseason. Each are probably the most all time.
As nice as Wilson was, she had assist. Jackie Younger performed an entire recreation with 21 factors and 9 assists. She and Wilson mixed to attain or help on 72 factors, tied for fifth most by a duo in WNBA Finals historical past.
Jewell Loyd’s 4 first-quarter 3-pointers acquired the Aces off to a very good begin and helped quiet a feverish Phoenix crowd. Loyd completed with 16 factors and seven rebounds.
The Aces gained regardless of being outscored 29-14 within the fourth quarter. The protection that had dominated your entire third quarter — holding the Mercury to 16 factors — fell aside within the fourth beneath the load of some foul hassle and improved capturing from Phoenix. However Megan Gustafson made a cease on an Alyssa Thomas layup try with 19 seconds to play and the rating tied, setting the stage for Wilson’s heroics.
How the Mercury misplaced
By digging themselves into too huge of a gap. Positive, they had been in a position to erase their third-quarter 17-point deficit, however their issues defensively on the perimeter — permitting 9 first-half Aces 3-pointers — and lack of ability to comprise Wilson did the Mercury in.
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0:38
DeWanna Bonner misses game-tying shot on the buzzer
DeWanna Bonner shot bounces off the rim as she misses a probably game-tying jumper as time expires.
Coach Nate Tibbetts tried a distinct defensive technique to open the sport, using Thomas to protect Chelsea Grey in hopes of disrupting Las Vegas’ rhythm, nevertheless it did not work. The Mercury allowed 55 first-half factors, probably the most they’ve given up in a half this postseason.
The rally was led by Kahleah Copper and DeWanna Bonner, with the 2 veterans combining to attain 20 of these 29 factors within the closing 10 minutes. Copper scored 11 straight Phoenix factors at one level within the fourth quarter whereas Bonner tied the rating twice within the closing 1:41 — as soon as on a 3-pointer and once more on two free throws. Bonner led the Mercury with 25 factors.
Satou Sabally had 24 factors however left the sport with 4:26 left to play after her head collided with Kierstan Bell’s leg, with Sabally falling to the ground. She wanted appreciable assist to get to the locker room. Her standing can be one thing to look at for Game 4.
play
1:14
Satou Sabally leaves the sport after struggling an obvious head damage
Satou Sabally heads to the locker room within the fourth quarter after struggling an obvious head damage.
What might resolve Game 4?
Phoenix’s potential to discover a defensive reply.
Hammon primarily used a lineup of shooters surrounding Wilson, stopping the sort of double-teams which can be wanted to decelerate the four-time MVP. These shooters dominated the early a part of the sport — and Wilson dominated the remainder.
The solutions for Tibbetts aren’t straightforward, however the Mercury did discover one thing. After the Aces’ blistering first-half efficiency with these 9 3s — seven of which had been uncontested — on 56.3% capturing, they did not make a 3-pointer within the second half.
Wilson seems too good to decelerate. This was additionally her third profession postseason recreation with a minimum of 30 factors, 10 rebounds and three blocks, one other WNBA file. She can also be the primary participant in Finals historical past with consecutive video games of 25 factors and 10 rebounds.
Tibbetts can also be up towards a traditionally profitable coach. Hammon is now 9-2 in WNBA Finals video games, the very best profitable share in league historical past. Up to now, each button Hammon has pushed — going zone in Game 1, turning Younger unfastened in Game 2, dialing up that closing play for Wilson in Game 3 — has labored.
Tibbetts has two days to plan yet one more defensive technique that may work towards an Aces group that thus far has had all of the solutions.