A’ja Wilson Dominates with 31 Points, Propelling the Aces to Their Third WNBA Championship in Four Years!

PHOENIX – Dominating the paint with relentless determination, A’ja Wilson consistently found ways to score despite tight defense from multiple Phoenix Mercury players.

Her efforts were complemented by sharpshooters Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd, and Dana Evans, who ignited the offense with a barrage of three-pointers early in the second quarter.

The Las Vegas Aces once again showcased their offensive prowess in the WNBA Finals, cruising to a 97-86 victory over the Mercury on Friday night to complete a flawless four-game sweep and secure their third championship in just four seasons.

“This group is truly exceptional,” praised Aces head coach Becky Hammon.

Wilson led the charge with 31 points and nine rebounds, while Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young each contributed 18 points. In total, five Aces players reached double digits in scoring.

The Aces dominated the league’s inaugural best-of-seven Finals format, putting up 54 points in the first half and averaging over 90 points per game throughout the series.

At the postgame press conference, Wilson sported oversized ski goggles from the team’s locker room champagne celebration and playfully shook a pink tambourine, symbolizing the team’s exuberance.

“This represents the happiness we’re feeling right now,” Wilson said with a smile. “I’m just so thankful to be part of this group – and that’s not just the champagne talking.”

Despite a challenging shooting night-making only 7 of 21 field goals-Wilson’s clutch free-throw shooting (17 of 19) helped seal the win. Gray’s four three-pointers, including two critical ones in the fourth quarter, stifled a late Phoenix comeback attempt.

The championship trophy was presented by WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who faced boos from a large contingent of Las Vegas fans attending the game in Phoenix.

The Aces held a 76-62 lead entering the final quarter, but the Mercury mounted an 8-0 run to narrow the gap to 76-70 with just under eight minutes remaining. That was as close as Phoenix would get.

Kahleah Copper led Phoenix with 30 points on 12-of-22 shooting, while Alyssa Thomas recorded a triple-double with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts was ejected in the third quarter after receiving two quick technical fouls from referee Gina Cross. The ejection followed a dispute over a foul call involving guard Monique Akoa Makani, with Tibbetts visibly frustrated as he left the court.

Additional technical fouls were assessed to DeWanna Bonner and Kahleah Copper in the fourth quarter.

The Aces never relinquished the lead in the decisive game, opening with a 30-21 advantage after the first quarter on 55% shooting. Loyd, Gray, and Evans combined to hit three consecutive three-pointers early in the second quarter, extending Las Vegas’s lead to 19 points.

By halftime, the Aces held a commanding 54-38 lead, with Wilson scoring 14 points and Gray adding 10.

Tibbetts acknowledged the challenge of defending the Aces throughout the series.

“They’re an incredible team, playing at an elite level,” Tibbetts said. “We managed to stay competitive in a few games, but they kept delivering clutch shots time after time.”

The Mercury faced adversity with the absence of forward Satou Sabally, sidelined by a concussion sustained late in Game 3. On Friday, Thomas left the court briefly before halftime after a hard shoulder hit from Loyd but returned to play the second half, albeit limited by the injury.

Despite a strong postseason run under Tibbetts, the Mercury were unable to contain the Aces’ relentless offense. Phoenix reached the Finals after defeating the defending champion New York Liberty in the first round and top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals.

This marks Phoenix’s second Finals loss in five years, having previously fallen to the Chicago Sky in 2021. The Mercury have claimed three WNBA titles, with their most recent championship coming in 2014.