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A’ja Wilson hit a seven-foot fadeaway jumper with three-tenths of a second remaining and the Las Vegas Aces survived a furious Phoenix Mercury comeback for a 90-88 victory Wednesday night in Game 3 of the WNBA finals.
Wilson finished with 34 points and 14 rebounds, giving Las Vegas a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Aces can clinch their third WNBA title in four seasons with a win Friday in Game 4, also in Phoenix.
WNBA finals 2025
Show
Schedule
Best-of-seven series. All times Eastern.
Fri 3 Oct Game 1: Las Vegas 89, Phoenix 86
Sun 5 Oct Game 2: Las Vegas 91, Phoenix 78
Wed 8 Oct Game 3: Las Vegas 90, Phoenix 88
Fri 10 Oct Game 4: Las Vegas at Phoenix, 8pm (ESPN)
Sun 12 Oct Game 5: Phoenix at Las Vegas, 3pm (ABC)*
Wed 15 Oct Game 6: Las Vegas at Phoenix, 8pm (ESPN)*
Fri 17 Oct Game 7: Phoenix at Las Vegas, 8pm (ESPN)*
*if necessary
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Wilson’s winner came after DeWanna Bonner tied the game at 88 on two free throws with 1:01 remaining. Taking an entry pass from Chelsea Gray, Wilson hit the decisive shot over Alyssa Thomas from the left side of the lane. Phoenix had one final chance, but Bonner’s jumper from the foul line bounced off the rim as time expired.
Jackie Young scored 21 points, Jewell Loyd added 16 and Gray had 11 points, five assists, three steals and three blocks for Las Vegas. The Aces, who blocked eight shots, shot 56% from three-point range and never trailed.
Las Vegas opened the game on a 17-0 run midway through the first quarter, sparked by Loyd’s four three-pointers in less than two minutes. The Mercury responded with a 13-0 run to tie it at 21, and the Aces led 26-23 after one quarter.
The Aces extended their advantage to 55-43 by halftime, making nine of 16 three-pointers in the first half. Wilson scored nine straight points in the third quarter as Las Vegas built a 68-52 lead. Loyd’s free throws late in the third made it 76-59, the Aces’ largest lead of the night.
Phoenix cut into the deficit with a 29-14 fourth quarter. Kahleah Copper scored 11 straight points during the rally, and Bonner hit a three-pointer to tie it at 86 with 1:33 to play. After Gray’s layup put Las Vegas back ahead, Bonner made two free throws to even the score again, setting up Wilson’s final shot.
Bonner led the Mercury with 25 points, Satou Sabally had 24 before leaving with an apparent head injury with 4:26 remaining, and Thomas finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. Copper added 17 points, 11 of them in the fourth quarter.
Wilson’s 34 points pushed her postseason total to 291, breaking the WNBA record for most points in a single playoffs. She is averaging more than 26 points per game in 11 postseason appearances this year.
