Wilson’s Late Basket Seals Aces’ Victory in Game 3 of WNBA Finals

PHOENIX — A’ja Wilson’s only shot in the last four minutes of the fourth quarter during Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Wednesday night turned out to be her most crucial. She maneuvered past DeWanna Bonner before pivoting to face Alyssa Thomas.

At that point, it was clear what was coming next.

With just 0.1 seconds remaining, Wilson delivered a go-ahead basket.

With adrenaline surging through her, Wilson quieted the enthusiastic crowd dressed in orange.

The shot felt like it sealed the Mercury’s fate, as a 3-0 series lead could spell disaster for them.

The Aces emerged victorious with a score of 90-88, bringing them one step closer to securing their third championship in four years.

Wilson’s decisive shot was emblematic of what the Mercury faced in the earlier games of this Finals series. Bonner simply couldn’t match up against Wilson, and that scenario echoed throughout the team’s struggle.

The Mercury had fought hard to reach this point, overcoming formidable opponents along the way.

They managed to defeat the reigning champion Liberty in three games, followed by a swift four-game victory over the top-seeded Lynx, who were favored for months.

Yet, the Aces appear too formidable—too experienced and too deep—for the Mercury to handle.

As the Aces put Phoenix’s season in jeopardy, they look to wrap things up on Friday.

Heading into the series, a significant concern for the Mercury was how to manage Wilson, and so far, no solution has emerged after 12 quarters of play.

Wilson shone with 34 points and 14 rebounds, marking her as the first player to achieve at least 25 points and 10 rebounds in consecutive Finals games.

This also marked her ninth 30-point performance in the playoffs, the highest in league history. With 291 playoff points and at least one game to go, she’s already set a record for a single postseason.

The game shouldn’t have been this close.

The Aces seemed poised to dominate, and at one point, the Mercury were trailing with a 17-point deficit.

Despite this, Karlea Copper and Bonner, two of the Mercury’s few WNBA champions, kept the team alive, even after Sato Sabally suffered a head injury in the fourth quarter.

Copper scored 11 of her 17 points in the final frame.

Bonner contributed nine points in the fourth quarter, tying the score twice with 1:41 left on the clock.

Yet, the Aces stood firm, and Wilson, a four-time MVP, rose to the occasion when it mattered most.