Four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson drilled the go-ahead bucket with 0.3 ticks left in the ball game to drown the Phoenix Mercury, 0-3, in the WNBA Finals.
A’ja Wilson is her.
With the game tied with five seconds remaining, Wilson bailed out the Las Vegas Aces with a go-ahead basket, 90-88, to hold on for the victory in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals against the Phoenix Mercury at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Arizona on Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time).
After squandering a 17 point lead heading into the fourth quarter, the game was deadlocked at 88-all thanks to late game heroics from Kahleah Cooper and DeWanna Bonner.
Motivated by a late-game head injury to Satou Sabally, Copper and Bonner scored the Mercury’s last 16 points in a pivotal run where they outscored the Aces by 10 in the last four minutes of the match.
But Wilson, who finished with a new finals career-high 34-point performance, drilled the turnaround jumper with 0.3 seconds remaining to carry her team to victory and move on the cusp of the WNBA title.
Despite a good look for Bonner in the final possession, Jewell Loyd bothered her just enough as the ball bounced out and the Aces hung on for the victory.
“[Coach Becky Hammon said] just go get it done… I don’t even really understood the assignment,” Wilson said after the game.
“We just have to continue to play hard and you just saw that tonight,” she continued.
Jackie Young led Wilson’s supporting cast with 21 markers.
Wilson stuffed the stat sheet even with her high scoring performance as she also had 14 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks.
Bonner, for her part, paced the Mercury with 25 points on 7-of-11 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds, and a block.
Sabally, who exited midway through the fourth after contact with Jackie Young, also finished with 24 points in 31:38 minutes of action.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.