The Mercury erased a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter of Game 3 behind a flurry of buckets from Kahleah Copper and veteran shotmaking from DeWanna Bonner. Las Vegas went away from A’ja Wilson, not pressing the defense when the Mercury denied Wilson on the initial action.
But on their final possession, the Aces turned to Wilson, and she delivered what will surely go down as one of the defining moments of her career. Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon called a timeout with five seconds remaining and Jackie Young flailing, and Hammon put the ball in her MVP’s hands. Wilson drove left from the elbow, turned and got up a short jumper over the outstretched arms of Alyssa Thomas. The ball lingered on the rim but then fell in, giving Las Vegas a two-point lead with less than a second to play.
Wilson set an Aces franchise finals record with 34 points, breaking a tie with Young on the final basket. Wilson, a four-time MVP, is one win away from her third title in four seasons.