Wilson hits last-second jumper to
lift Aces over Mercury 90-88 for a 3-0 lead in the WNBA Finals
[October 09, 2025]
By DAVID BRANDT
PHOENIX (AP) — The Las Vegas Aces didn't play their best late in
Game 3 in the WNBA Finals, coughing up a 17-point lead in the final
quarter that meant the game came down to one offensive possession
with five seconds remaining.
Even so, there wasn't any panic. The security of having a four-time
MVP in the paint is nice.
A'ja Wilson made a turnaround jumper with 0.3 seconds left, capping
a stellar 34-point, 14-rebound night and lifting the Aces over the
Phoenix Mercury 90-88 on Wednesday night for a 3-0 lead in the WNBA
Finals.
Aces coach Becky Hammon said there wasn't any discussion about who
would take the final shot. There was no need to overthink anything.
“You give the ball to A’ja and get out of the way,” Hammon said.
“That's all it really was.”
The Aces are one victory away from winning their third title in four
seasons. Game 4 is Friday in Phoenix.
Las Vegas had what looked like a comfortable 76-59 lead entering the
fourth quarter, but the Mercury closed the gap to 84-83 with 3:06
left on Kahleah Copper’s 3-pointer. DeWanna Bonner tied the game at
86-all on a 3-pointer with 1:33 left and made two free throws with
1:01 left to tie it at 88.
That set up Wilson's heroics in the final seconds. She took an entry
pass from Chelsea Gray and made her turnaround jumper over Alyssa
Thomas and Bonner as the Mercury's home crowd groaned.
“I feel like in that moment, if a coach has to tell you what to do,
I'm not doing my job,” Wilson said. "(Hammon) just drew up a play —
it wasn't even really a play — it was pretty much what you saw. I'm
appreciative that Becky trusts me in those moments.
“That's playoff basketball. Those are the moments that you root
for.”
Phoenix had one final try to get a bucket, but Bonner's quick jumper
was no good.
The 6-foot-4 Wilson continued her dominant postseason run, making 11
of 20 shots from the field and adding four assists. She is averaging
more than 26 points in 11 postseason games. Jackie Young added 21
points.
Wilson's 291 total points over 11 games is a WNBA postseason record.
The Aces took a 2-0 lead by winning the first two games in Las
Vegas, but the Mercury hoped for a boost from their boisterous home
crowd in Game 3. Instead, Las Vegas thrived in the hostile
atmosphere, showing the poise of a veteran team that's been in
high-pressure situations many times.
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Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young drives on Phoenix Mercury guard
Monique Akoa Makani (8) during the first half of Game 3 of the WNBA
basketball finals, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP
Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Bonner led the Mercury with 25 points while Satou
Sabally had 24. Copper scored 11 of her 17 points in the fourth
quarter. Thomas was one assist short of a triple-double with 14
points and 12 rebounds.
Sabally left the game with 4:26 left in the fourth quarter when she
got tangled with Young and then fell into Kierstan Bell, hitting her
head on the side of her leg. Sabally stayed on the ground for
several minutes before being helped off the court.
Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said he didn't have an update on Sabally
following the game.
Las Vegas used a 17-0 run midway through the first quarter to take
an early 21-8 lead and never trailed again. Jewell Loyd came off the
bench and made four 3-pointers in less than two minutes to lead the
offensive onslaught.
Phoenix responded with its own 13-0 run to tie the game, but could
never regain the advantage. The Mercury trailed 26-23 heading into
the second quarter.
The Aces pulled away late in the second quarter to take a 55-43 lead
into halftime. Las Vegas shot 9 of 16 (56.3%) from 3-point range,
including a combined six from bench players Loyd and Dana Evans.
Tibbetts said his team's defense needed to improve after it gave up
89 points in Game 1 and 91 in Game 2, but things weren't much better
on Wednesday. The Aces used their early 3-point barrage to turn the
game into another high-scoring shootout.
Tibbetts said he was proud of his team “for not giving in.”
“We're not into moral victories,” Tibbetts said. “This was a game
that we wanted to get, needed to get. But for us to compete the way
we did, just shows the character of our team.”
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