number 2 Las Vegas Aces beat number 4 phoenix mercury 90-88 That went bad in Phoenix in Game 3, and now they’re one game away from winning the 2025 WNBA title.
Aja Wilson Made history as the first player in WNBA Finals history with consecutive games of 25 points and 10 rebounds. He finished the night with 34 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks, including a bucket that sealed the victory for the Aces.
Satou Sabli out of the game After suffering a head injury late in the fourth quarter.
The best-of-seven series remains in Phoenix for Game 4 on Friday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN), when the Aces will attempt to take on the Mercury for their third championship in four years.
Here’s everything that happened in Game 3.
Recap everything that happened during the game
how to win aces
Leave it to A’ja Wilson. The four-time MVP, who is fast becoming the greatest player in WNBA Finals history, made the game-winning jumper with 0.3 seconds remaining – saving the Aces after blowing a 17-point lead. When the score was tied 88–88 and five seconds remained, coach Becky Hammon called a timeout and drew a play for Wilson at the elbow. Single-covered most of the night, Wilson beat a double-team with a seven-foot turnaround jump shot. After Devanna Bonner’s miss at the buzzer, the Aces are one game away from their third title in four years.
Wilson was Las Vegas’ answer to all-nighters. She finished with 34 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks. It is his ninth career 30-point game in the playoffs, and fourth this postseason. Both are all-time highs.
As great as Wilson was, he had help. jackie young Played the entire game with 21 points and 9 assists. She and Wilson combined for 72 points or assists, tied for fifth most by any duo in WNBA Finals history.
Jewel Loyd’s four first-quarter 3-pointers got the Aces off to a good start and helped quiet the feverish Phoenix crowd. Loyd finished with 16 points and 7 rebounds.
The Aces won despite trailing 29–14 in the fourth quarter. The defense that dominated throughout the third quarter – holding the Mercury to 16 points – broke down in the fourth due to some foul trouble and better shooting from Phoenix. But Megan Gustafson banned one alyssa thomas A layup attempt with 19 seconds remaining tied the score, setting the stage for Wilson’s heroics.
0:26
A’ja Wilson gets it done on both sides of the ball
A’ja Wilson gets a bucket and then comes up with a block on the defensive side of the ball.
How did Mercury lose?
By digging yourself into a very big hole. Sure, they were able to erase their 17-point third-quarter deficit, but their problems defensively on the perimeter – allowing 3-pointers off of nine first-half aces – and inability to stop Wilson let the Mercury down.
0:38
Devanna Bonner misses game-tying shot at the buzzer
Devanna Bonner’s shot bounces off the rim as she misses a potential game-tying jumper as time expires.
Coach Nate Tibbetts adopted a different defensive strategy to start the game and assigned Thomas to safety chelsea gray Hoping to disrupt Las Vegas’ rhythm, but it didn’t work – the Mercury allowed 55 points in the first half, the most they have given up this postseason.
led the rally Kahlah Copper And crazy bonerThe two giants combined to score 20 of those 29 points in the last 10 minutes. Copper scored 11 straight Phoenix points at one point in the fourth quarter while Bonner tied the game twice in the final 1:41 – once on a 3-pointer and again on two free throws. Bonner finished ahead of Mercury with 25 points.
Satou Sabli She had 24 points, but left the game with 4:26 minutes remaining after her head collided with Kiersten Bell’s leg and Sabally fell to the floor. He needed a lot of help to get to the locker room. His status in Game 4 will be worth watching.
1:14
Sato Sabally left the game with an apparent head injury.
Sato briefly went to the locker room in the fourth quarter after suffering an apparent head injury.
What could be the decision of Game 4?
Phoenix’s ability to find defensive answers.
Hammon used a lineup of shooters primarily based around Wilson, preventing the double teams needed to slow down the four-time MVP. Those shooters dominated the early part of the game – and Wilson dominated the rest of the way.
The answers aren’t easy for Tibet, but Mercury found some. After a stellar first half for the Aces with those nine 3s on 56.3% shooting – seven of which were uncontested – they didn’t make a 3-pointer in the second half.
Slowing down Wilson appears to be very good. It was her third career postseason game with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks, another WNBA record. She is also the first player in Finals history with consecutive games of 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Tibet also faces competition from historically successful coaches. Hammon is now 9-2 in WNBA Finals games, the highest winning percentage in league history. So far, whatever buttons Hammon has pressed — going to the zone in Game 1, turning Young loose in Game 2, dialing up the end play for Wilson in Game 3 — have worked.
Tibet have two days to prepare another defensive strategy that can work against an Aces team that has all the answers so far.
