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A'ja Wilson hits game-winner to take 3-0 lead over Mercury in WNBA Finals

Barkley-Truaxby: Barkley Truax10/09/25BarkleyTruax
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) reacts during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Connecticut Sun at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) reacts during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Connecticut Sun at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

A’ja Wilson scored 34 points including the game-winning, turn-around jump shot with 0.1 left to defeat the Phoenix Mercury 90-88 on Wednesday night. The win gives the Las Vegas Aces a 3-0 lead after the clutch shot from the league’s MVP.

Wilson was double-teamed off an in-bound pass, but it wasn’t enough. The ball rolled around the net for a moment, but sunk before the final buzzer. Now, the Aces are one win away from capturing the WNBA’s top crown, again.

Another victory would mean the Aces third championship since 2022, which would firmly cement Las Vegas as a dynasty. Along the way, A’ja Wilson has led the charge that whole time.

Along with her 24 points, Wilson added 14 rebounds and four assists on the game. She was aided by Jackie Young‘s 21 points and nine assists. Jewell Loyd added 16 points off the bench as well.

Wednesday’s 90-88 finish is the second time in three games that Las Vegas escaped the Mercury with a one-score win. The Aces won Game 1 on Friday 89-86 behind 21 points and 10 rebounds from Wilson. Dana Evans scored 21 and hits five 3-pointers in 26 minutes off the bench during that contest.

Game 2 was firmly in Las Vegas’ favor. Phoenix took a 27-24 lead into the second quarter and led by as many as eight points during the contest. However, they were outscored by the Aces 22-10 in the second quarter and would never look back.

Las Vegas will be looking for the clean sweep of the Mercury during Game 4, which is slated for Friday at 8 p.m. ET. Wilson will look to secure her third WNBA title in Phoenix.

This would be the cherry on top for Wilson this season. She’s already made history as the first player to ever win the WNBA’s MVP award four different times. Wilson’s first MVP award came in 2020. Her second was in 2022 before winning it back-to-back for the last two WNBA seasons.

Additionally, she also won the league’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year award alongside with Lynx forward Alanna Smith. It is Wilson’s third DPOY selection, previously winning the award in 2022 and 2023 as well.

The 29-year-old superstar continues to add accolades to her now unrivaled resume. That was on full display on Wednesday night against the Mercury, topped by Wilson’s spectacular game-winning shot to put the Aces in full control of the series.