Las Vegas Aces No. 22 Delivers: A’ja Wilson Sinks Game-Winner With 2.2 Seconds Left

Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson has once again proved that she's one of the game's brightest stars, sinking the game-winning basket with just 2.2 seconds left on the clock in Game 3 of the Finals against the Phoenix Mercury.

The score was tied 88-88 when No. 22 came in through the clutch, ending a hard-fought battle in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. Her decisive shot not only secured the Aces win but also added another unforgettable moment to her storied career.

The Aces have a 3-0 series lead, meaning Friday's Game 4 could end the series and give the Aces another championship title!

Led by Wilson’s game-high 34 points and 14 rebounds, the Aces edged out the Mercury in a nail-biting 90–88 road win on Wednesday night, taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the WNBA Finals best-of-seven series.

The Aces are now just one victory away from securing their third WNBA championship in four years. Jackie Young nearly posted a double-double with 21 points and 9 assists, while Jewell Loyd added 16 points, including a four-pointer in the first quarter, and Chelsea Gray contributed 11 points and 5 assists on her 33rd birthday.

According to a press release sent to The Blast from the Aces, "Gray dished out 4 or more assists in each of her last 25 games (regular season and playoffs), the W's third-longest active streak." They also shared, "Wilson has now scored in double figures, including 15 30-point games, in each of the past 35 games, including playoffs, which is the leagues' longest active streak for double-digit scoring."

Every game adds more impressive records and accolades for the Aces.

"Young's 5 assists in the first quarter are the 3rd most in a quarter in WNBA playoff history; she also recorded a career-high for assists in a half with 8," the Aces press release reads. "Loyd was the first player in WNBA history to record 4 3-pointers in the first quarter and the third to do so in any Finals quarter, joining Copper and Diana Taurasi."

This is the 5th time a team has recorded 17 assists in a half of any Finals game. It's also the second time the Aces have done so, previously accomplishing it on Oct. 11, 2023, in Game 2.

The WNBA shared some Wilson Game 3 highlights on Instagram titled, "A'ja is the moment."

To summarize, Wilson had the game winning shot, hit a "New Finals career-high 34 PTS to go with 14 REB, 4 AST, and 3 BLK." She also set the league record "for the most total points in a single postseason run with 287 PTS," and was the "FIRST player in WNBA history to record back-to-back 25+ PTS and 10+ REB games in the Finals."

Fans took to the comment section to share their excitement.

"When it’s all said and done she’s gonna be the Greatest of All Time in this league," one person said. Another wrote, "So talented and lovable, a dream come true for any fan." One other shared, "Shattering records. This is the goat not even 30 years old! Greatness."

When asked how it feels to be "up 3-0 in the Finals," Wilson said, "It feels alright, the job's not done though."

She was then asked to walk everyone through "that game-winning bucket."

"Honestly, I just saw the rim, and I needed to figure out how I could get there in a timely manner and my teammates, they had motion going around so people really couldn't load up. I saw the rim and I just knew I couldn't put too much on it and it kind of left the perfect touch," Wilson said.

When asked about the chemistry the team has together, Wilson explained that it's "beautiful."

"It's beautiful, it really is. The opportunity to know that we had multiple options and we trust each other, we had full confidence in each option, goes to show how our chemistry really is and how we can just play off of each other," Wilson said with a smile.

Game 4 could be the end of the road for this WNBA season, with the Aces getting their third championship title!

If the Aces win Game 4 in Phoenix, they are the 2025 WNBA Champions. If they lose, they will head back to Vegas for Game 5 on Sunday, Oct. 12 to try to close the series out at home.

When asked about the mindset going into Game 4 during their 3-0 Finals run, Wilson said, "We'll just have to be the same it's always been - control what we can control, keep the main thing the main thing - and have fun while doing it. Trust each other and our defense has to be on point."

Game 4 tips off at Friday, Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. PT.