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A’Ja Wilson has claimed another WNBA championship, solidifying her Hall-of-Fame credentials as the Las Vegas Aces concluded a Finals sweep of the Phoenix Mercury with a 97-86 win in Game 4 on Friday.
Despite a 4-0 series win, Friday’s game wasn’t an easy ride for Las Vegas. The Aces clinched the victory only after a surprising second-quarter ejection of Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts prompted a late rally by Phoenix, trimming Las Vegas’ 20-point lead to just six points.
Tibbetts, in his second year as coach, was disputing a foul called on Mercury player Monique Akoa Makani when he confronted referee Gina Cross, who quickly issued two technical fouls. Tibbetts expressed shock before being removed from the court.
“I think the refs aren’t doing a good job tonight, I’m sorry,” Mercury star Kahleah Copper remarked in an interview with ESPN after the third quarter. “But we’ve just got to keep our heads.”
This postseason has seen WNBA officials at the heart of controversy more than once. Minnesota’s coach Cheryl Reeve was ejected during Game 3 of the semifinals against Phoenix after objecting to star player Napheesa Collier’s injury in the last minute. Reeve was subsequently suspended for Game 4, where the Lynx were ousted by the Mercury.
Now a three-time league champion, Wilson earned her second WNBA Finals MVP recognition with an outstanding postseason, highlighted by a dramatic buzzer-beating jumper to win Game 3 against the Mercury.
Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) reacts after scoring against the Phoenix Mercury
Head coach Nate Tibbetts of the Phoenix Mercury speaks with referee Gina Cross in the third quarter against the Las Vegas Aces. He would ultimately be ejected from the game
Wilson scored 31 points, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young both added 18.
The Aces made quick work of the league’s first best-of-seven Finals. It was another offensive onslaught from Las Vegas, which scored 54 points in the first half and averaged more than 90 points per game in the series.
Wilson was in the middle of the action once again even if she didn’t have the best shooting night. The four-time regular-season MVP finished 7 of 21 from the field, but made 17 of 19 free throws. Gray made four 3-pointers, including two in the fourth quarter to help turn back a final rally by the Mercury.
The Aces were presented the championship trophy by embattled WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who was greeted with boos from the sizable contingent of Las Vegas fans who made the trip to Phoenix.
The Aces led 76-62 going into the fourth quarter, but the Mercury went on an 8-0 run after Tibbetts’ ejections that cut the deficit to 76-70 with 7:56 left. That was as close as they would get.
A’ja Wilson poses with the Most Value Player award and boyfriend Bam Adebayo
Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon, right, and A’ja Wilson (22) celebrate another title
Mark Davis (right) not only owns the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, but the WNBA’s Aces too
Kahleah Copper led the Mercury with 30 points, shooting 12 of 22 from the field. Alyssa Thomas had 17 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
The Aces never trailed in the series clincher, building a 30-21 lead by the end of the first quarter on 55-percent shooting. Jewell Loyd, Gray and Dana Evans made three straight 3s early in the second quarter to put Las Vegas ahead by 19.
Las Vegas settled for a 54-38 halftime advantage. Wilson had 14 points before the break while Gray added 10.
The Mercury were without forward Satou Sabally, who suffered a concussion near the end of Game 3. They suffered another injury blow on Friday when Thomas had to leave just before halftime after taking a hard hit to her right shoulder on a screen from Loyd.
Thomas returned for the second half but was hampered by the injury.
Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson, center right, holds up her MVP trophy after Game 4
The Mercury enjoyed a deep playoff run under Tibbetts, but couldn’t find a way to slow down the Aces. Phoenix made it to the finals after beating the defending champion New York Liberty in the opening round and knocking off the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals.
Phoenix lost in the WNBA Finals for the second time in five years, also falling to the Chicago Sky in 2021. The Mercury have won three championships, with the last coming in 2014.
The Aces were one of the best teams in the WNBA all season, earning the No. 2 seed in the playoffs with a 30-14 record, but they looked surprisingly vulnerable early in the postseason. They dropped a game to Seattle in the opening round and needed the full five games to squeeze past the Indiana Fever in the semifinals, prevailing in overtime for a 107-98 win in the decisive Game 5.
In the finals, though, the Aces were unstoppable.
