A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces cemented their dynasty status by winning their third WNBA championship in four years, completing a sweep of the Phoenix Mercury with a 97-86 victory in Game 4 of the Finals. Wilson, who arrived at her postgame press conference soaked in champagne and shaking a pink tambourine, celebrated the win with her trademark energy and humility, crediting her Southern Baptist roots and the strong team effort behind the historic run.
Wilson finished the Finals with averages of 28.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks per game, earning her second Finals MVP award. She made history as the first player in WNBA or NBA history to win the scoring title, league MVP, defensive player of the year, and Finals MVP in the same season. With three championships and two Finals MVPs in eight seasons, Wilson’s place among the game’s greatest is increasingly unquestioned, though she humbly deferred comparisons to legends like Michael Jordan.
The Aces’ path to the championship was anything but smooth. Just three months before the Finals, they were 14-14 and searching for answers, including suffering a 53-point loss to the Minnesota Lynx. But the team rallied, winning their final 16 regular-season games and finishing the year on a 25-3 run, including the playoffs. Key performances came from Chelsea Gray, who scored 18 points in the decisive Game 4, and Jackie Young, who added 18 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists.
Las Vegas became the first team since the Houston Comets (1997-2000) to win three championships in a four-year span. Coach Becky Hammon praised the Aces’ skill and resilience, noting how the team overcame adversity throughout the postseason. They survived winner-take-all games in the first round and semifinals, then outlasted a tough Mercury squad that had upset defending champion New York and top-seeded Minnesota en route to the Finals.
Game 4 was a battle, with Phoenix rallying late despite missing leading scorer Satou Sabally and their coach, Nate Tibbetts, who was ejected in the third quarter. Kahleah Copper led the Mercury with 30 points before fouling out, but the Aces’ composure and Wilson’s 17-of-19 free-throw shooting sealed the victory.
Coach Hammon grew emotional after the win, reflecting on her pride in the team’s journey and her investment in their success. The Aces’ latest championship stands as a testament to their perseverance, teamwork, and star power, with Wilson at the forefront of one of the WNBA’s greatest dynasties.