Las Vegas Aces Advance to WNBA Finals After Epic Battle
Las Vegas Aces, with a path full of challenges, have secured their place in the WNBA Finals for the fourth time in six years. The overtime victory against the Indiana Fever (107-98) marks the third final in four seasons under the direction of coach Becky Hammon, who already have two championships to their name. This season, the Aces faced unusual adversity, overcoming a start below 50% wins. A’ja Wilson, the league MVP, highlighted the team’s resilience: “We didn’t settle. We’ve worked hard to get here, but it feels different because we’ve been through difficulties.”The journey included a streak of 16 consecutive victories in the regular season, a close series against the Seattle Storm, and now, the semifinal against an Indiana team weakened by injuries. Jewell Loyd, a new addition to the Aces, commented on the team’s unity: “Maybe it was necessary to take the more difficult path, but we’ve figured out how to do it together.” The Tuesday game witnessed stellar performances. Wilson and Jackie Young became the first duo in WNBA playoff history to score over 30 points each. Coach Hammon praised her stars: “Your pillars have to be pillars this time of year, and they were.” Wilson recorded 35 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, and 4 blocks, while Young added 30 points and 10 assists without turnovers in over 43 minutes of play, a personal record. Despite Wilson and Young’s dominance, the Aces failed to pull away from the Indiana team, which played without five key players due to injuries. Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana’s top scorer, retired in the third quarter due to cramps. Odyssey Sims of Indiana tied the score in the final quarter. In overtime, with Indiana’s Aliyah Boston fouled out, the Aces’ role players shined. Chelsea Gray, who returned after injuring her ankle, scored 9 points, while Loyd added 5. The Aces will face the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA Finals, starting with Game 1 on Friday. “Getting here wasn’t easy,” Gray said. “We’ve worked hard to fight for home-court advantage, and we achieved it.”Our path has been bumpy, but here we are.
Becky Hammon
