Las Vegas completes sweep of Phoenix, pick up 3rd title in last 4 years

Las Vegas forward A'ja Wilson hoists her third WNBA championship after completing a sweep of Phoenix. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

With a chance to win a third championship in the last four seasons, the Las Vegas Aces jumped at the opportunity and completed the goal in spectacular fashion.

Las Vegas finished off a four-game sweep of Phoenix Friday, Oct. 10 from Mortgage Matchup Arena by a final score of 97-86 in Game 4 of the league’s first Best-of-7 game series.

“God has been over us this whole time,” forward A’ja Wilson said. “And one thing about God is you’ve got to be patient. You have to be patient and when you’re patient and you give him all your burdens, good things happen.”

Hammon now has three titles in her first four seasons as a head coach in the WNBA following a 16-year playing season in the league where championships eluded her. As it stands, she is now 10-2 in Finals games as a head coach while going 9-1 in playoff series.

“Becky has done tremendous things for this franchise,” Wilson said. “It’s not just her basketball mind, it’s the way she can form relationships and bonds with people and I think that’s when you see winning cultures.”

Las Vegas’ championship comes at the end of a tumultuous season that saw the team now only be under .500 25 games into the season but also suffer a 53-point loss to a top-seeded Minnesota team that ranked as the second-largest loss in league history.

On the heels of that historic loss, the Aces went 25-3 the rest of the way in order to capture the hardware.

Aces trio A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray (left to right) pose after winning their third WNBA championship together in the last four seasons. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

“The journey,” guard Chelsea Gray said. “To be here right now and where we were in May and June, there was a lot of doubt besides in that locker room. We had confidence in each other so I’m just really proud of how we stayed the course.”

Las Vegas and its fans are expected to celebrate the team’s historic run with a championship parade next Friday back in the desert.

While coming up short ultimately, Phoenix came into Game 4 without all-star forward Satou Sabally (concussion) and would lose its head coach Nate Tibbetts to a two technical foul ejection in the third quarter.

More adversity came in the eventual season-ending loss for the Mercury as former Finals MVP Kahleah Copper fouled out in the fourth quarter after being met by a box-and-one defense for the second straight game by Hammon and company.

Copper was disqualified after scoring 30 points on 12-of-22 from the field.

Las Vegas forward A'ja Wilson makes a move in the post against Phoenix forward Alyssa Thomas. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Additionally, perennial MVP candidate Alyssa Thomas went down with less than 10 seconds left in the first half as she favored her right shoulder. She has had a history of shoulder injuries including tearing her labrum in both shoulders.

Thomas would battle through the pain as she returned to the contest and would conclude it with a 17-point, 12-rebound and 10-assist triple-double.

“This one hits different because it was different,” Hammon said. “Probably a lot more adversity that any of us anticipated and at the end of the day we’re all human. But we’re humans that wanted to get it right and get it right together.”

Las Vegas played a nearly perfect first half with zero turnovers committed as the team took a 16-point lead into halftime. It led at halftime in the final three games of the series.

While taking care of the ball, the Aces turned several Mercury mistakes into points on the other end. In total, the team scored 26 points off 18 home team turnovers.

Former WNBA Finals MVP Chelsea Gray makes a move on the perimeter while guarded by fellow former Finals MVP Kahleah Copper. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

As it did all season long, Phoenix battled back in the fourth quarter as it used an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to just six points. Not long after, Las Vegas pushed its lead back to 11 points after leading by as many as 20 points early in the third quarter.

Gray drilled two big three-pointers in the fourth quarter to help stave off a Phoenix comeback. The performance by the former Finals MVP netted her the fourth WNBA championship of her career, three of which have come with this Aces team.

“It’s been pretty cool to see the evolution of how great they have become since I’ve been here,” she said. “I knew I was going to play with some dynamic players, some players that were going to transform the game of basketball and we all had a common goal of winning.”

Wilson was named this year’s Finals MVP which goes down as the second of her Hall-of-Fame worthy career. Her resumé continues to build as she concludes the season with a Defensive Player of the Year award, an MVP, a championship and a Finals MVP.

“I still got a little more winning to do before you put me in that conversation with [Hall-of-Famer Michael Jordan],” she said. “But when you’re compared to greats, when you’re compared to legends, you’re doing something right.”

Las Vegas guard Jackie Young rifles a deep three-pointer in the face of Phoenix forward Alyssa Thomas during the team's Game 4 win on the road. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Guard Jackie Young had 18 points on the night with 10 coming in the fourth quarter.

“There’s a lot more time to talk about Jackie Young as well,” Gray said. “Jackie Young has transformed the guard position as well with what she’s been able to do offensively and defensively, it’s been amazing. She’s made a name for herself in this league and it’s just beautiful to see and be a part of.”

Fellow guard Jewell Loyd added 12 points off-the-bench as she led all players with a +18 plus/minus in a win that captured her third WNBA championship and her first with the Aces in her first season with the franchise. Moreover, she has never lost a game in the WNBA Finals, sporting a ridiculous 10-0 overall record in the Finals.

“I was kind of written off and exiled,” Loyd said. “But I ended up in the promised land.”