Overtime needed as Las Vegas advances to 5th WNBA Finals in franchise history

Las Vegas conducts a postgame interview after advancing to its third WNBA Finals in the last four years. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

The 200 minutes allotted for the WNBA Semifinals were not enough as an extra overtime session was needed for the Las Vegas Aces to eliminate the Indiana Fever.

Las Vegas bounced Indiana after taking Game 5, 107-98, Tuesday, Sept. 30 from Michelob Ultra Arena in the team’s second win-or-go-home scenario of this year’s playoffs. With the win, the two clubs split all eight meetings this season.

“I think I learned that every game, every possession that we play gets us ready for the next,” forward A’ja Wilson said. “I think that streak we went on prepared us for moments like this, how to fight through the highs and lows [...] It taught us to never take our foot off the gas.”

Since losing by 53 points to the Minnesota Lynx back in early August. Since then the team has gone 21-3 on the way to its fifth WNBA Finals appearance in team history.

Aces forward A'ja Wilson executes a post move while defended by Fever center Aliyah Boston. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Moreover, it’s the third Finals berth for the group in the last four years and the fourth since 2020.

“With the work that they put in – really on the defensive end too,” head coach Becky Hammon said. “Just coming together late in the season, putting that run together put us in this position. So, you’ve got to give a lot of credit to the players.”

Las Vegas will not only be headed back to the WNBA Finals but it will have the homecourt advantage as it prepares to matchup against a No. 4 Phoenix team. Game 1 is set for Friday, Oct. 3 from Michelob Ultra Arena with tip-off set for 5 p.m.

Former Finals MVP Chelsea Gray came up clutch again for her Aces team with eight points in the overtime session after recording just nine points through regulation. She drilled back-to-back big threes in the extra period while also getting a layup to go with 69 seconds left to put her team up six.

“It’s a blessing to play alongside Chelsea Gray,” Wilson said. “The look that I saw in her eyes when we lost in Indiana, I knew the Chelsea Gray we were going to get this game. These are experiences she’s been through time after time after time.”

Early in the third quarter, Gray went down momentarily as she held her right foot after going down while running a pick-and-roll from the top of the key.

Las Vegas forward A'ja Wilson imitates teammate Chelsea Gray's "Highlight Reel" celebration as she yells in excitement behind her. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

“When somebody goes down we know that we all have to step up a little bit more,” guard Jackie Young said. “I thought everybody did that. [Guard Jewell Loyd] was huge for us with the o-boards, with the hustle plays. She’s a vet, she’s been in this league a really long time and she’s been in a lot of these moments so I’m really proud of her.”

While Gray was able to return to the game, Indiana lost MVP finalist Kelsey Mitchell in the third quarter to a left leg injury. She would not return to action, leaving with 15 points in 23 minutes of the eventual loss.

Las Vegas led the entire second half en route to turning a two-point halftime lead into a nine-point advantage in the third quarter. While there were moments, the team found continued success playing out of its defense in the second half.

In the win, the Aces racked up 10 blocks and nine steals.

“I’ll just speak to the health of our bench, having no cancers on our bench,” Hammon said. “Even though it’s hard to sit there and watch and stay engaged. I mean, I just chucked [forward Kiah Stokes] out there with 20 seconds left knowing full well she’s going to be dependable on the defensive end.”

Las Vegas guard Jackie Young answers a postgame question from ESPN's Holly Rowe while flanked by teammates. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

At one point of that third quarter, Wilson successfully played the passing lane for a steal and save to teammate Dana Evans as she crashed into the scorer’s table. That play would end with a go-ahead pass to Young for one of her two and-one finishes.

Young finished the night with a 30-point, 10-assist double-double to go along with zero turnovers.

“I’m never mad at Jackie,” Hammon said. “She has been astronomical for us, not just scoring but distributing the ball, defending the toughest players. She is 94-feet on both ends. It’s tough, I ask a lot of her, I demand a lot out of her because I believe a lot in her.”

In that first quarter, Young along with Wilson combined for 15 points as the latter would lead all scorers in the contest with another 30-point performance.

Wilson tallied her third 30-point game of this playoff run and her second straight on her way to 35 points, eight rebounds and five assists. She did it on the defensive end as well with four steals and four blocks.

As she had all series long, she battled down low with Indiana center Aliyah Boston who would eventually foul out of the winner-take-all game.

In total, 20 combined fouls were called in the first half on the way to 45 for the game. Hammon was assessed a technical foul in the second quarter while arguing with an official.

“We didn’t keep the main thing the main thing at all,” Hammon said. “That was the problem. We know what our defensive…I don’t know. I lit into them at halftime because it was nothing of what we talked about.”

Even with the win, the Aces were outrebounded by 19 in addition to losing the points in the paint battle by eight.