Aces Edge Storm as Wilson Shines in Playoff Thriller
The Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm delivered one of the most gripping finishes of the WNBA playoffs so far, and the decisive Game 3 came down to the final seconds. The Aces survived with a 74-73 victory, powered almost entirely by a breathtaking performance from A’ja Wilson. She poured in 38 points, tying her playoff career high, and reminded everyone why she had just been named Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
From the start, this matchup felt like a battle of wills. The Storm jumped out with an early 19-14 lead after the first quarter, capped by an 8-0 run. Skylar Diggins buried a rainbow three-pointer during that stretch, and Erica Wheeler came off the bench hot, scoring five quick points. It looked like Seattle had the energy to stun the Aces again, especially after snapping Las Vegas’ 16-game winning streak earlier in the series.
But the Aces did what they’ve done all season — they fought back. By halftime, Las Vegas had flipped momentum, holding Seattle to just seven points in the second quarter and grabbing a 33-26 lead. Wilson was already in double figures, and Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray gave just enough support to keep the offense flowing. Even with those sparks, the game never got comfortable for Las Vegas.
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The Storm kept hanging around. Wheeler and Nneka Ogwumike chipped away, while Diggins stayed aggressive. By the end of the third, the Aces were clinging to a 52-48 lead, and the stage was set for a wild finish.
The final two minutes had everything you’d want from playoff basketball. With under 20 seconds left, Wheeler nailed a pull-up jumper to give Seattle a 73-72 lead, silencing the Las Vegas crowd. But the Aces refused to fold. On the very next possession, Wilson’s contested shot rimmed out, yet Jackie Young was right there to clean it up, tipping in the go-ahead bucket with 12.4 seconds to play.
Seattle had one last chance. Wheeler got a look at another jumper, but it bounced off. Gabby Williams scrambled for the rebound, but the buzzer sounded before she could get a shot away. The arena exploded in relief as the Aces celebrated their seventh straight trip to the semifinals.
Wilson carried an enormous load, scoring more than half of her team’s points and adding rebounds, steals, and blocks. Young finished with 14, Gray chipped in 12, and together they combined for 64 of the Aces’ 74 points. On the other side, Wheeler and Ogwumike led the Storm with 16 apiece, while Diggins added 13.
It was a heartbreaking end for Seattle, but for Las Vegas, it was another step in their championship pursuit. Wilson summed it up afterward: the job isn’t done, the first round is behind them, and now the focus shifts to the semifinals against the surging Indiana Fever.
This one will be remembered as a playoff classic — a game where the Storm nearly stole it, but Wilson and the Aces proved once again that championship grit is never easy to knock out.
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