The Phoenix Mercury found themselves down in the WNBA Finals and with the series shifting to the desert for Game 3, they had an opportunity to cut into the series deficit in front of their home fans at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Wednesday night.

Despite a valiant effort from the Phoenix, the team ran into the buzzsaw known as the Las Vegas Aces, led by superstar A’ja Wilson.

In front of a roaring Phoenix crowd desperate to see their team fight back, Wilson silenced the arena with one of the most dominant performances of her career — a display of power, precision, and poise that proved exactly why she’s the reigning MVP and the undisputed face of the league.

When the dust settled, Wilson had racked up 39 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks, leading the Aces to a commanding 98–83 victory and a near-insurmountable grip on the Finals.

“This is what greatness looks like,” head coach Becky Hammon said postgame. “She refused to let us lose tonight. Every time Phoenix made a push, A’ja answered — whether it was with a bucket, a stop, or just her presence. That’s an MVP. That’s a leader. That’s A’ja Wilson.”

From the very first possession, Wilson made it clear she was on a mission. She opened the game by scoring the Aces’ first eight points, bullying her way into the paint against Brittney Griner and hitting silky mid-range jumpers with ease. By halftime, she already had 24 points and 9 rebounds — a stat line that had even Mercury fans applauding her sheer dominance.

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Las Vegas defeated the Mercury 90-88 to take a 3-0 series lead and is now just one win away from clinching the franchise’s third championship in four seasons.

But it wasn’t an easy victory for the Aces, after they had to fend off a late comeback attempt from Phoenix.

With the game tied 88-88 and the clock winding down, the 29-year-old Wilson showed why she was recently named the league’s Most Valuable Player for a record-breaking fourth time.

Wilson got the ball on the inbounds pass and with two Mercury defenders contesting her clear intention to win the game, she rose to sink the go-ahead jumper to shock the Mercury and their fans.

Wilson finished the game with 34 points and 14 rebounds, becoming the first player in WNBA Finals history to record three consecutive games with 25 or more points and 10 rebounds.

Indeed, the Aces’ unity was on full display in Game 3. Jackie Young added 22 points and 7 assists, while Kelsey Plum chipped in 17 with three clutch triples. Alysha Clark, one of the league’s most underrated defenders, made life miserable for Phoenix’s guards, diving for loose balls and forcing turnovers. But even amid all that team brilliance, the night belonged to Wilson.

Her performance had echoes of Finals legends — the kind of singular effort that defines careers. Social media exploded after the game, with fans and athletes alike calling it one of the greatest Finals showings in WNBA history. “A’ja Wilson is playing on a different planet,” tweeted NBA star LeBron James. “Pure domination.”

With the sweep now in sight, the Aces are poised to complete one of the greatest runs the league has ever seen. A win in Game 4 would not only secure their third straight championship but also solidify their place among the all-time great teams — alongside the Comets, the Sparks, and the Lynx dynasties of years past.

Game 2 hero Jackie Young added 21 points and nine assists.

Phoenix went on multiple runs throughout the first three quarters to keep the contest close, but despite that, it felt like Las Vegas was never not in control.

However, the Mercury turned on the pressure in the final quarter behind forwards Satou Sabally and DeWanna Bonner.

Late in the fourth quarter, with the Mercury down 10 points, Sabally had to be helped off the court with the assistance of trainers after appearing to sustain a head injury.

The Mercury used the injury as motivation, immediately going on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to one point with just over three minutes remaining.

After both teams traded buckets, Bonner was fouled and made both free throws to tie the game.

Just when many thought it was going to be the Mercury stealing the game, it was Wilson that had other plans.

Bonner, who finished with 25 points off the bench, saw her last second heave bounce off the rim, leaving the arena stunned in silence.

Wilson shared a simple message when asked what Aces coach Becky Hammon said to her in the huddle with the game on the line.

“Just go get it done,” Wilson told the ESPN broadcast after the game.

“That was it. (Hammon) just drew up a play and she said ‘just do it.’ She didn’t say much because I already understood the assignment.”

Afterwards, Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts did not have an update on Sabally, who finished with 24 points.

The Aces will look to clinch the championship in Game 4, scheduled for Friday in Phoenix.

A’ja Wilson has done it again — and this time, she may have just etched her name into WNBA immortality. The Las Vegas Aces superstar delivered a monumental performance in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals, lifting her team to a decisive 3-0 series lead over the Phoenix Mercury and putting them just one win away from a historic third consecutive championship.

“I came out with one mindset — finish the job,” Wilson told ESPN after the game. “We’ve worked too hard all season to let up now. We respect Phoenix, but we’re not here to play around. We’re here to make history.”

Make history, indeed. With the Game 3 win, the Aces now stand just one victory away from becoming the first team in over two decades to win three straight WNBA titles — something last achieved by the Houston Comets dynasty in the late ’90s. But while the record books beckon, Wilson and her teammates are keeping their focus on the moment.

“She’s carrying us,” teammate Jackie Young said, shaking her head in awe. “Every time I think I’ve seen the best of A’ja, she tops it. She’s not just playing for stats — she’s playing for legacy. And we all feel that.”

Wilson’s all-around impact went far beyond the box score. Defensively, she was a fortress. Every Mercury drive into the lane ended the same way — with Wilson swatting shots, altering angles, and intimidating anyone who dared challenge her. On offense, she dictated the game’s tempo, switching seamlessly between powerful post moves and smooth face-up jumpers. When Phoenix tried to double-team, she kicked out perfectly to Kelsey Plum or Alysha Clark for open threes, keeping the Mercury’s defense scrambling all night long.

Even Diana Taurasi — the Mercury’s fearless veteran — couldn’t help but give credit. “A’ja’s the best player in the world right now,” Taurasi admitted in her postgame presser. “You can try everything — switch, double, zone — and she still finds a way. That’s greatness.”

Despite Taurasi’s praise, frustration was written all over the Mercury bench. Griner battled valiantly with 21 points and 10 rebounds, but foul trouble and fatigue took their toll. Kahleah Copper added 18, yet Phoenix could never find a rhythm against the relentless Las Vegas defense. Each time they made a small run, Wilson responded with another statement play — a thunderous putback dunk, a fadeaway jumper, or a crowd-silencing block.

By the final minutes, the Aces were in full control, the game slipping into celebration mode for Vegas fans who had traveled to Phoenix in droves. When Wilson was subbed out with a minute left, the visiting crowd erupted into chants of “M-V-P! M-V-P!” as she smiled and hugged Hammon on the sideline.

But in typical A’ja Wilson fashion, she refused to bask too long in the moment. “We’ve still got work to do,” she said firmly. “It’s 3-0, not 4-0. We can’t relax. The job’s not finished.”

That laser-sharp mentality is what has defined Wilson’s rise from collegiate superstar to WNBA legend. Since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2018, she’s transformed the Aces from a promising young team into a dynasty built on discipline, dominance, and sheer willpower. Her MVP campaign this season has been nothing short of extraordinary — leading the league in scoring, anchoring one of its toughest defenses, and doing it all with unshakable composure.

“People talk about superteams,” said ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike. “But what Vegas has is something deeper — culture. And A’ja is the heart of that culture. She sets the tone, on and off the court. Every player follows her lead.”

For Wilson, though, it’s not just about banners or trophies — it’s about legacy. “When I came into this league, I wanted to build something special,” she reflected. “Not just win games, but change the game. To see how far we’ve come, how much we’ve grown as a team — it’s emotional. But we’re not done yet. Not until that confetti falls again.”

As the Aces prepare for Game 4 back in Las Vegas, the message is clear: history is calling, and A’ja Wilson is ready to answer. Her dominance has already defined an era — now, she’s one win away from cementing her dynasty.

And if Game 3 was any indication, she won’t just win — she’ll own the moment. Because right now, the WNBA doesn’t just belong to the Aces.

It belongs to A’ja Wilson.