The Las Vegas Aces have the fourth game of the WNBA-Final series at home against the Phoenix Mercury Won with 97:86 (54:38). The Aces won the best-of-seven series 4-0 and won the title again after 2022 and 2023. The German international Satou Sabally was missing due to a concussion.
“We shed tears for this team because it means so much to us”said Aces coach Becky Hammon, recognizing her players: “They persevered and never let up.” WNBA top scorer A’ja Wilson also celebrated after winning her third title: “We understood the task. And we understood what lay ahead of us.” After the clear defeat in the final, Phoenix is still waiting for the next WNBA title since 2014.
Las Vegas Aces are the benchmark in the WNBA
Sabally also missed out on becoming the fourth German basketball player with a championship title in the US women’s basketball league WNBA, after Marlies Askamp, Leonie Fiebich and her sister Nyara. The 27-year-old missed the fourth game after suffering a concussion in the third game.
There she collided with an opponent at the end of the final quarter and remained on the ground for minutes. The team supervisors had to abandon their first attempt to help her get up. Sabally had a strong third game and impressed in the finals with an average of 21.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
Final MVP A’ja Wilson celebrates winning the title with coach Becky Hammon (r.)
The Aces also controlled the fourth meeting of the finals series and took a 16-point lead at halftime. For Las Vegas, Wilson stood out with 31 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks. “We just had to believe in each other, and it shows. We’re grateful. We’re blessed. I wouldn’t do it with any other team.”said the happy 29-year-old, who was then named the most valuable player in the finals.
American A’ja Wilson with one more impressive season
And that after the two-time Olympic champion had already won the main round MVPtitle had won. In WNBA history, only six other players have won both MVP awards in one season. The Aces celebrated their third championship, just that Minnesota Lynx, Houston Comets and Seattle Storm have four more titles in the WNBA.