Oct 10, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; A view of the offical game ball during the second half of game one of the 2021 WNBA Finals between the Phoenix Mercury and the Chicago Sky at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images A’ja Wilson had 19 points and 14 rebounds and Jackie Young added 24 points as the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces kept their season alive with a 95-81 victory over the visiting New York Liberty in Game 3 of their WNBA semifinal series.
Kelsey Plum scored 20 points, Tiffany Hayes had 11 and Chelsea Gray added 10 as the Aces extended their home playoff winning streak to a WNBA record 12 games. Wilson’s double-double was the 20th of her career in the playoffs.
Game 4 of the best-of-five series will be Sunday in Las Vegas.
Breanna Stewart scored 19 points, while Jonquel Jones added 11 for the Liberty, who lost for the first time in five playoff games this year. Leonie Fiebich had 10 points for New York.
The Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu, who averaged 24.5 points over the first four playoff games, was held scoreless through three quarters and finished with four points on 1-of-7 shooting.
The Liberty lost to the Aces for the first time in their past six regular-season and playoff games.
After the Aces took a 52-49 lead at the break, it was all Las Vegas in the third quarter. The Aces outscored the Liberty 21-6 in the third by going on a 17-0 run to take a 73-53 lead.
New York was 2-of-14 (14.3 percent) from the floor in the third quarter and made just one 3-pointer in seven attempts.
The Aces opened the fourth quarter on a 5-0 run to push their advantage to 78-55 before Ionescu finally made a free throw with nine minutes remaining. Her lone field goal came on a 3-pointer with 8:08 left.
The Aces won while playing without Kiah Stokes (concussion) for the second consecutive game. Alysha Clark started in her place and scored five points with five rebounds in 29 minutes.
–Field Level Media
