WNBA Finals: ACES beat Mercury in J2 and increase advantage
Jackie Young wore 32 points and guided the victory of the Aces in the second game of the WNBA Finals.
Las Vegas Aces became strong this Sunday at the Michelob Ultra Arena in the city of the game and increased their advantage over the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA finals to the best of the seven games, with a triumph by 91-78 to the rhythm of a Jackie Young that signed 21 of its 32 in the third period.
The Aces of Becky Hammon are closer to the third WNBA ring in their history, after those of 2022 and 2023. They won with fright in the fifth and decisive party of the semifinals against the Indiana Fever and also in the first of the finals, but this Sunday they gave an unquestionable test of force.
Young finished the game with 32 points (12 of 20 in field shots) and eight rebounds in 34 minutes on the track, while A’ja Wilson contributed 32 points and fourteen rebounds, after the 21 points scored in the first meeting of the series. The ACES also could have a double of 10 points and 10 assists from Chelsea Gray to entertain the public that filled the Las Vegas pavilion.
They did it from their two brightest stars. A’ja Wilson, Quadruple MVP of the WNBA, taught the way to his companions with a first half of 20 points and eight rebounds. His amazing scoring rhythm frustrated the good start of Las Mercury, which sealed an initial 7-0 and sent for eight points to the beginning of the first quarter, before succumbing to the reaction of the ACES.
A 10-0 partial, followed by another of 14-2 at the beginning of the second quarter they turned the scoreboard and, from then on, a spectacular monologue of the ACES began.
A’ja Wilson signed the best first half of his career in some WNBA finals and the ACES returned to the costumes above 46-37.
And the Mercury got another problem in the third quarter, when Jackie Young scored from practically all the positions of half of the offensive field.
He connected eight of his eleven field shots, two of three in triples and achieved a perfect three of three from the free line to reach 21 points in ten minutes of the third quarter.
This is the best performance in a period of the WNBA finals. The ACES reached the 17 points of advantage in the 74-57 that the meeting was practically sentenced.
The Mercury trimmed the disadvantage in the fourth period, but it was too late to think about a comeback. Kahleah Copper was Phoenix’s scorer leader with 23 points, while Satou Sabally contributed 22 points and nine rebounds.
The series now moves to the nearby Phoenix, about four and a half hours by car from Las Vegas, for the third and fourth game, set respectively on Wednesday and Friday.
If necessary, the fifth encounter would be played again at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. Always being necessary, the sixth duel would be played in Phoenix and the hypothetical seventh, in Las Vegas.
EFE
