Las Vegas Aces Secure Playoff Berth with Emphatic Victory Over Phoenix Mercury

Aces Dominate Mercury in Decisive Game 3

The Las Vegas Aces punched their ticket to the WNBA playoffs with a resounding 85-71 victory over the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of their first-round series. The Aces, who finished the regular season with the league's best record, showcased their championship pedigree with a dominant performance at home.

Key Takeaways

• A'ja Wilson led the Aces with 29 points and 14 rebounds.
• Riquna Williams added 20 points, while Chelsea Gray dished out 10 assists.
• The Aces held the Mercury to just 37% shooting from the field.

The Aces set the tone early, jumping out to a 10-point lead in the first quarter. They continued to extend their advantage in the second quarter, taking a commanding 45-31 lead into halftime.

The Mercury, who were led by Diana Taurasi's 18 points, fought back in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to five points. However, the Aces responded with a 10-0 run to put the game out of reach.

In addition to Wilson's impressive performance, the Aces received valuable contributions from Williams and Gray. Williams' 20 points came on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, while Gray's 10 assists helped facilitate the Aces' offense.

The victory marks the Aces' first playoff series win since 2019. They will now face the Seattle Storm in the second round of the playoffs.