Jackie Young made history in the WNBA Finals by scoring a record-breaking 21 points in the third quarter, contributing a total of 32 points to lead the Las Vegas Aces to a 91-78 win over the Phoenix Mercury, securing a 2-0 series advantage on Sunday. The Aces will now head to Arizona for Game 3, aiming to further solidify their lead as they pursue their third championship in four years. On the other hand, the Mercury face a challenging task of winning four out of the next five games to clinch their fourth title, which would equal the WNBA record.
Young, who matched her career playoff high in points, narrowly missed setting the league record of 22 points in a single post-season quarter, a feat achieved by only three players, with Jewell Loyd of the Aces accomplishing it most recently in 2021 against the Mercury. A’ja Wilson contributed 28 points, with 20 of them coming in the first half, along with 14 rebounds, while Chelsea Gray added 10 points and 10 assists to the Aces’ victory.
Kahleah Copper led the scoring for the Mercury with 23 points, followed by Satou Sabally with 22 points and Alyssa Thomas with 10 points, despite facing foul trouble throughout the game. Phoenix started strong, scoring the first seven points and amassing 27 points in the first quarter, but their offensive momentum waned as the Aces limited them to a combined 24 points in the subsequent two quarters.
With a commanding 76-51 lead entering the fourth quarter, the Aces extended their advantage to as much as 22 points, sealing their victory. A notable trend in the series emerged as Aces coach Becky Hammon maintained her undefeated record in Game 2 matchups in Las Vegas, now standing at 9-0, with an average margin of victory exceeding 17 points.
