Who needs a cape when you’ve got a jersey and a killer mentality? A’ja Wilson did her best Kobe Bryant impression on Friday night, donning her ‘Mamba Mentality’ and leading the Las Vegas Aces to a 95-81 victory over the New York Liberty in a must-win semifinal showdown. Wilson wasn’t just inspired—she was downright possessed, refusing to let the Liberty stroll into the WNBA Finals without a fight.
With the Aces facing elimination and a season on the brink, Wilson delivered a performance so clutch that it could make even the most stoic of opponents sweat. The reigning MVP racked up 19 points and a staggering 14 rebounds, swatting away any hopes of a Liberty sweep like she was tossing aside a bad shot attempt.
No Rest for the Wicked (Talented)
At one point, Wilson’s coaches tried to give her a breather, presumably to keep her legs fresh. But Wilson—channeling her inner coach Kobe—shook her head, practically shouting, “Nah, I’m good.” “Sitting down in a game like this? Are you kidding me?” Wilson quipped afterward. “That’s like quitting. I’d rather run through a brick wall than take a break.”
With eyes blazing and the crowd roaring, she made it clear: the Aces were not going down on her watch. In that electrifying atmosphere, every point she scored seemed to turn into a defibrillator shock for a team on life support.
A Little Help from Her Friends
But wait—this wasn’t a one-woman show, even though Wilson stole the spotlight. The Aces had reinforcements, and they were ready to rumble. Jackie Young decided to turn into a scoring machine, pouring in 24 points. Meanwhile, Kelsey Plum, aka the silent assassin, added 20 points to keep the Liberty’s defense guessing. Not to be left out, Tiffany Hayes and Chelsea Gray chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively, making this a real team effort. It’s like Wilson had a squad of basketball Avengers backing her up, each taking turns to hit New York where it hurt.
The Aces’ victory was no ordinary win—it was a record-breaker. By defending home court, they extended their playoff winning streak at the T-Mobile Arena to a jaw-dropping 12 games, a WNBA record. Take that, New York!
What’s Next? Another Nail-Biter
The Liberty thought they had this series locked up after winning the first two games, but Wilson and her crew just threw a wrench into those plans. Now, the series heads to a high-stakes Game 4 on Sunday, where the Aces will be itching to even the score and send chills down the Liberty’s spine. Can New York close it out, or will Las Vegas force a Game 5? All we know is that if Wilson’s in ‘Mamba Mode’ again, the Liberty might need a miracle—or a lot of ice packs.
One thing’s for sure: popcorn’s going to sell out fast. Stay tuned, because this WNBA drama is just getting started!