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LOS ANGELES: The Las Vegas Aces, powered by 31 points from A’ja Wilson, captured their third title in four seasons on Friday, beating Phoenix 97-86 to complete a sweep of the WNBA Finals.

Wilson went 7-of-21 from the floor but 17-of-19 from the free throw line and added nine rebounds, four assists, three blocked shots and two steals as the visiting Aces took the best-of-seven championship series 4-0.

“We understood the assignment and what was in front of us,” Wilson said. “All we had to do was believe in one another and you see that. We’re grateful. We’re blessed. I wouldn’t do it with any other group.”

Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young each added 18 points, Young also contributing eight assists and seven rebounds, and Jewell Loyd had 12 points on 4-of-8 three-point shooting for the Aces.

The only other team to win so many crowns in so short a span was the Houston Comets, who took the first four WNBA titles from 1997-2000.

“We shed tears over this team because we care so much,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “They kept at it, kept on it... they were just going to give until the wheels came off.”

Wilson, a 29-year-old American center, captured her third career title, all with Las Vegas, and became the first player in WNBA or NBA history to win a scoring title, Defensive Player of the Year award, season Most Valuable Player award and finals MVP trophy in the same season.

“For us to be able to celebrate this is truly special,” Wilson said. “I wish I could take this credit but it’s God working.”

Wilson is a four-time WNBA MVP, three-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and two-time Olympic champion with the United States.

“We’ve got the best plyer in the world in A’ja Wilson,” Gray said after her fourth career WNBA title. “This team has been through hell and back. What a run. Everyone stepped up.

“We’re champions baby.”

Loyd, an American guard, also captured her third WNBA title, having won two with Seattle before joining the Aces this season.

Kahleah Copper led Phoenix with 30 points while Alyssa Thomas had a triple double with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.

Wilson, who scored the winning basket with 0.3 of a second remaining for a 90-88 Aces triumph in game three, dominated early in game four.

‘Hit early and often’

Wilson scored 12 points in the first quarter, sparking the Aces to a 30-21 lead by shooting 4-of-8 from the floor and 4-of-5 from the free throw line.

“That was aggressive,” Hammon said. “We want her to hit early and often.”

Las Vegas opened the second quarter with a 12-2 run for a 42-23 edge and never looked back, the Aces pulling ahead 54-38 at halftime by dominating the Mercury with a solid zone defensive scheme.

The Aces shot 9-of-17 from three-point range in the first half, matching their WNBA Finals record for three-pointers in a half from game three. Loyd led the way with three three-pointers.

Thomas collided with Loyd with 9.2 seconds to go in the second quarter and fell to the court with a right shoulder injury, but she returned for the second half.

Loyd’s offensive foul on the play was the only Aces turnover of the first half. Las Vegas scored 15 first-half points off nine Mercury turnovers.

The Aces stretched the lead as high as 58-38 before Phoenix rallied within 66-54 with 3:41 remaining in the third quarter.

Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts was ejected one minute later after arguing a foul call and the Aces surged ahead 76-62 entering the fourth quarter.

Phoenix opened the fourth with a 8-0 run to close within 76-70, but Las Vegas answered with a 6-0 run and the Mercury never got within six again.
 

ROME: The city of Udine has put extraordinary security measures in place ahead of Italy’s upcoming World Cup soccer qualifier with Israel, as a pro-Palestinian march will go ahead on the day of the game, even after Israel and Hamas agreed on a peace deal.
The agreement, ratified by Israel’s government on Friday, includes a ceasefire and plan to free Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
March organizer Committee for Palestine-Udine opposes what it calls the “violence of the Israeli occupation in Palestinian territories,” and expects over 10,000 people to attend on Tuesday, hours before the game kicks off at the Stadio Friuli.
“Our demands remain unchanged,” a group spokesperson told Reuters, calling the match a “game of shame.”
“We stand alongside the Palestinian people, for their right to self-determination, their right of return, and their right to live a life free from occupation, in Gaza and throughout Palestine.”
“Our pressure will cease only when the Palestinian people are fully free.” More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s assault on Gaza, launched after Hamas-led militants stormed through Israeli towns and a music festival on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages. Israeli troops began pulling back on Friday under the agreement, which is the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war between Israel and the Hamas militant group.
The Municipality of Udine issued a number of restrictions on Friday, with road closures and parking limitations coming into effect from Saturday, and is installing concrete barriers in the stadium area to establish security zones.
There is a ban on serving food and drink in glass, ceramic, or tin containers on the day of the match, and all outdoor furnishings must be removed from outside public establishments.
The National Observatory on Sporting Events has assigned the highest risk level to the game, and the Prefecture of Udine, a government authority, said the march could present an opportunity for infiltration by violent groups.
March organizers say they have no intention of preventing the game from going ahead, with the protest taking place well away from the stadium, but other demonstrations could take place.
Israel plays Norway in Oslo on Saturday, with Italy away to Estonia. Norway tops Group I on 15 points from five games, Italy is second on nine points after four matches, level with Israel, who has played a game more.