How to watch South Carolina WBB great A’ja Wilson in WNBA Finals
For the fourth time in her career, former South Carolina legend A’ja Wilson has led the Las Vegas Aces to the WNBA Finals.
Wilson and the Aces will kick off their quest for a third WNBA title (in the last four seasons, no less) on Friday when they take on the Phoenix Mercury at home.
The Aces started off slowly this season but won 21 of their last 24 games, including closing out the year on a 16-game win streak, to secure the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
“It does definitely feel a lot different than the ones before, only because we went through the mud for this one,” Wilson told the Las Vegas Review-Journal of this year’s trip to the Finals.
Wilson won her fourth WNBA MVP award at the conclusion of the regular season. She averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds per game and became the only player in WNBA history to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal in a season this year.
Wilson is the only player in the league’s history to win four MVP awards.
Las Vegas advanced to the Finals after defeating the Seattle Sonics in the first round series (2-1) and beating the Indiana Fever in the semifinals (3-2).
Wilson averaged 29.3 points and 8.7 rebounds in the three-game series against the Sonics. She scored a playoff career-high 38 points in the Aces’ series-clinching one-point win over Seattle in Game 3.
The MVP averaged 24 points and 9.4 rebounds in the five-game series against the Fever. Wilson battled with fellow Gamecock alum Aliyah Boston in the post throughout the series. She closed out the series with back-to-back 30-point games, including a 35-point performance in Game 5 on Monday night.
Wilson is currently averaging 26 points, 9.1 rebounds, three assists, 2.8 blocks and 2.6 steals in the playoffs. Her marks for points, steals and blocks are all playoff career highs.
“Congrats on making it to yet another (WNBA) finals,” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley tweeted. “There’s only one [South Carolina women’s basketball player] left so you know you have to go out there and win another! Proud of you! Love A!”
Las Vegas is currently the favorite to win the WNBA Finals, according to ESPN BET. The Aces won the regula-season series over the Mercury 3-1. Wilson averaged 25 points and 15.7 rebounds over the three games where Las Vegas beat Phoenix.
The Mercury are the No. 4 seed in the playoffs and are coming off a 3-1 semifinals series victory over the Minnesota Lynx, who fell short of a WNBA title last season.
WNBA Finals schedule, TV information
Game 1
- Phoenix Mercury at Las Vegas Aces
- Friday, Oct. 3
- 8 p.m. on ESPN
Game 2
- Phoenix Mercury at Las Vegas Aces
- Sunday, Oct. 5
- 3 p.m. on ABC
Game 3
- Las Vegas Aces at Phoenix Mercury
- Wednesday, October 8
- 8:00 p.m. on ESPN
Game 4
- Las Vegas Aces at Phoenix Mercury
- Friday, October 10
- 8:00 p.m. on ESPN
Game 5*
- Phoenix Mercury at Las Vegas Aces
- Sunday, October 12
- 3:00 p.m. on ABC
Game 6*
- Las Vegas Aces at Phoenix Mercury
- Wednesday, October 15
- 8:00 p.m. on ESPN
Game 7*
- Phoenix Mercury at Las Vegas Aces
- Friday, October 17
- 8:00 p.m. on ESPN
*only played if necessary
