The record of Jackie Young 21 points Quarter propels the aces 2-0 in advance on Mercury in the WNBA final

Jackie Young, exhausted by the series of exhausting semi-final of five games against Indiana, was not quite herself when the aces started the WNBA final against Phoenix and even did something rare during the opening. She asked out of the game.

But after a day of rest, there was no young stop on Sunday.

She set a final record with 21 points in the third quarter, finishing with 32 to transport Las Vegas to a 91-78 victory against the Mercury visiting and the series of the 2-0 series.

Match 3 is Wednesday in Arizona, where the ACE hopes to put an end to the series as they continue their third title in four years. The Mercury has the big task of needing to win four of the five games to capture their fourth championship, which would equalize the record of the WNBA.

Young, who has equaled a career in qualifying series in total terms, did not reach the 22-point league record for any post-season district. Three players have accomplished that, more recently in 2021, when the Young teammate Jewell Loyd struck this number for Seattle against Mercury.

“We had some game calls for her, but it was really that she was really aggressive and in attack mode,” said ACES head coach Becky Hammon. “I always stimulate her to be in attack mode. … When she strikes 3-ball and gets a couple to descend, it becomes difficult for her to be defended because she is fast, she is tall, strong.”

On Friday, Young’s performance was an answer to the Victory 1 of the Aces when it scored 10 points and only made 3 of the 13 shots.

“My shots were very short,” said Young. “I received everything I wanted to match 1, but they were darts. I was trying to change it, but I didn’t just have it. Fortunately, we have a lot of great players in this team.”

The MVP of the League on four times A’ja Wilson scored 20 of its 28 points in the first half and succeeded in 14 rebounds. If Wilson had scored two more points, the AS would have been the first team to have two 30 -point scorers in a match of the WNBA final.

Chelsea Gray continues to have an impact

“Take the figures, I’m so proud of Jackie,” said Wilson. “When you see someone who works so hard every day and you can see the hard work bearing fruit, it’s a nice thing to see. I am so grateful to be her teammate and come to work with her every day.”

Chelsea Gray finished with 10 points and 10 assists, her fifth double-double in the playoffs in these categories, bringing her to fourth row in the history of the playoffs. She also had eight rebounds, three blocked shots and three interceptions.

Kahleah Copper led Mercury with 23 points, Sutou scored 22 and Alyssa Thomas had 10 while facing a great understanding.

Sabally injured the right ankle in the fourth quarter, but Mercury’s head coach Nate Tibbetts said he had not had an update on his status. Phoenix brought Sabally to the press conference room, usually a sign that a player is not seriously injured, and she said: “I’m fine.”

As in match 1 when they started with an advance of 10-2, the Mercury came out strong, marking the first seven points. Phoenix ended with 27 points at the first quarter, but the AS then held the Mercury at 24 points combined during the following two periods.

At this stage, the ACEs had taken care of, leading 76-51 in the fourth and finally increased up to 22 points.

Any Hammon team in a match 2 in Las Vegas is asking for problems. She ran her record at 9-0 with this victory, the average margin being more than 17 points.

Now it’s on match 3.

“We are delighted to go and play in our original arena,” said Tibbetts. “Vegas did what they are supposed to do. I think we played a very good match 1, and they went out and were ready today.”