Whatever superlatives are used to describe A’ja Wilson and her game, they are not enough.
The Las Vegas Aces center is more than the four-time MVP. More than the WNBA’s most prolific scorer and its most suffocating defender. She’s the best player on the planet right now, in that rare territory previously occupied by the likes of Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
The Las Vegas Aces are on the verge of their third title in four years because of Wilson. Her stepback jumper with Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner in her face with 0.3 seconds left Wednesday night is one of those instantly iconic plays, a shot that little girls, and boys, will spend hours in their driveways and backyards trying to recreate.
“She just drew up a play. It wasn’t really even a play,” Wilson said, referring to Aces coach Becky Hammon.
The play?
“Give the ball to A’ja and get out of the way,” Hammon said, laughing because it was so obvious.
“I’m appreciative Becky trusts me in those moments,” Wilson said. “Those are moments you live for.”
Of course Hammon trusts Wilson. She’d be a fool not to. Wilson has clutch in her DNA and ice in her veins, delivering in every big moment she’s been in. The NCAA title at South Carolina. Las Vegas’ previous two WNBA championships. The Paris Olympics last year.
Now these Finals, where Wilson is the first player in WNBA history with consecutive games of 25 or more points and 10 or more rebounds.
Wilson had 34 points and 14 boards, as well as four assists and three blocks, in the 90-88 win, which gave Las Vegas a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Friday night at Mortgage Market Center in Phoenix (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).
“It just feels a little bit better, obviously, because it’s the Finals,” Wilson said. “These are the moments that you dream of, these are just the times that you see on TV sometimes. You’re watching and you’re like, `Oh my God, to be in that building.’ It’s truly powerful.”
Like those legends who came before her, Wilson’s dominance has become so expected it’s almost underappreciated. Of course she’s going to have a double-double. Of course she’s going to shut down the opposing team’s best player. Of course she’s going to deliver the game-winning shot.
But to take Wilson’s skills, savvy and smoothness for granted is to miss out on watching greatness in real time. How many times have you wished you could have seen Russell play? Or tried to recall what it was like when Jordan took over games? You have that chance now with Wilson.
That’s what made her shot Wednesday night so spectacular. It was a slap-in-the-face, pour-water-on-your-head reminder of how lucky we are to be watching Wilson in her prime. She will be the best women’s basketball player of all time — and one of the best to play the game, period — by the time her career is over, and we have a front-row seat.
Las Vegas blew a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter, with Bonner making a pair of free throws to tie the game with 1:01 to play. On the next possession, Wilson was cutting beneath the basket when the ball slipped from her hands and went out of bounds with 40 seconds left.
“My biggest thing was I had to get it back,” Wilson said. “That would have crushed my whole soul to know that (cost Las Vegas the game) because that’s just something I don’t do.
“Becky trusts me, so I’ve got to make something happen.”
Thomas missed a layup with 20 seconds left, and the Aces got the rebound. Wanting to ensure Las Vegas got the last shot, Hammon called a timeout with five seconds left. Chelsea Gray inbounded the ball to Wilson, as expected, and Thomas and Bonner squared up to try and keep her from getting a look.
Wilson drove toward Bonner and, seeing no opening, spun around to create space. She elevated and took her shot as she leaned backward, the ball arcing over Thomas and Bonner. As the ball swished through the net, Wilson took several steps backward, roaring and sticking her tongue out in triumph.
“I didn’t really see who was in front of me. I didn’t care,” Wilson told ESPN after the game. “This is the Finals, you’ve got to make shots.”
Of course she did. That’s what the greats do, and Wilson is one of the greatest of them all.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
