Las Vegas Aces prevail in OT over Seattle Storm after wild, record-setting end to regulation

SEATTLE — After trading shots with the host Seattle Storm in the final seconds of an instant classic, the Las Vegas Aces made the final basket and then pulled away in overtime to win a thrilling Game 3 110-98 on Sunday and take a 2-1 lead in the teams' best-of-five semifinals series.

«This was a hell of a game,» said Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon. «I don't know if I've ever been a part of something like that — the back-and-forth and the battle.… Big shot after big shot from both sides, really.»

With 11.3 seconds remaining, Seattle had opened up a four-point lead after Jewell Loyd made a pair of free throws. The Aces answered almost immediately with a 3-pointer from Riquna Williams and had a chance to go ahead after Tina Charles missed two free throws on the Storm's subsequent possession.

A'ja Wilson took full advantage with a spinning basket in the paint that gave Las Vegas a 90-89 advantage with 2.9 seconds remaining. Now it was Seattle's time to answer with Sue Bird, playing her final season after announcing her retirement, making what looked like the game-winning 3-pointer from the corner inside the final second of play.

Instead, the Aces forced overtime with Jackie Young scoring at the buzzer.

«I think that this was probably the game where there were so many back-and-forths — oh they're going to win it, on no they're going to win it, now we're going to overtime,» said Las Vegas guard Chelsea Gray. «That's what playoff basketball is all about. It felt pretty good.»

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, there's never been a case of WNBA teams making three go-ahead or game-tying shots in the final three seconds of regulation during a playoff game. It hasn't happened in an NBA playoff game in at least the past 25