A’ja Wilson’s Game-Winning Buzzer-Beater: 20 Years in the Making

In a nail-biting finish on Sunday, the Las Vegas Aces emerged victorious against the Chicago Sky with a final score of 77-75. The thrilling game came down to the final seconds when Aces coach Becky Hammon had to make a quick decision on a potential game-winning play. The stakes were heightened by the fact that she was up against her former teammate from the New York Liberty, Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon.

With just 1.1 seconds on the clock, Hammon reflected on various plays from her time in New York, particularly one created by former Liberty coach Richie Adubato. However, knowing that Weatherspoon was well acquainted with those plays led her to choose a different strategy.

The execution of Hammon’s plan required precise teamwork and skill, two qualities her star players Chelsea Gray and A’ja Wilson delivered seamlessly. The Aces needed that winning play to secure the victory, and they managed to pull it off with finesse.

The successful play commenced with Kelsey Plum stationed at the strong-side block, and A’ja Wilson positioned at the elbow. Megan Gustafson and Jackie Young provided spacing by lingering around the perimeter. Gray was set to inbound the ball, her role pivotal in the design of the final play.

As Gray received the ball, Wilson executed a screen for Plum, who then curled toward the basket, while Gustafson set her own pick for Young. What appeared to be potential scoring options were merely decoys, allowing for a strategic play.

Instead of making her way to the basket, Plum spun around to set a back pick for Wilson, who swiftly moved toward the rim. Just as Plum dove in to set the screen, Gray’s pass took flight. Wilson recalled, “I saw the shadow of the ball before I saw the ball and I was like, ‘OK, this wasn’t the timing we drew up, but alright.'”

Although Gray may have sent the pass a fraction early, it landed perfectly in Wilson’s hands. “When it comes to trusting someone with a pass, it’s always gonna be Chelsea Gray for me,” Wilson stated, highlighting the trust she places in her teammate.

Thanks to Plum’s effective screen, Angel Reese was taken out of the defensive equation. The actions of Gustafson and Young at the top of the key prevented the Sky from providing backside help, allowing Wilson to catch the ball right beneath the basket. She made an easy layup, sealing the game for the Aces.

While Gray and Wilson received deserved accolades for their pivotal roles in the game, Hammon emphasized Plum’s importance to the successful play. “She really takes a lot of pride in her screening, and there’s a lot of combinations that we use with her and A’ja,” Hammon explained. “That was a heck of a pass by Chelsea, but the real special part there was Plum’s screen.”

Wilson’s performance stood out on the scoreboard too, as she amassed 20 points and 18 rebounds, despite shooting just 8-of-28 from the field during the game. Reflecting on her struggles, Wilson expressed her relief at making the final shot count, saying, “In that moment I was just trying to do my job… I was very frustrated, but my teammates were the ones that just kept uplifting me to keep shooting the basketball.” She concluded her thoughts by celebrating the team’s determination to win: “I was so glad we were able to deliver and be on the winning side.”