SEATTLE (AP) โ This time there were tears, on the court and in the stands. The finality of the situation finally hitting Sue Bird and the thousands that showed up hoping to see her career continue for at least 40 more minutes.
Chelsea Gray was simply too good, sending the Las Vegas Aces to the WNBA Finals and in the process brought an end to Birdโs illustrious career.
Gray scored 15 of her 31 points in the fourth quarter and the Aces advanced to the WNBA Finals with a 97-92 win over the Seattle Storm in Game 4 of their semifinal series on Tuesday night.
The Aces won the best-of-five series 3-1, all the games tense, pressure-packed and filled with spectacular shot-making. The Aces ended up making more, most notably Gray, who made five of six shots down the stretch and scored 12 of the final 20 points for the Aces.
โI donโt think anyone on planet Earth can guard her,โ Seattle coach Noelle Quinn said. โShe was unconscious.โ
It will be the third Finals appearance in franchise history for Las Vegas. The Aces lost to Seattle in 2020 in the WNBA bubble played in Florida, and the franchise reached the Finals in 2008 while still in San Antonio, losing to Detroit.
โItโs kind of like the girl that beat Serena (Williams). Itโs bittersweet,โ Aces coach Becky Hammon said. โI know myself and our staff and team and organization have so much respect for Sue. Sheโs had a fairytale career, one that kids dream of. She got to live it.โ
Breanna Stewart tied the WNBA playoff record with 42 points, just the fifth player to score 40 or more in a postseason game, and Jewell Loyd added 29. But Seattle failed to find a third scorer and the Aces had an answer for every charge Seattle made after Las Vegas surged in front early in the second half.
The Aces will get the spotlight in the Finals. On this night, the aftermath of the result was all about Bird and the conclusion to her two decades as a pillar to the Storm franchise and the WNBA.
Bird stayed on the court after the final buzzer, receiving hugs from the entire Aces roster. She wiped away tears while the crowd cheered and cried along with her and chanted โThank you, Sue.โ
โItโs been my honor to play for this franchise, to play for these fans. I donโt know what else to say,โ Bird said.
The oldest player in the league at age 41, Bird started the year thinking this would be it, but brought finality to the decision midway through the regular season.
Las Vegas spoiled the party in…