An update on the basketball career of Princeton’s own Jackie Young from September 29-October 1, 2025:

In an epic fifth-and-deciding game of the 2025 WNBA Semifinals at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Tuesday night, the Las Vegas Aces held off an unrelenting effort from the visiting Indiana Fever to earn a nine-point victory, 107-98, in overtime.

Though it took ‘all hands on deck’ for the Aces to hold off an injury-riddled Fever squad, Las Vegas was undoubtedly powered by the ‘1-2’ punch of center (and 2025 WNBA Most Valuable Player) A’ja Wilson (35 points, eight rebounds, five assists, four steals, four blocks) and guard Jackie Young (32 points, 10 assists, four rebounds). In addition to the monstrous contributions of Wilson and Young, guard Chelsea Gray chipped in with 17 points, six assists, three steals and two blocks.

The action-packed thriller began with a first quarter that saw the lead change hands six times. The opening 10-minute segment, which ended with the teams deadlocked at 23 points apiece, saw Wilson (eight points) and Young (seven points) combine for 15 points for Las Vegas.

The second quarter was also a hard-fought, tooth-and-nail battle that saw neither team lead by more than one possession. Incredibly, the second period, which ended with the Aces holding a two-point lead, 47-45, featured 10 lead changes and eight ties. Gray, in making all three of her field-goal attempts in the quarter, led the Aces with seven points in the period.

The second half began with the third period and ended with the Aces outscoring the Fever by six points, 24-18, to take an eight-point lead, 71-63, as the game entered the fourth quarter. Wilson scored 13 points in the frame and made five of her six shot attempts.

Looking to ‘land the knockout blow’, the Aces increased its lead to as many as nine points, 77-68, before the Fever ended regulation on an 18-9 scoring run to knot the game at 86. On the final possession of regulation, the Aces had multiple ‘in-close’ looks, but were unable to get either attempt to fall, which meant that the outstanding series would continue for at least five more minutes.

In the overtime period, the Aces took command over a Fever team, a squad that was further shorthanded after standout center Aliyah Boston fouled out, and went on to earn an incredibly hard-fought game-and-series clinching victory.

Young’s phenomenal effort, which featured a 32-point and 10-assist double-double, also saw the Princetonian also commit zero turnovers. Young’s performance in Game 5 made her the first player in WNBA postseason history to post that specific statline.

With the ‘survive-and-advance’ win, the Aces advanced to the 2025 WNBA Finals, which began on October 3 against the Phoenix Mercury.

Remaining 2025 WNBA Finals schedule, a best-of-seven series:

Game 2: Sunday, October 5, 2 p.m. Central (ABC): Phoenix Mercury at Las Vegas Aces;

Game 3: Wednesday, October 8, 7 p.m. Central (ESPN): Las Vegas Aces at Phoenix Mercury;

Game 4: Friday, October 10, 7 p.m. Central (ESPN): Las Vegas Aces at Phoenix Mercury;

Game 5 (If Necessary): Sunday, October 12, 2 p.m. Central (ABC): Phoenix Mercury at Las Vegas Aces;

Game 6 (If Necessary): Wednesday, October 15, 7 p.m. Central (ESPN): Las Vegas Aces at Phoenix Mercury;

Game 7 (If Necessary): Friday, October 17, 7 p.m. Central (ESPN): Phoenix Mercury at Las Vegas Aces.

WNBA: Indiana Fever at Las Vegas Aces (Sept. 30) (2025 WNBA Playoffs – Semifinals – Game 5)

LVA…23 24 24 15 21…Total: 107

IND…23 22 18 23 12…Total: 98

(Las Vegas wins best-of-five series, 3-2, and advances to the 2025 WNBA Finals.)

Jackie Young’s Stats (Sept. 30 v. IND): Minutes Played: 43:35; FGM-A: 10-for-20; 2PM-A: 6-for-9; 3PM-A: 4-for-11; FTM-A: 8-for-8; Points: 32; +/-: +10; Offensive Rebounds: 1; Defensive Rebounds: 3; Assists: 10; Personal Fouls: 5; Steals: 1; Turnovers: 0; Blocked Shots: 0.

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