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Jackie Young · If not for Jackie Young’s timely heroics, the Las Vegas Aces may still be hunting for the franchise’s first championship. Following a Sue Bird three-pointer that put the Seattle Storm up by two with under two seconds left of a tied semifinal series, the outcome was looking grim for Young and company. But the 2022 Most Improved Player award winner saved her best for last, scrambling for open space on Game 3’s climactic inbound pass. Despite the frenetic circumstances, Young stays poised, using quickness and athleticism to her advantage as she gains the positional advantage on her defender, before corralling the entry pass and flipping up a layup attempt that barely beats the buzzer. The Aces rode the tide-turning clutch shot to a dominant overtime showing, dispatching the Storm and claiming a 2-1 series advantage thanks to Young’s eight points, five rebounds and two assists in the 110-98 win on September 4, 2022. · State of Mint