PINEHURST, June 21, 2014 (AFP) - Wie, who held a three-shot overnight lead, fought to a two-over 72 at Pinehurst to join Yang on two-under 208.
They were the only players under par through 54 holes at Pinehurst, where Germany's Martin Kaymer won the second men's major of the year, the US Open, last Sunday.
US veteran Juli Inkster, who celebrates her 54th birthday on Tuesday, carded the low round of the day, a four-under 66, to lead a group sharing third on two-over 212.
Inkster was joined by Australian amateur Minjee Lee, South Korean Choi Na-Yeon and Northern Ireland's Stephanie Meadow.
Meadow, playing her first event as a professional, inched up the leaderboard with a one-under 69, while Choi signed for a 71 and Lee posted a 72.
Wie shook off a bogey at the first with birdies at the third, ninth and 10th holes.
But she opened the door to Yang with a rough four-hole stretch that started with a double-bogey at the par-four 11th. She followed that with a bogey at 12, and dropped another shot at 14 as Yang briefly seized the outright lead.
"I just didn't drive it well a couple of holes -- you really can't be in the trees here," Wie said. "I felt like I grinded out there (made a) couple of good par putts coming in. Overall, I can't complain."
This is the third time that Wie will enter the last day of the US Women's Open either owning or sharing the lead.
In the other two instances, in 2005 and 2006, she finished tied for 23rd and tied for third.
Yang's round included six birdies. She closed with her fourth bogey of the day at 18, but was satisfied with her day.
"I was hitting the ball really solid today, and I had good speed on the greens," Yang said. "I had a great round today."
Leading third-round scores on Saturday in the US Women's Open golf championship at Pinehurst (USA unless noted, a-denotes amateur, par-70):
208 - Amy Yang (KOR) 71-69-68, Michelle Wie 68-68-72
212 - Juli Inkster 71-75-66, Stephanie Meadow (NIR) 71-72-69, Choi Na-Yeon (KOR) 71-70-71, a-Minjee Lee (AUS) 69-71-72
213 - Pornanong Phatlum (THA) 71-73-69, Ryu So-Yeon (KOR) 69-74-70, Karrie Webb (AUS) 70-73-70, Sakura Yokomine (JPN) 74-68-71, Lexi Thompson 71-68-74
214 - Chella Choi (KOR) 75-70-69, Paula Creamer 70-72-72, Stacy Lewis 67-73-74
215 - Park Hee-Young (KOR) 73-73-69, Meena Lee (KOR) 72-73-70, Feng Yue Er (CHN) 73-71-71
216 - Brittany Lincicome 77-70-69, a-Brooke Mackenzie Henderson (CAN) 71-73-72
217 - Brittany Lang 73-75-69, Feng Shanshan (CHN) 77-70-70, Jenny Shin (KOR) 74-70-73
218 - Lydia Ko (NZL) 76-71-71, Azahara Munoz (ESP) 73-71-74, Mariajo Uribe (COL) 72-70-76
219 - Jang Ha-Na (KOR) 76-73-70, Karine Icher (FRA) 76-72-71, Kim Sei-Young (KOR) 72-75-72, Beatriz Recari (ESP) 73-74-72, Sandra Gal (GER) 74-72-73, Misuzu Narita (JPN) 76-70-73, Lee Jee-Young (KOR) 73-73-73, Pak Se-Ri (KOR) 76-69-74, Katherine Kirk (AUS) 69-76-74, Mina Harigae 71-74-74, Catriona Matthew (SCO) 75-69-75