The WNBA has just kicked off the Finals with a best of seven series between the No. 2 seeded Las Vegas Aces and the No. 4 seed Phoenix Mercury.
The Aces won a hard fought series against the sixth seeded Indiana Fever in overtime in Game 5 of the semifinals, winning the series 3-2 overall. Meanwhile the Mercury successfully, and somewhat surprisingly, overcame a 14 point deficit to eliminate the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx and advanced to the Finals for the first time since 2021. The league has also made a transition to a best-of-seven series for the Finals where the higher seed will host games 1, 2, 5 and 7, providing a key home court advantage.
The Aces’ path to the finals highlighted their team’s depth and resilience. Their Game 5 victory over the Fever turned into one of the most electric contests of postseason play thus far, ending in a 107-98 overtime win. League MVP A’ja Wilson led the Aces with 35 points, eight rebounds and five assists, once again proving why she is the heart of the Las Vegas dynasty. Jackie Young added 32 points and 10 assists while Chelsea Gray chipped in with 17 points. The Aces’ combination of experience, composure and bench depth allowed them to hold off a scrappy and injured Indiana squad that refused to give up.
With Wilson chasing her third championship and second Finals MVP, the Aces continue to look like the model of modern WNBA excellence. Averaging nearly 25 points and 10 rebounds per game in the playoffs, her dominance has sparked renewed debate over whether she’s the greatest player in league history.
The Mercury’s journey has been equally as remarkable. With a 9-31 season in 2023, the team was seen as a rebuilding team entering the 2025 season. But veteran forward Alyssa Thomas and sharpshooter Kahleah Copper have helped flip this narrative.
Alyssa Thomas has been central to Phoenix Mercury’s revival, nearly averaging a triple-double this postseason with 18.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game. Her combination of power and playmaking has given the Mercury an edge they’ve lacked since the end of the Diana Taurasi era.
Their semifinal win over Minnesota showcased their strength and poise. After falling behind by 14 points, the Mercury rallied for an 86-81 victory to close out the series 3-1. The upset came amid controversy for the Lynx, with star player Napheesa Collier suffering a serious ankle injury in Game 3, and Head Coach Cheryl Reeve being suspended for Game 4 after berating officials and refusing to leave the court following an ejection.
The Finals opened with yet another nail-biter. The Aces narrowly beat the Mercury 85-82 in Game 1, powered by a breakout performance from guard Dana Evans, who scored 21 points off the bench; this matched both Wilson and Copper for the game high. Evans hit three clutch 3-pointers in the final eight minutes, including the dagger that pushed the Aces’ lead to 85-82, the game’s final score.
Phoenix actually held the lead for most of the night and shot 39 percent from beyond the arc compared to Las Vegas’ 33 percent – but turnovers proved to be costly. The Mercury committed 14 of them, including five from Thomas, while the Aces had only seven, tying the record for fewest ever in a WNBA Finals game. Thomas, one assist shy of a triple-double, missed two free throws in the final minute. Meanwhile, the Aces’ reserves combined for 41 points, the most ever by the franchise in a Finals game, thus showcasing the depth that makes them so hard to beat.
Game 2 tips off Sunday, Oct. 5 in Las Vegas before the series shifts to Phoenix for Games 3 and 4 on Oct. 8 and Oct. 11, respectively.
As the Finals unfold, the spotlight remains on Wilson and Thomas – two stars with contrasting styles but are both driven to win a championship. Wilson seeks to extend her reign as a defining player for the league, while Thomas is chasing the first championship of her career after years of coming up just short.
Beyond the individual matchups, this series symbolizes a new chapter for the WNBA: one of deeper parity, expanding fan interest and the league’s confidence in a full seven-game showcase. Whether it ends in a Las Vegas dynasty or a Phoenix Cinderella story, the 2025 Finals have already proven that the WNBA has never been more competitive or compelling.
