LAS VEGAS ― Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young didn’t have her usual energy during Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. Young scored 10 points, a departure from her 20.6 average during this postseason.
Aces head coach Becky Hammon said after a grueling five-game semifinal series with the Indiana Fever, Young was experiencing “a little bit of fatigue” and, atypically, asked for rest during Game 1. The Aces coach kept Young out of practice Saturday before Game 2, telling the media she would be “good to go.”
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“Good to go” was an understatement. Young’s 32-point, eight-rebound outing, including the most points in a single quarter (21) in WNBA Finals history, helped the Aces rout of the Phoenix Mercury and take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Finals shift to Phoenix for Game 3 on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).
“I don’t know where Jackie [Young] was Game 1, but I’m glad she showed up Game 2,” Aces teammate A’ja Wilson said postgame. “… This is what she lives for. This is why she works so hard. To see her thrive and be so successful in this place, it really warms my heart. I’m grateful to be alongside her, and she’s doing exactly what she needs to be doing.”
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: The Las Vegas Aces’ Jewell Loyd (24) and A’ja Wilson (22) celebrate after scoring against the Phoenix Mercury.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: The Las Vegas Aces’ Jewell Loyd (24) and A’ja Wilson (22) celebrate after scoring against the Phoenix Mercury.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: The Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson (22) shoots the ball against the Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: The Phoenix Mercury’s Kahleah Copper (2) drives the ball past Las Vegas Aces guards Jackie Young (0) and Dana Evans (11).
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) drives the ball against Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) shoots a layup against Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22).
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) celebrates with teammates after the Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 89-86, at Michelob Ultra Arena.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces battles for the ball with Alyssa Thomas #25 and Kahleah Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) and A’ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces grab a rebound past DeWanna Bonner (14) and Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) looks to tip a loose ball away from Phoenix Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb (33).
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) shoots against Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4).
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: A’ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates after making a basket against the Phoenix Mercury.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Megan Gustafson (17) of the Las Vegas Aces.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury looks to shoot the ball against NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts during the third quarter.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts against the Phoenix Mercury during the fourth quarter.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury drives to the basket against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) dribbles against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).
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Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) drives against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Kahleah Copper (2) of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates after her 3-point basket.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Head coach Nate Tibbetts of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the first quarter.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Maddy Westbeld of the Chicago Sky (left) and Rae Burrell of the Los Angeles Sparks look on.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts in front of Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.
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Game 1: Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon looks on.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Dana Evans of the Las Vegas Aces, shoots the ball between Monique Akoa Makani and Natasha Mack of the Phoenix Mercury.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury grabs a rebound against the Las Vegas Aces.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball against Monique Akoa Makani of the Phoenix Mercury.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces grabs a rebound against Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.
While everyone has rightfully been raving about Wilson’s MVP season, Young has been there, too, often putting up huge performances. Wilson might be the Aces’ engine, but Young is the gas this that makes the car zip around at high speeds.
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It was the four-time All-Star who had the game-winning shot against the Seattle Storm in the first round of the playoffs, catapulting Las Vegas into the semifinals. She also averaged 25 points, seven assists and a steal during the final three games of the Indiana series, including a 32-point, 10-assist double-double, to help Las Vegas get to the WNBA Finals.
Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper was asked what makes Young so tough to guard. “One thing about me, I love a two-way player. I think Jackie [Young] takes pride in that. Never ducking smoke. When you’re able to get 30 and then go guard the other team’s best player, that’s amazing, ” Copper told USA TODAY Sports.
The Phoenix guard praised Young for being an “unselfish player” who is always looking to create. Copper said Young makes the big-time plays and that, from being the No. 1 pick in 2019 until now, she’s evolved her game every season.
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Las Vegas guard Chelsea Gray called Young “the best two-way guard in the league” who brings production in a variety of ways, including distributing the basketball. Aces guard Jewell Loyd revealed to USA TODAY that she told Young “she was the best guard in the league, and it’s not even close.” Loyd said Young’s growth this season has been critical.
“She’s realizing she can build more on her game,” Loyd said. “… It might be easy to learn how to become a shooter, do layups, playing in the 15-foot [or] 12-foot area, and then coming back out and becoming a shooter is really tough. It’s not comfortable, and so, for her to build that confidence, and knowing that she can do everything, it’s been really cool to see.
“She still has so much growth. It’s scary.”
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Young has been a part of two WNBA championship teams in Vegas but this feels different. Hammon said there are simply more opportunities in 2025 for the Aces guard to contribute, especially with Kelsey Plum moving to the Los Angeles Sparks in the offseason.
Wilson insists there is no ceiling for Young as she’s effectively shattered it all season. The Las Vegas forward was adamant every guard who wants to make it to the W should watch Young’s work ethic. Wilson said she has pushed her teammate because she knows Young is capable of even more.
USA TODAY asked Wilson to share some of the positive affirmations she’s given Young over the course of the season. “Without cussing?” Wilson joked before delivering these memorable words.
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“Remember who you are,” Wilson said “Don’t let any basket ― don’t let anything shake you from who you are and how far you’ve come and how hard you’ve worked to get to this point. And don’t let someone just rob it. Don’t let anyone dim your light.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jackie Young driving Aces’ dominant WNBA Finals performance