The Aces are here because …<\/p>\n
\u2026 of A\u2019ja Wilson. The first WNBA<\/a> four-time MVP ended the regular season on a dominant run that has somehow only gotten better in the playoffs. She closed out the Fever series with a 35-point performance that was a block and steal away from also being a rare 5×5 stat line. Jakub Frankowicz<\/p>\n … they rediscovered their defensive identity. After the record 111-58 loss to Minnesota<\/a> that dropped them to 14-14, the Aces rattled off 16 straight wins to close out the regular season without conceding more than 86 points in a game. Notably, that dramatic shift in form coincided with Kierstan Bell moving into the starting five in place of Jewell Loyd, who has thrived coming off the bench. Bryan Armen Graham<\/p>\n \u2026 they fought for it. This is a team that everyone saw crashing out for most of the season, a team that came back from a morally draining 53-point loss, and a team that seemingly just had to flip a switch to start winning. They\u2019ve been on the brink of elimination twice \u2013 first with the Storm, then the Fever \u2013 and battled back each time. Stephanie Kaloi<\/p>\n \u2026 Chelsea Gray appears to have fully bounced back from last year\u2019s foot injury. The offense hasn\u2019t missed a beat with her running the point and new addition Jewell Loyd making timely contributions off the ball. There\u2019s another player \u2013 checks notes \u2013 A\u2019ja something or other. I understand she\u2019s been a bright spot for the team, too. Andrew Lawrence<\/p>\n \u2026 honestly, I\u2019m not sure. When I made my playoff predictions, I didn\u2019t expect much from the Aces. They\u2019ve often looked disconnected, lacking chemistry on the court. Still, A\u2019ja Wilson and Jackie Young keep dragging them through; Wilson hasn\u2019t won four MVPs by accident. Even so, I\u2019m surprised. I\u2019ve seen them drop games to weaker teams and scrape by against top-tier opponents.Tiana Randall<\/p>\n Quick GuideWNBA finals 2025Show<\/p>\n Schedule<\/p>\n Best-of-seven series. All times Eastern.<\/p>\n Fri 3 Oct Game 1: Phoenix at Las Vegas, 8pm (ESPN)<\/p>\n Sun 5 Oct Game 2: Phoenix at Las Vegas, 3pm (ABC)<\/p>\n Wed 8 Oct Game 3: Las Vegas at Phoenix, 8pm (ESPN)<\/p>\n Fri 10 Oct Game 4: Las Vegas at Phoenix, 8pm (ESPN)<\/p>\n Sun 12 Oct Game 5: Phoenix at Las Vegas, 3pm (ABC)*<\/p>\n Wed 15 Oct Game 6: Las Vegas at Phoenix, 8pm (ESPN)*<\/p>\n Fri 17 Oct Game 7: Phoenix at Las Vegas, 8pm (ESPN)*<\/p>\n *if necessary<\/p>\n Thank you for your feedback.<\/p>\n The Mercury are here because …<\/p>\n \u2026 of strong team defense. The Mercury have registered the best defense rating in the playoffs, led by perpetual MVP contender Alyssa Thomas. But nobody in their rotation is a slouch defensively. They are going to need to keep up the intensity if they hope to slow down the Aces. JF<\/p>\n \u2026 they reinvented themselves on the fly, replacing departed legends with veterans Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally and DeWanna Bonner, who delivered in big moments. Backed by Mat Ishbia\u2019s deep investment and a state-of-the-art practice facility, second-year coach Nate Tibbetts molded them into resilient road warriors who knocked off New York and top-seeded Minnesota. BAG<\/p>\n \u2026 they\u2019re tough as all get-out. Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas, and Kahleah Copper always had potential to play together as well as they are right now, the team is fully healthy, and they\u2019ve completely embraced the underdog mentality. They\u2019re playing like they can\u2019t lose, and it\u2019s starting to feel like they\u2019re absolutely correct. SK<\/p>\n \u2026 Alyssa Thomas took out Naphessa Collier while gambling on a steal during the semi-finals. Also: Thomas has been brilliant all season and so has Nate Tibbetts about squeezing productive minutes out of all 12 women on the roster. (I guess that\u2019s why they pay him the big bucks<\/a>.) Lastly: I had them as my surprise team going into<\/a> the season<\/a>! AL<\/p>\n \u2026 they play harder and tougher than any other team. Watching the Mercury against teams like the Liberty and Lynx, their physicality stands out. The coach stays composed under pressure, even when trailing late. Alyssa Thomas drives the pace with relentless aggression, while Satou Sabally\u2019s smooth, versatile game \u2013 effective both on the wing and in the paint \u2013 gives them a crucial edge.. TR<\/p>\n Phoenix\u2019s Alyssa Thomas is a six-time WNBA All-Star who has been named to the All-WNBA first team in each of the last two seasons. Photograph: Christian Petersen\/Getty ImagesIs Napheesa Collier right that the WNBA has the \u2018worst leadership in the world\u2019?<\/p>\n It\u2019s definitely in the bottom half of leagues. It hurts the WNBA that Cathy Engelbert comes from outside the sports world. When they chose commissioners, the NFL, NBA and MLB picked from within, while NHL and MLS selected from other leagues. The NBA stake in the league also means the league experiences influence outside those involved in day-to-day operations. JF<\/p>\n Sort of. Collier\u2019s critique reflects widespread frustration with officiating and structural shortcomings in resources. While \u201cworst in the world\u201d is hyperbolic, the league\u2019s leadership has been reactive rather than proactive, especially on refereeing quality and player welfare. Collier\u2019s comments underline that players feel unheard in a league enjoying historic growth but uneven governance. BAG<\/p>\n I am not quite sure I would go that far, as there are quite a few poorly managed professional leagues around the world, but I absolutely agree with what Collier said and that it\u2019s time for change. The WNBA has seen extraordinary growth this season, and needs extraordinary leadership to guide the league as a whole into the next chapter. SK<\/p>\n The world might be strong, given these \u201cuncertain times\u201d. But in the sports world? It\u2019s hard to pin the W\u2019s decades-long mismanagement on an executive who\u2019s only been in the job for six years. But given that Engelbert\u2019s era represents the highest inflection point on the W\u2019s growth curve to date, her particular brand of consultancy-flavored leadership leaves much to be desired. AL<\/p>\n No. If these accusations keep surfacing \u2013 directly or through players and coaches \u2013 it\u2019s hard not to see truth in them. When stars openly say the league\u2019s schedule is burning them out and risking their health, that speaks volumes. Add grueling back-to-backs, poor officiating and low pay, and Engelbert\u2019s alleged \u201cgrateful\u201d comment feels out of touch. Poor leadership, yes \u2013 but not the world\u2019s worst. TR<\/p>\n Becky Hammon, right, and A\u2019ja Wilson are taking aim at a third title in four years alongside one another. Photograph: Ethan Miller\/Getty ImagesThe coaching advantage goes to …<\/p>\n The Aces and Becky Hammon. While Nate Tibbetts deserves a lot of credit for leading a team that is starting three players who joined the Mercury this year to a finals appearance, Becky Hammon has a winning pedigree in admittedly 4 years that is tough to pick against.. JF<\/p>\n Becky Hammon holds the edge. Her NBA-informed schemes and championship pedigree give the Aces a tactical backbone. She has proven adept at adjusting mid-series and managing stars. While Nate Tibbetts has energized Phoenix with pace and defensive buy-in, Hammon\u2019s Finals experience and ability to manipulate matchups tilt this category. BAG<\/p>\n Without a doubt, Becky Hammon. Nate Tibbets has done an incredible job all season, and in many (many) ways surprised many of us with just how successful this team has been, but the Finals are a different kind of beast and Tibbets hasn\u2019t been in the tranches like Hammon has. She lives and breathes exactly this kind of basketball cinema. SK<\/p>\n I\u2019ll take Big Shot Becky with everything on the line any day, especially when she\u2019s got No22 on the block. AL<\/p>\n Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts stays composed and focused every game, clearly in tune with the action. He\u2019s built a versatile, supportive roster whose execution reflects his influence. From crisp screens to sharp court vision, the team\u2019s seamless play underscores the effectiveness of his coaching. TR<\/p>\n Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, A\u2019ja Wilson, Jewell Loyd and Kiah Stokes, left to right, talk on the court during a stop in play in a June game against Washington at Michelob Ultra Arena. Photograph: Ethan Miller\/Getty ImagesUnheralded player to watch …<\/p>\n Natasha Mack, Phoenix. She is likely to receive a lot of time guarding A\u2019ja Wilson. How she is able to perform and if she can state out foul trouble will dictate if the Mercury can enforce their will in games, or if they have to adapt to counter Wilson\u2019s dominance. JF<\/p>\n Kiah Stokes, Las Vegas. She doesn\u2019t fill highlight reels, but her rim protection and offensive rebounding are critical in slowing Phoenix\u2019s frontcourt. If she can stay out of foul trouble and control second-chance opportunities, she could swing pivotal stretches. BAG<\/p>\n Natasha Mack, Phoenix. There are a lot of players putting in powerhouse seasons in 2025, but Mack is playing very strong basketball. She\u2019s a great offensive rebounder and the Mercury have only benefitted since she\u2019s been added to the starting lineup. She always seems to know where to be and exactly when she needs to be there. SK<\/p>\n Dana Evans, Las Vegas. A former sixth player of the year top finisher, Evans is playing great off the bench once again, with her regular-season averages rising to seven points and three assists. Her efficiency in relief and chemistry with Wilson and Jackie Young … and kept Gray fresh for crunch time. AL<\/p>\n Kahleah Copper, Phoenix. Copper is the kind of player any team would want: finding her spots, setting screens, moving the ball and creating space for teammates. She\u2019s one of the league\u2019s most underrated talents, shaped by veteran Diana Taurasi, and always worth watching. TR<\/p>\n The Phoenix Mercury have thrived since Natasha Mack joined the starting lineup. Photograph: Aryanna Frank\/Getty ImagesThe finals MVP will be …<\/p>\n Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix. She has posted nearly a triple double for the entirety of the playoffs, with extraordinary averages of 18.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 9.1 assists, and her defense has been high level as well. JF<\/p>\n A\u2019ja Wilson, Las Vegas. Fresh off winning a record fourth regular-season MVP trophy, the Aces\u2019 do-everything forward enters locked in offensively while anchoring the defense. Her versatility will allow Hammon to exploit Phoenix\u2019s mismatches inside and out. If Las Vegas claim the title, Wilson\u2019s impact on both ends ensures she\u2019ll collect a second WNBA finals MVP trophy. BAG<\/p>\n Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix. She\u2019s put in arguably the strongest season of her career and was touted as a potential WNBA MVP for most of the season. When the Mercury has struggled, it\u2019s never been because of her, and she\u2019s shown all season that if her team trusts her, she will lead them right where they want to go. SK<\/p>\n A\u2019ja Wilson, Las Vegas. At this point they might as well rename the trophy in her honor. AL<\/p>\n A\u2019ja Wilson, Las Vegas. It\u2019s rare for a player on the losing side to win WNBA finals MVP, but I predict Wilson will. She didn\u2019t dominate this season in points or records, yet her in-season MVP shows the pull of her game and name. A four-time MVP already, she carries unmatched weight in women\u2019s basketball. TR<\/p>\n The Phoenix Mercury celebrate after knocking out the Minnesota Lynx to reach the WNBA finals. Photograph: Christian Petersen\/Getty ImagesThe winner will be …<\/p>\n Phoenix in six. The Aces problem is their depth, and they\u2019ve played two full-length series to get here. They\u2019ve needed A\u2019ja Wilson, Jackie Young, and Chelsea Gray to be remarkable every night. Look for the Mercury\u2019s rotation to beat out the Aces stars, especially as the series continues on. JF<\/p>\n Las Vegas in six. The Mercury\u2019s grit and Thomas\u2019s relentless play will earn them a couple of wins, but the Aces\u2019 balance of star power, depth and championship poise should prevail. Wilson, Young and Gray simply provide too many answers, keeping Las Vegas atop the WNBA once again. BAG<\/p>\n Phoenix in seven. The Mercury rebuilt following Taurasi\u2019s retirement and BG\u2019s departure, clearly put in the work to play well together, and have demonstrated the ability to stay cool no matter where they\u2019re playing. They\u2019ve been better defensively and more efficient all season, and a fully healthy Phoenix Mercury<\/a> is an eye-wateringly scary foe. As long as Sabally, Thomas and Copper are hitting shots, the series is theirs. SK<\/p>\n Las Vegas in six. The Mercury make a valiant effort, but in the end the Aces are simply too strong, too deep and too experienced to be denied. With three titles in four years and four finals trips in five, the dynasty is back on and the Aces reclaim their rightful place as the league\u2019s premier franchise in word and deed. The only thing that could really slow their momentum next season is a work stoppage, which could well be in the offing if the players keep grumbling about the state of play. AL<\/p>\n Phoenix in seven. The Mercury\u2019s intensity and perseverance make them a tough out, and if they win, it\u2019ll take all seven games. Alyssa Thomas has been outstanding: worthy of MVP consideration, even if overlooked. Long disrespected, she summed it up best herself: \u201cI think I\u2019ve been so disrespected in my career that it doesn\u2019t bother me anymore.\u201d TR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Aces are here because … \u2026 of A\u2019ja Wilson. 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