Las Vegas Aces Dominate Phoenix Mercury in Game One of the 2025 WNBA Finals
In an exciting match that marked the beginning of the 2025 WNBA Finals, the Las Vegas Aces, ranked second, achieved a crucial victory against the Phoenix Mercury, ranked fourth. The final score was 89-86 in favor of the Aces.
Dana Evans, off the bench, led the Aces’ offense with 21 points, matching the outstanding performance of A’ja Wilson, the four-time Most Valuable Player (MVP), and Kahleah Copper, a Mercury star.
Alyssa Thomas of the Mercury was one assist away from a triple-double, but missed two crucial free throws in the last minute.
Keys to Victory for the Aces
The Aces’ victory was built on a dominant performance by their bench. Dana Evans tied Kahleah Copper and A’ja Wilson in points, scoring 21, including five three-pointers in six attempts. Jewell Loyd also contributed 18 points, marking a milestone as the first pair of teammates with at least 15 points as reserves in a Finals game since 2019.
Loyd’s 10 points in the first quarter were essential to keep Las Vegas in the game. Coach Becky Hammon’s quick response, who sent Loyd onto the court, and Evans’ effective performance, were key to counteracting the Mercury’s attack, who scored 50 points in the first half.Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty ImagesEvans had a crucial role in the final stretch, scoring three three-pointers in the last eight minutes, giving Las Vegas their biggest lead of the game. The Aces’ reserves scored 41 points, the most for the team in a final and the second most in any 2025 game, including regular season and playoffs.
Analysis of the Mercury’s Defeat
Phoenix will regret the missed opportunity to secure home-court advantage. Despite leading much of the game and having a 39% three-point shooting efficiency, outscoring the Aces by 15 points from beyond the arc, free throw errors and turnovers were decisive.
The Mercury committed 14 turnovers, including five by Alyssa Thomas. In addition, they missed 20 free throws against 13 by the Aces. Satou Sabally’s technical foul in the final quarter was also a significant factor.
Thomas’s miss of two crucial free throws in the final minutes, with the possibility of tying the score, was a decisive moment. According to Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time in WNBA history that a player missed two potentially game-tying free throws in the final two minutes of a playoff game.
Possible Keys for the Second Match
The Mercury’s ability to counter the Aces’ zone defense will be crucial. The Aces implemented the zone in the second half, which slowed down the Mercury’s offense, who only scored 15 points in the final quarter. The Mercury were 3 of 14 on shots against the Aces’ zone, including 1 of 8 in the final quarter, with three additional turnovers.
The Mercury’s adaptation to the defensive zone of Las Vegas and the improvement in shooting will be fundamental for the second game.
