BREAKING NEWS

Aces Sweep Mercury To Win Third WNBA Championship in Four Years

Aya Abdeen October 11, 2025 Fact checked by: Will Despart No Comments

PHOENIX — A new dynasty has been born. The Las Vegas Aces swept the Phoenix Mercury to win their third WNBA Championship in four years with a 97-86 Game 4 win on Friday.

The Aces join the Houston Comets (1997-2000) as the only teams to win at least three championships in a span of four years.

Forward A’ja Wilson was named Finals MVP for the second time in her career after being unstoppable throughout the finals, averaging 28.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game.

Wilson became the first player to score more than 300 points in a single postseason in league history in addition to becoming the first player in WNBA or NBA history to win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP awards in the same season.

 

“I would still say banners (define greatness), but I say greatness is who you’re around,” Wilson said. “That’s true greatness. This group here, we were battle-tested from top to bottom. We showed up to work every single day with the mind of being great. Becky (Hammon) gives us notecards and we write on them exactly what our goals are individually and as a team. This year she gave us a plant as well.

“Greatness is being patient and waiting on your moment. I think that’s what defines it is you got to be great when the lights aren’t on you. You’ve got to be great when nobody is in that gym with you. You’ve got to be great when you may not get anything in the end. That is what greatness is to me because that is consistency and that’s you doing the right things because it’s right.

“That’s how I would redefine it, and you saw it in this group. We had times where it was tested, but like our plants, we needed to grow a little. More sunshine, a little more water. I think that’s how you define greatness to me.”

A’ja Wilson Could Not Be Stopped

In the first quarter, the Mercury tried four different players to slow down Wilson, but didn’t have an answer as the four-time MVP scored 12 points. She ended up finishing the game with 31 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.

Later in the first half, Las Vegas’ lead grew to 19 points over Phoenix after they made six three-pointers in the second quarter. Their bench players, Dana Evans and Jewell Loyd, played a significant role in their performance, especially throughout the Finals series.

In the postgame presser, Wilson told a reporter about her greatness compared to Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, who won six NBA Championships (two three-peats) with the Chicago Bulls.

“Wow…It’s powerful, it really is, I still have a little more winning to do,” Wilson said. “When you’re compared to greats, legends, you’re doing something good…I wouldn’t be where I am without my teammates, they’re the real MJ’s …I’m really appreciative of that.”

Aces Admire Hammon’s Leadership

Since Becky Hammon became the Aces’ head coach at the start of the 2022 WNBA season, players have been impressed with the leadership she brought to the team.

She spent the first seven years of her coaching career as an assistant under Gregg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs. In 2015, Hammon became the first female NBA head coach to win a Summer League title with the team, breaking barriers for female coaches in basketball.

“Becky has done amazing things for this franchise. It’s not just her basketball mind, it’s the way she can form relationships and bonds with people,” Wilson said. “I think that’s when you see winning cultures, when your leader is so important to you. You want to win and play for her, so we’re grateful and you (Becky Hammon) keep bringing championships to Vegas and we’re just happy to be on the ride with you.”

When it comes to the success in the postseason, Hammon has the highest winning percentage in WNBA Finals history with a 9-2 record, and three of the series resulted in road wins for the Aces.

Championship Core

The Aces have been built around the core of Wilson, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young since the start of the 2021 season.

That year, Las Vegas lost to Phoenix in the semifinals, ending with Brittney Griner’s game-winning block on Wilson.

Since then, the Aces became the first team to win back-to-back WNBA Championships since the 2001-02 Los Angeles Sparks and established a dynasty after winning a third title.

“This group – especially these three (Chelesa Gray, Jewell Loyd, A’ja Wilson) – I love being their coach,” Hammon said. “I love being their coach, I love being their friend. I love being a phone call for them, pushing them probably sometimes to their disliking a little bit. I’m invested in their greatness, in getting that out of them every day. I know I’ve shared tears about all of them along this journey, especially this year, so it’s different because it was different. There was probably a lot more adversity than any of us anticipated.

Las Vegas’ teams experienced a rollercoaster, going from a .500 record by the All-Star break to winning a championship. Not to mention, the Aces lost by 53 points to the Lynx back in August, yet they finished the regular season with 16 straight wins since that game.

“At the end of the day, we’re all human, and for humans that wanted to get it right and get it right together, they’re stuck with me,” Hammon said. “Wherever they go, they’re going to be stuck with me. I just believe in who they are. I admire who they are, and they’re phenomenal. You want to take them to dinner, you want to hang out. They’re just really quality people with a really great support system around them, and I’m just happy to be part of that and their journeys.”

Mercury Pick Up Four Techs

During the third quarter, head coach Nate Tibbetts was frustrated about the foul called on guard Monique Akoa Makani and was ejected from the game after confronting one of the referees.

He also became the first head coach to ever be ejected from a Finals game and used some profane language in the postgame.

“I didn’t even know that I got the second one, to be completely honest,” Tibbetts said. “I don’t understand it. It wasn’t needed in my opinion. I’d love to hear their call, but it was weak. We’re playing for our playoff lives. Most coaches, when they get tossed, you’re doing it on purpose. That was not my intention at all. But there’s been issues with the officiating all year.” 

Frustrations Mount Toward Refs

Mercury fans were chanting, “Refs, you suck” as the Aces gained an advantage at the free-throw line, with Las Vegas having 35 free-throw attempts compared to Phoenix’s 19. Of the Aces’ 35 free throw attempts, Wilson had 17, the second-most in WNBA Finals history.

Moreover, the Mercury accumulated a total of four technical fouls throughout the game, expressing their frustration with the officiating crew. Tibbetts’ ejection allowed associate head coach Kristi Toliver to lead Phoenix for the remainder of the game, as they fought hard until the final buzzer.

“We’ve just been resilient all year,” Tibbetts said. “When we would get behind, we wouldn’t hang our heads. We would continue to compete, we competed again tonight after going down. I think it was (a 20-point deficit) in the first half or early in the third. We just keep playing for 40 minutes and I think when you do that you always give yourself a chance. That’s why we’re one of the two teams here.

“These are opportunities for us to continue to build toward a championship. You look at that team out there and all of the experiences that they’ve been through together – that stuff matters. We had great playoff series in the first two rounds, but this is another level. (The Aces) been there and that’s something that we’re building towards.”

Alyssa Thomas Records Triple-Double

After finishing the regular season with a league-record eight triple-doubles, forward Alyssa Thomas had her first triple-double of the WNBA Finals for the Mercury. She finished the game with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and ten assists while playing for nearly the whole game.

Thomas expressed gratitude for being a part of the Mercury franchise after spending the first ten years of her career as a member of the Connecticut Sun.

“I think for me, coming to a new team after being somewhere for 11 years, it was so much fun,” Thomas said. “Everyone welcomed me with open arms. It’s been a while since I had a season like this where it’s just a lot of fun to come into work every day, from your front office to the team. So, super grateful that I was able to have this opportunity, and I wouldn’t have changed anything about the season.”

Kahleah Copper Gave Her All For The Mercury

Guard Kahleah Copper gave her all for the Mercury with a career-high 30 points and six rebounds. Despite fouling out in the game, Phoenix fans were proud of what she contributed against a more experienced Las Vegas team.

As the Mercury advanced to the WNBA Finals in their first year of the post-Diana Taurasi era, there is plenty to be proud of for this team. Phoenix remained consistent throughout the season, from the start through the Finals.

“After the game, I just got us all together,” Copper said. “I was just like, just take a couple seconds. Feel it, hear it. You know you hate this feeling. You hear the other team celebrating. Just remember what this feeling feels like. Remember to hurt. Just remember everything that you feel in this moment, and then just let that fuel you.”

Even though they didn’t get the outcome they wanted, there is much to be proud of. This is only the beginning for the Phoenix Mercury.

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