LAS VEGAS —The Phoenix Mercury are in a familiar territory after losing Game 1 of the 2025 WNBA Finals to the Las Vegas Aces. They look to become the first team in WNBA history to win a WNBA Championship after losing Game 1s of the previous series.
Throughout Game 1 of the 2025 WNBA Finals, it was a close one between the Mercury and Aces, as there were 12 lead changes and nine ties. Las Vegas ended up winning the first game of the best-of-seven series over Phoenix, 89-86, after forward Satou Sabally missed a three-pointer that could’ve forced overtime.
Guard Dana Evans became the first guard in WNBA history to record at least five made three-pointers and four steals, as the Aces outscored the Mercury in bench points, 41-16. For Phoenix, guard Kahleah Copper tied franchise legend Diana Taurasi’s record for most made three-pointers in a single half with five in the first half.
Keep an eye on what’s happening throughout game 2 of the WNBA Finals between the Mercury and Aces, all at Michelob Ultra Arena, right here on Ballislife.
3rd Quarter: Aces 46, Mercury 37
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Halftime Leaders
MERCURY (37)
Points: Kahleah Copper (15), Alyssa Thomas (8)
Assists: Monique Akoa Makani (2)
Rebounds: Alyssa Thomas (6)
ACES (46)
Points: A’ja Wilson (20), Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray (9 points a piece)
Assists: Chelsea Gray (7), Dana Evans (3)
Rebounds: A’ja Wilson (8)
Mercury’s 10 points in the second quarter is the fewest they have scored in a second quarter all season, counting the regular season and playoffs.
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2nd Quarter: Aces 44, Mercury 37
1:25—Jackie Young’s two made free throws extends Las Vegas’ lead up to nine (46-37 LV)
2:27— A’ja Wilson scores her 20th point (13 points in the second quarter) for Las Vegas, the most in any half of her Finals career (44-37 LV)
3:10— Thomas picks up her third personal foul and checks out the game for Phoenix. She has 8 points, 5 rebounds, and an assist (40-35 LV)
3:52— Alyssa Thomas steal and a bucket ends Aces’ run (38-35 LV)
4:19— A’ja Wilson (16 points) and Chelsea Gray (9 points) has been unstoppable for the Aces, who take the largest lead of the game. Nate Tibbetts takes a timeout for the Mercury, who are being outscored 14-6 in the second quarter (38-33 LV)
5:34— Chelsea Gray’s bucket hands Las Vegas the lead and are on a 7-0 run (34-33 LV)
6:41— A’ja Wilson completes the three-point play for the Aces and is in double figures. Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas picks up her second foul (33-30 PHX)
6:54— Kahleah Copper scored her 13th point with a pullup jumper for Phoenix (33-27 PHX)
7:31— Jewell Loyd’s three-pointer ends Las Vegas’ scoring drought that lasted for more than five minutes (31-27 PHX)
8:02— Alyssa Thomas’ layup extends Phoenix’s lead to seven and the Mercury are on a 10-0 run (31-24 PHX)
9:22— Monique Akoa Makani’s layup extends Phoenix’s lead to five (29-24 PHX)
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1st Quarter: Mercury 27, Aces 24
35.0— DeWanna Bonner scores a layup off a steal by Monique Akoa Makani to extend the Mercury’s lead to three by the end of the first quarter
44.6— Satou Sabally draws a foul on Dana Evans, and makes both free throws to give Phoenix back the lead (25-24 PHX)
1:51— A’ja Wilson takes her first trip to the free-throw line after drawing the foul, and makes one of two free throws for the Aces (22-21 LV)
2:40— Kahleah Copper makes a three-pointer for Phoenix, so does Jewell Loyd with a response for Las Vegas (21-21 TIED)
3:20— Las Vegas takes the lead after going on a 10-0 run over the last 2:35 of the first quarter. A’ja Wilson has scored six of the 10 Aces’ points (18-16 LV).
5:02— A’ja Wilson scores the last four points for the Aces to cut the Mercury’s deficit to four (16-12 PHX)
5:53— All five starters for the Mercury have scored after Alyssa Thomas scores a bucket (16-8)
6:35— Chelsea Gray drills a three-pointer and has five points for Las Vegas (12-8 PHX)
6:57— Copper makes her second three-pointer of the game for Phoenix (12-5 PHX)
7:24— Jackie Young makes her first three-pointer for Las Vegas (9-5 PHX)
7:53— Chelsea Gray gets Las Vegas on board with a pullup jump shot (7-2 PHX)
8:16— Natasha Mack’s offensive rebound and layup gets Phoenix up 7-0. (7-0 PHX)
8:41— Satou Sabally’s jumper gets the Mercury off to a 5-0 start (5-0 PHX)
9:03— Alyssa Thomas dishes it out to Kahleah Copper, who makes a three-pointer to get the Mercury on board (3-0 PHX)
10:00—NaLyssa Smith wins the tip from Natasha Mack, and Game 2 of the 2025 WNBA Finals are underway
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Pregame
What: Phoenix Mercury @ Las Vegas Aces, WNBA Finals, Game 2
Where: Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Watch: 3 p.m. ET, ESPN
Who’s Favored: LVA -2.5
Starting Lineups
MERCURY: Monique Akoa Makani, Kahleah Copper, Natasha Mack, Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas
ACES: Kiersten Bell, Chelsea Gray, NaLyssa Smith, A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young
Referees: Maj Forsberg, Kevin Fahy, Angelica Suffren