WNBA Finals 2025: Las Vegas Aces come back against Phoenix Mercury to take Game 1 Yahoo Sports Staff October 4, 2025 at 12:11 PM 4 The Aces are three wins from full dynasty territory.
- - WNBA Finals 2025: Las Vegas Aces come back against Phoenix Mercury to take Game 1
Yahoo Sports Staff October 4, 2025 at 12:11 PM
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The Aces are three wins from full dynasty territory.
Less than two months after being stuck in neutral, the Aces surged in the fourth quarter to take Game 1 of the WNBA Finals 89-86 in a back-and-forth game with the Phoenix Mercury, coming back from down nine points in the second half. Game 2 is on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET (ABC).
The sequence that ultimately decided the game was a foul by Jackie Young on Alyssa Thomas. The Aces challenged the call, which was unsuccessful, but Thomas, who had just made a clutch layup to cut the Vegas lead to one, missed both free throws. The Aces rebounded the second miss and ultimately got two more free throws for Young, who made them.
A final game-tying attempt from Satou Sabally clanked away in the final seconds, to the roar of Michelob Ultra Arena. The shot was heavily contested, and Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts admitted to reporters after the game that he should have called a timeout:
"I probably shoulda ran out and called another timeout with probably six seconds to go. Made it a little tougher that it was at the other end. But they made a good defensive stand there."
Both teams seemed to be dealing with the physical toll of a full WNBA regular season and postseason. Aces star Chelsea Gray briefly left the game with an apparent ankle injury, as did the Mercury's Sami Whitcomb. Even as the game came to a close, Thomas was grimacing and holding her hand.
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Perhaps the most encouraging part of the game for the Aces is that they won despite an overall quiet night for their stars. MVP A'ja Wilson tied for the team lead with 21 points, plus 10 rebounds and 5 assists, which is a bit below her usual standards. Young posted 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting, Gray was 2-for-7 with eight points (though the duo combined for 15 assists).
It was the Aces bench that made the difference. Dana Evans tied Wilson with 21 points and became the first player to ever make five 3-pointers and post four steals in a WNBA Finals game. Jewell Loyd had 18 points and four rebounds on starter-level minutes.
DANA EVANS IS NOT PLAYING FAIR 😱This NASTY three by Dana brings her scoring tally to 21 PTS & counting!PHX-LVA | ESPN | WNBA Finals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/tIe0sSZVMA
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 4, 2025
While her free-throw misses loomed large, Thomas still had 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting with 10 rebounds and 9 assists, one away from her third career WNBA Finals triple-double (she has the only two in history). Kahleah Copper led the Mercury with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting.
Here's how the action unfolded on Friday night:
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FeaturedSat, October 4, 2025 at 7:40 AM GMT+8
Sat, October 4, 2025 at 10:24 AM GMT+8Kari AndersonThe odds are in the Aces' favor after winning Game 1
ACES TAKE GAME 1 VS. THE MERCURY 89-86😤 The odds are in Vegas' favor to win the title 👀 pic.twitter.com/9984ViiUX2
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 4, 2025
- Sat, October 4, 2025 at 10:17 AM GMT+8Kari AndersonFinal: Aces 89, Mercury 86
Las Vegas wins Game 1 of the Finals after a stellar comeback, taking advantage of a raucous home crowd.
The @LVAces win Game 1 of the Finals as they defeat the Phoenix Mercury 89-86 👏Dana Evans: 21 PTS | 5 3PM | 4 STL | 3 AST➡️ The second reserve in history to record 5 3PM in a Finals gameA'ja Wilson: 21 PTS | 10 REB | 5 AST | 2 BLKS➡️ Recorded her 7th career double-double in… pic.twitter.com/4g6QeoDGH0
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 4, 2025
Phoenix looked lost on the final possession, wasting precious seconds before Satou Sabally three-pointer fell flat. And so the Aces come up with the three-point win, fueled by a massive 21-point performance from Dana Evans off the bench.
- Sat, October 4, 2025 at 10:14 AM GMT+8Kari Anderson
After an unsuccessful challenge from Las Vegas, a blocking foul on Jackie Young is upheld, giving Alyssa Thomas two free throws and the chance to take the lead. But Thomas misses both, giving the Aces a massive boost heading into the final seconds.
Right afterwards, Jackie Young gets two free throws after that, after contact with Kahleah Copper sends her flying into a photographer. Unlike Thomas, Young hits both, and Las Vegas is now 13 seconds from a three-point win here.
- Sat, October 4, 2025 at 10:10 AM GMT+8Kari Anderson
A 7-0 run by the Aces is cut short as Alyssa Thomas makes a layup to bring the game within three points. But a series of misses holds the score at 84-87 for a while, before Thomas gets another layup to bring the team within a point.
Alyssa Thomas makes it a one point game ‼️PHX-LVA | ESPN | WNBA Finals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/2nP865c9Vu
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 4, 2025
Thomas went down briefly in that sequence, grabbing at her left hand, but is still playing for now.
- Sat, October 4, 2025 at 10:02 AM GMT+8Kari Anderson
What a night for Dana Evans, who gets her fifth three-pointer of the game off the bench to put the Aces up three — their largest lead of the game yet.
DANA EVANS IS NOT PLAYING FAIR 😱This NASTY three by Dana brings her scoring tally to 21 PTS & counting!PHX-LVA | ESPN | WNBA Finals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/tIe0sSZVMA
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 4, 2025
- Sat, October 4, 2025 at 10:01 AM GMT+8Kari Anderson
It's still deadlocked at 82-82 in Las Vegas, as both teams keep finding ways to respond. There have been 11 lead changes in this game, and the Aces have never led by more than two points. But the home team is keeping the hopes of a Game 1 victory alive with less than five minutes left.
- Sat, October 4, 2025 at 9:48 AM GMT+8Kari Anderson
That's five fouls now for Satou Sabally, who gets put on the bench as a result. Sabally was called for a shooting foul on A'ja Wilson, but bounced the ball in frustration to earn an extra free throw for Wilson.
Wilson hits two of the three throws, pulling the Aces within four.
- Sat, October 4, 2025 at 9:45 AM GMT+8Kari Anderson
Great news for the Mercury: Sami Whitcomb is back on the floor, seemingly fine after a knee injury scare in the third quarter.
- Sat, October 4, 2025 at 9:44 AM GMT+8Kari AndersonMercury 71, Aces 67 after three quarters
Once again, Phoenix pulled ahead by as many as seven in the third quarter, but the Aces pushed back in the final minutes to get back within one point. But Satou Sabally hit two big buckets back-to-back in the final seconds to pull the Mercury back to a six-point lead.
Trading buckets to end the 3Q 🫣Tune into ESPN to see how the last quarter goes!PHX-LVA | WNBA Finals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/rJhl8YyZvj
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 4, 2025
Phoenix is one quarter away from a huge away win to start the series, but will have to be careful about fouls: Two of the main players, Sabally and DeWanna Bonner, are both in foul trouble with four fouls apiece. And the Mercury have allowed 10 turnovers, compared to Las Vegas' four, in this matchup so far; that will have stop in order to secure the win here.
- Sat, October 4, 2025 at 9:37 AM GMT+8Kari Anderson
Veteran Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb goes down after a collision with NaLyssa Smith, grabbing at her knee. She hops off the court, unable to put any weight on that right leg, and immediately goes into the locker room in a huge loss for the Phoenix bench.
- Sat, October 4, 2025 at 9:34 AM GMT+8Kari Anderson
Chelsea Gray, who exited with an ankle injury, is back in the game after getting her ankle taped.
Jackie Young, meanwhile, is on the sideline seemingly getting her calf worked on.
- Sat, October 4, 2025 at 9:28 AM GMT+8Kari AndersonA quick break for some foul reviews, as Chelsea Gray heads to the locker room
The Mercury are called for a pair of fouls in quick succession. The first — a collision between Satou Sabally's elbow and NaLyssa Smith's chin — was not upgraded to a flagrant, but the second — a closeout foul on Kahleah Copper that sent Chelsea Gray to the ground in pain — was.
Gray, who was visibly in pain after appearing to twist her ankle off Copper's foot, took her free throws, hitting all three to tie the game. But then she immediately took off to the locker room to check on her ankle.
By hitting the free throws, Gray is eligible to return to the game. However, it's unclear what her status will be.
- Sat, October 4, 2025 at 9:20 AM GMT+8Kari AndersonPhoenix and Vegas trade hot streaks to open the second half
With the scoreline so close, it's shaping up to be a game of momentum. The Aces come out strong after halftime, going on an uncontested 6-0 run to eke past the Mercury, but then Phoenix scores seven uncontested points.
A big three-pointer from Kierstan Bell gets the Aces within three before the scoring stops on both sides, and the defense picks back up.
- Sat, October 4, 2025 at 9:08 AM GMT+8Kari AndersonKahleah Copper ties Finals record for most three pointers in a half
KAH SETS THE PACE 🔥Kahleah Copper's 5 3PM in the 1H of tonight's game tie Diana Taurasi's record for most 3PM in ANY HALF of a WNBA Finals game!#WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/u1jsTakHvJ
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 4, 2025
- Sat, October 4, 2025 at 9:00 AM GMT+8Kari AndersonHalftime: Mercury 50, Aces 45
Jewell Loyd led Las Vegas on a good run in the first half, but Kahleah Copper has been on another level for Phoenix, hitting five three-pointers in the half for 19 first-half points. The Mercury are now up five heading into the locker room, largely thanks to that last few shots from Copper.
The Mercury lead by 5 in Game 1 👀 Kahleah Copper leads all scorers with 19 points AND tied Diana Taurasi for most threes in a playoff first half (5) 💪 pic.twitter.com/ATiE5Y0QaG
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 4, 2025
Copper is locked in on this win, helping silence the crowd in Las Vegas with her performance.
"It's the finals, I wanna win a championship, that's it," Copper said on the broadcast at halftime.
- Sat, October 4, 2025 at 8:55 AM GMT+8Kari Anderson
Make that five for Kahleah Copper, who nearly drops 20 before the end of the first half. 12 of her 19 points have come in the second quarter.
5 THREE POINTERS FOR KAH 🤩Copper has 19 PTS in 15 minutes of play! She's on another planet!PHX-LVA | ESPN | WNBA Finals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/MLKZ566AOr
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 4, 2025
- Sat, October 4, 2025 at 8:52 AM GMT+8Kari AndersonFour three-pointers for Kahleah Copper in the first half
Kahleah Copper can't be stopped, racking up 16 points with two-and-a-half minutes still left in the half. She's four-for-five from beyond the arc, pulling the Mercury to a multi-score lead before halftime.
Kahleah Copper isn't afraid of the big stage 🤩She scores on her first take, making it look easy!PHX-LVA | ESPN | #WNBAFinals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/lw8Vc762nE
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 4, 2025
- Sat, October 4, 2025 at 8:45 AM GMT+8Kari AndersonAces' bench dominating early on
Though Las Vegas and Phoenix are trading leads, the Aces are getting a lot of their power from the bench. So far, 22 of the team's 40 points are off the bench, with Jewell Loyd and Dana Evans pitching in 10 points each so far. Evans had already had two massive three-pointers in this quarter alone, while Loyd is starting to show some of the spark that she's been missing throughout the season.
Dana Evans is cookin' early 😎She's already up to 8 PTS & has 2 3PM!PHX-LVA | ESPN | WNBA Finals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/m79GeSRRaV
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 4, 2025
A'ja Wilson is, of course, playing like an MVP with nine points and four rebounds so far. But if Las Vegas can keep pulling significant points off the bench, they'll be hard to slow down.
- Sat, October 4, 2025 at 8:34 AM GMT+8Kari AndersonAces march right back to end the first quarter after Mercury's early lead
Phoenix was up by as many as eight points in the first quarter, before the Aces stormed back in the final minutes of the quarter behind some key points from Jewell Loyd and Chelsea Gray. It's now tied 21-21 after one frame.
Alyssa Thomas is hooping early on for Phoenix, going three-for-three on field goals and pitching in two early assists. But Las Vegas looked sharp at the end of the quarter, finally hitting a groove from beyond the arc.
CHELSEA GRAY IS UNREAL 🤯Gray delivers the dime to Loyd who cashes it in!PHX-LVA | ESPN | WNBA Finals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/VX9x5Nxtjx
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 4, 2025
- Sat, October 4, 2025 at 8:30 AM GMT+8Kari AndersonChelsea Gray pulls Aces within two points after massive three
The Aces had gone 0-5 on three-pointers until Chelsea Gray pulled up from beyond the arc, sinking a three that sends Las Vegas within two points of the Mercury's early lead.
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