LAS VEGAS, NV — The Las Vegas Aces hadn’t exactly planned on switching to a zone defense in the WNBA Finals — but when they finally tried it, it proved to be the game-changer.
Relying on a late defensive adjustment and clutch performances from A’ja Wilson and Dana Evans, the Aces stormed back to edge the Phoenix Mercury 89–86 on Friday night in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Wilson and Evans each scored 21 points, while Wilson dominated down the stretch with 12 points over the final 14 minutes. The win wasn’t sealed until Phoenix’s Satou Sabally missed a deep three-pointer with two seconds left that would have forced overtime.
Game 2 is set for Sunday in Las Vegas.
Zone Sparks the Comeback
Phoenix had been shooting lights out for three quarters — hitting over 52% from the field and 50% from deep — before Las Vegas switched to a zone defense in the fourth. The Mercury cooled off quickly, going just 6-for-18 overall and 2-for-12 from three in the final frame.
“I was seeing them score too easily in our man-to-man,” said Aces coach Becky Hammon. “They were getting the ball into the paint and then kicking it out for open looks. The zone let us clog the middle and still fan out to their shooters. It was a big difference.”
Evans Energizes the Aces
Evans was the spark off the bench that powered Las Vegas all night. She became the first player in WNBA Finals history to record five 3-pointers and four steals in a single game.
“I’ve said it over and over — Dana is our battery,” Wilson said. “She makes us play at a different pace. We go as she goes. She’s so hard to stop when she’s in rhythm.”
The Aces’ reserves outscored the Mercury’s bench 41–16, with Jewell Loyd adding 18 points and Jackie Young contributing 10. Wilson also grabbed 10 rebounds, and Chelsea Gray dished out 10 assists.
Copper’s Hot Start Keeps Mercury Close
Kahleah Copper led Phoenix with 21 points, including 19 in the first half — just one shy of her playoff career high for a half. Sabally added 19 points, and Alyssa Thomas nearly had a triple-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists.
Copper knocked down five 3-pointers in the first half, surpassing her previous career high of four. Her scoring outburst helped the Mercury stay close in a game that featured 12 lead changes and nine ties.
Final Seconds Decide It
Phoenix had a chance to steal Game 1 late. Trailing 87–86 with 24.6 seconds left, Thomas went to the line but missed both free throws. Young then calmly hit two foul shots for Las Vegas with 13.5 seconds remaining to set the final margin.
The Mercury had one last opportunity, but Sabally’s long 3-point attempt fell short.
“It’s going to be a great series,” said Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts. “These teams are evenly matched, and it’s probably going to come down to the last few possessions every night.”
Looking Ahead:
The Aces are aiming for their third championship in four seasons, while Phoenix looks to tie the WNBA record with a fourth title. The Mercury have made a habit of bouncing back — they lost Game 1 in both of their previous playoff rounds before eliminating defending champion New York and top-seeded Minnesota.
“We’ll look at the film, clean up our mistakes, and come back stronger,” said Sabally. “We’ve done it before — we’ll do it again.”
Game 2 tips off Sunday as the Aces look to strengthen their grip on another Finals run.
