The Las Vegas Aces showed everyone that a championship isn’t won by stars alone. In Game 1 of the 2025 WNBA Finals, the Aces leaned heavily on their depth to snatch an 89-86 victory over the Phoenix Mercury, turning what looked like a likely loss into a statement win.
Behind clutch contributions from the second unit, Las Vegas erased a late deficit and took control of the series before it even truly began.
Phoenix held the lead for most of the night, fueled by standout performances from Kahleah Copper, Satou Sabally, and Alyssa Thomas.
But when it mattered, the Aces’ bench rose to the occasion. Dana Evans poured in 21 points off the bench, matching game highs held by four-time MVP A’ja Wilson and Copper.
Jewell Loyd added 18 more from the pine, and together they pulled the Aces back from the brink.
“This team’s strength is not one or two people,” Wilson said. “Dana was huge for us … it was the bench that kept us alive until we could finish it out.”
Coach Becky Hammon echoed the sentiment, praising the reserves’ readiness and grit in the late stages of a tight contest.
How Phoenix lost grip in the final minutes
Phoenix, making its first Finals appearance since 2021, looked poised to steal homecourt after controlling much of the game.
opper drilled five three-pointers in the first half, tying a Finals-halves record, and Sabally chipped in 19 points. Thomas flirted with a triple-double, putting up 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists.
Yet, the margin for error in a Finals game is razor-thin. Phoenix committed 14 turnovers, compared to just 7 by Las Vegas.
Thomas missed two critical free throws in the final minute that could have flipped the game. After their attempts fell short, Jackie Young calmly sank two foul shots to push the Aces’ lead to three.
Sabally had one chance to tie it from beyond the arc, but the shot rimmed out.
A turning point came when Sabally picked up her fifth foul in the fourth quarter and smashed the ball to the floor, drawing a technical foul. That moment sparked a 17-6 Las Vegas run to close out the game.
By the final horn, Las Vegas’ reserves had outscored Phoenix’s bench 41-16, a dominant swing that transformed this one into their most productive Finals bench performance in franchise history.
Las Vegas showed early that it intends to win on more than name recognition.
Wilson, who secured her record fourth MVP award this season, delivered 21 points and 10 rebounds, but she was far from the only hero.
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