A’ja Wilson Dominates, Aces Sweep Mercury, Win 3rd WNBA Title/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Las Vegas Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 to complete a dominant sweep in the WNBA Finals. A’ja Wilson led the way with 31 points and was named Finals MVP despite a tough shooting night. This marks the Aces’ third WNBA championship in just four seasons.
Aces Win Third WNBA Title Quick Looks
- Las Vegas Aces beat Phoenix Mercury 97-86 in Game 4
- Aces complete four-game sweep, win third title in four years
- A’ja Wilson scores 31 points, named WNBA Finals MVP
- Five Aces players score in double digits in offensive showcase
- Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young contribute 18 points each
- Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts ejected in heated third quarter
- Kahleah Copper leads Mercury with 30 points in loss
- Game marks first-ever WNBA Finals played as best-of-seven
- Las Vegas led wire-to-wire in dominant clincher
- WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert presents trophy amid fan boos
Deep Look: Las Vegas Aces Claim Third WNBA Title with Game 4 Win over Mercury
The Las Vegas Aces continued their rise as a WNBA dynasty, securing their third championship in four seasons with a 97-86 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Friday night. The win completed a four-game sweep in the first-ever best-of-seven WNBA Finals, cementing Las Vegas as the league’s dominant force.
At the heart of the Aces’ triumph was A’ja Wilson, who poured in 31 points and grabbed nine rebounds, despite shooting just 7-of-21 from the field. Wilson, who was crowned Finals MVP, converted 17-of-19 free throws to anchor the Aces’ offense and powered her team through stretches when shots weren’t falling.
“This is a symbol of the joyfulness we have right now,” Wilson beamed postgame, wearing ski goggles and shaking a pink tambourine during the press conference — remnants of the champagne celebration that had just taken place in the locker room. “I’m just so grateful to be with this bunch — and that’s not the alcohol talking.”
The Aces were in control from the tip-off, building a 30-21 first-quarter lead on 55% shooting and never relinquishing their advantage. Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young each added 18 points, while Jewell Loyd and Dana Evans knocked down early three-pointers that helped Las Vegas pull away.
Las Vegas surged ahead with a 19-point lead early in the second quarter, fueled by consecutive threes from Gray, Loyd, and Evans. They took a 54-38 lead into halftime, with Gray scoring 10 before the break and Wilson tallying 14.
Phoenix managed to make a run in the fourth, cutting the lead to 76-70 with just under eight minutes left, but Las Vegas responded swiftly. Gray buried two clutch threes in the final frame to seal the victory and dash any hopes of a Mercury comeback.
Kahleah Copper led Phoenix with 30 points, shooting 12-of-22, while Alyssa Thomas had a triple-double with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. However, the Mercury’s efforts were undermined by emotional volatility and injuries. Coach Nate Tibbetts was ejected in the third quarter after back-to-back technicals, while forward Satou Sabally was unavailable due to a concussion suffered in Game 3.
The Mercury also lost Thomas temporarily after a hard screen by Loyd, though she returned after halftime with noticeable limitations.
The Aces’ 2025 Finals performance was nothing short of dominance. They averaged over 90 points per game across the series, with five players scoring in double figures in Game 4. Head coach Becky Hammon praised her team’s effort, calling them “elite” and noting the relentless contributions from every corner of the roster.
Despite their defeat, Phoenix’s path to the Finals was impressive, including playoff victories over the defending champion New York Liberty and the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx. Still, they couldn’t find a way to slow down an Aces squad firing on all cylinders.
Las Vegas now prepares to defend its crown in 2026, while Phoenix will look to regroup after falling short in the Finals for the second time in five years — their last championship dating back to 2014.
As the WNBA grows in reach and competitiveness, the Aces have firmly established themselves as the team to beat. With a core led by Wilson, Young, Gray, and Hammon at the helm, Las Vegas has the makings of a basketball dynasty.
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