LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Phoenix Mercury led Game 1 of the WNBA Finals for more than two-thirds of the game, but couldn’t finish what they started in their 89-86 loss to the Las Vegas Aces.

The Mercury were ahead for more than 27 minutes Friday and their biggest lead was nine points after Monique Akoa Makani hit three consecutive free throws to give them a 66-57 advantage with 3:36 left in the third quarter.

Phoenix’s last lead was 82-80 with a little less than 5 minutes left in the game.

So what went wrong?

“They made a couple plays down the stretch we didn’t,” Phoenix coach Nate Tibbets said. “That’s why this is going to be a great series, right?”

It could be, if the Mercury don’t make the same mistakes Sunday in Game 2 under the pressure of a raucous arena that had a sellout crowd of 10,266 reach peak decibels on Friday.

Phoenix committed 12 turnovers, to Las Vegas’ five, and the Aces capitalized with 20 points off the Mercury’s miscues.

Kahleah Copper finished with 21 points, but 19 of those came in the first half. The Aces’ defensive switches limited Copper’s looks to just four attempts in the second half, when she scored only two points and had one assist.

The Mercury went from shooting 52.9% (18 of 34) in the first half to 40.6% in the second half, with nearly the same amount of looks, hitting 13 of 32.

“They went zone, kind of made us stand a little bit,” Tibbetts added. “I thought we had some good looks. Give them credit for mixing up their defense; that was a good adjustment.

“We didn’t handle it well, and that was part of the reason (Copper) didn’t get as many shots in the second half.”

Tibbetts said it’s a series that could very well see games come down to the last possession, situations he feels his team has handled well, despite star Alyssa Thomas missing a pair of free throws that could have given Phoenix the lead with 24.6 seconds left in the game.

Thomas had an injury scare late in the game with her left hand but said Saturday it was fine and not an issue.

”We don’t need to talk about that,” said Thomas, who had 15 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in Game 1.

Finally, there’s Phoenix’s defense, which held teams to 75.9 points per game on 41.1% shooting through its first seven playoff games, but allowed the Aces to score 89 points and shoot 45.8% in the series opener — both opponent highs against the Mercury in the playoffs. Las Vegas’ bench also outscored Phoenix’s, 41-16.

The Phoenix Mercury are standing at the edge of a cliff — one misstep away from falling out of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs. After a devastating Game 1 loss to the Las Vegas Aces, the Mercury find themselves in a win-or-go-home situation that could determine not only their season but also the future direction of the franchise. The Aces, already looking every bit the reigning champions they are, are now just one victory away from another Finals berth, while the Mercury face a mountain of self-inflicted wounds and urgent adjustments to make before it’s too late.

Game 1 was a tale of opportunities squandered. The Mercury came out aggressive, matching the Aces blow-for-blow early, but costly turnovers, defensive lapses, and missed open shots turned what could have been a statement win into a 92–78 defeat that left players visibly frustrated. “We didn’t execute,” said Mercury head coach Nikki Blue in a fiery postgame press conference. “This isn’t about effort — it’s about discipline. No more excuses. If we want to stay alive, we’ve got to clean up every single mistake.”

The message couldn’t be clearer: Phoenix must tighten up, or their season ends here.

Much of the Mercury’s struggles stemmed from their inability to contain the Aces’ offensive juggernaut, led by A’ja Wilson, who continues to dominate every facet of the game. Wilson dropped 29 points and 14 rebounds in Game 1, completely dismantling Phoenix’s interior defense. Every time the Mercury tried to double her, Las Vegas made them pay with crisp ball movement and sharp outside shooting. Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young combined for 38 points, exposing the Mercury’s slow rotations and miscommunications on the perimeter.

Meanwhile, Phoenix’s offensive rhythm never fully clicked. Diana Taurasi, in what could be one of her final playoff runs, struggled to find her shot, finishing with just 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting. Kahleah Copper tried to carry the load, pouring in 26 points with relentless drives to the rim, but too often she found herself isolated without enough help from her teammates. Natasha Cloud, who has been the emotional engine of the Mercury all season, called the team’s Game 1 performance “unacceptable” and vowed a complete turnaround. “We can talk all day about what we didn’t do,” she said. “But now it’s about what we’re going to do. No fear. No excuses. We fight.”

The Mercury’s biggest problem was their lack of composure under pressure. Late in the third quarter, with the game still within reach, three straight turnovers turned a five-point deficit into a 15-point hole. The Aces thrive on momentum swings, and once they sense weakness, they pounce. Coach Becky Hammon’s team has perfected the art of the knockout run — and Phoenix, despite its veteran core, looked rattled in the face of it.

Heading into Game 2, the Mercury’s path to survival is narrow but clear. They must control the pace, limit turnovers, and get physical early with Wilson and Plum. Defensive rebounding — a glaring weakness in Game 1 — is non-negotiable. The Aces grabbed 15 offensive boards, resulting in 18 second-chance points. Those numbers simply can’t happen again.

Phoenix will also need to find more scoring balance. While Copper has been sensational all postseason, she can’t shoulder the entire offensive burden. Brittney Griner, still working back to full form after a season of ups and downs, was too quiet in Game 1, finishing with just 9 points and 4 rebounds. Her presence in the paint — both offensively and defensively — will be crucial if the Mercury hope to extend the series. “We’ve got to feed BG early and often,” Blue said. “She’s a matchup problem for anyone, and when she’s aggressive, we play our best basketball.”

The locker room mood after Game 1 was described by insiders as “tense but determined.” Taurasi, who’s seen more playoff wars than any player in WNBA history, reportedly addressed the team privately, urging her teammates to embrace the moment rather than fear it. “This is where legacies are made,” one source quoted her as saying. “You either fold, or you fight.”

Across the court, the Aces are exuding confidence — and with good reason. The defending champions look every bit as sharp and connected as they did during last year’s title run. Chelsea Gray’s leadership, A’ja Wilson’s dominance, and Becky Hammon’s masterful game planning have made them the standard of excellence in the league. Still, Hammon isn’t taking the Mercury lightly. “You can’t underestimate a team with that much pride and talent,” she told reporters. “Game 2 is going to be a battle. We expect Phoenix to throw everything they’ve got at us.”

For the Mercury, that “everything” will need to include defensive intensity, smarter offensive sets, and perhaps most importantly — belief. They’ve been here before, backs against the wall, written off by critics. But the combination of veterans like Taurasi and Griner with fiery leaders like Cloud and Copper means they still have the heart to fight back. “We’re not done,” Copper said. “People can count us out if they want — but we know who we are.”

Game 2, set to take place in Las Vegas, has all the makings of a defining moment. A win would send the series back to Phoenix with new life and renewed belief; a loss would end a season that began with so much promise and emotional fire.

If the Mercury are to survive, they’ll have to rediscover the defensive grit and chemistry that fueled their midseason turnaround. They’ll have to silence the roaring Vegas crowd, withstand the inevitable Wilson runs, and hit shots in the moments that matter most. Above all, they’ll have to prove that they still belong among the league’s elite.

As Coach Blue summed it up: “This is our test. You find out who you are when everything’s on the line. I told the team — the time for talking is over. It’s time to show up.”

With elimination looming, the Mercury’s season hangs by a thread. The Aces may be poised to crown themselves champions once again, but if Phoenix has one last fight left in them, now is the time to unleash it. Because in the playoffs, as every legend knows, one game can change everything — for better, or for heartbreak.

Satou Sabally, who had 19 points on Friday, remained confident in Phoenix’s resiliency.

“We have to play better defense, just go back to what we do best, and then I think the results will show that we are the better team,” Sabally said. “We’ll walk through our mistakes and find better solutions for some things, and then we’ll just come back on Sunday and win this game.”