A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces are looking to accomplish something only done once before by winning a third WNBA championship in four seasons. Standing in the way are the Phoenix Mercury, who are making their first championship appearance since 2021.

The WNBA Finals will begin Friday in Las Vegas between the second-seed Aces and No. 4 seed Mercury. This year for the first time the two teams will play in a best-of-seven format as the league expanded its championship round from a five-game series.

The Aces were pushed to the brink in both the opening round of the playoffs and in the semifinals where they beat Indiana in overtime in a decisive Game 5 on Tuesday night.

This Mercury team is vastly different from the squads that once leaned on legends like Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner. Taurasi’s retirement and Griner’s departure as a free agent forced Phoenix to reimagine its future quickly. The front office responded by assembling a formidable new core: Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally, and DeWanna Bonner—all bringing veteran savvy and versatility to a team hungry for another title. Their blend of experience and fresh chemistry has given Phoenix a new identity, one that is both gritty and dangerous.

Perhaps the most inspiring part of Phoenix’s journey has been their ability to overcome adversity. Kahleah Copper, one of only two returning players from last season, missed the first 11 games while recovering from knee surgery. Many assumed that her absence would sink their season before it began. Instead, the Mercury adapted, found ways to stay competitive, and welcomed Copper back into the fold just in time for their postseason push. It’s that kind of resilience that has made Phoenix one of the most compelling stories of the season.

“People counted us out, but we’re making it to the finals,” Wilson said. “We’re not done yet.”

In the beginning of August, the Aces looked down and out as they sat at .500 and were coming off a record home loss to Minnesota. The team responded winning its final 16 regular season games to improbably clinch the No. 2 seed.

They are back in the championship round after losing to New York in the semifinals last season. Las Vegas won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023. Only Houston has won three titles in a four year stretch when the Comets won the first four championships in league history.

Phoenix is trying for its first championship since 2014. The Mercury had a tough road to get back to the Finals for the first time in four years. They topped both the defending champion New York Liberty in the opening round and the No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals to reach the WNBA Finals.

The Mercury have felt they have been the underdog all season. It’s no surprise with the retirement of Diana Taurasi and the departure of Brittney Griner as a free agent. The Mercury rebuilt a talented roster quickly with the additions of Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally and DeWanna Bonner.

Kahleah Copper, one of the franchises two returning players from last season, missed the first 11 games while recovering from arthroscopic left knee surgery.

“No one has had expectations for us except ourselves,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said. “The pride and the togetherness for such a new group, it’s pretty impressive.”

The Las Vegas Aces are on the brink of history, chasing a third WNBA championship in four seasons—a feat accomplished only once before when the Houston Comets dominated the league’s early years. Standing in their way is a Phoenix Mercury team that has been tested and rebuilt, making its first championship appearance since 2021. The collision of these two franchises promises one of the most compelling Finals in recent memory, intensified by the league’s new best-of-seven format for the championship round.

For Las Vegas, the road to this moment has been anything but smooth. The Aces were pushed to their limits in both playoff rounds, barely surviving elimination before clawing their way back to the Finals. Their semifinal series against Indiana epitomized their resilience, ending with a dramatic overtime victory in a decisive Game 5. Even A’ja Wilson, the heartbeat of the franchise and one of the league’s brightest stars, acknowledged the struggles but doubled down on the team’s determination. “People counted us out, but we’re making it to the finals,” she said. “We’re not done yet.”

The sense of unfinished business has fueled Las Vegas for months. Back in early August, the Aces sat at .500, battered from inconsistent play and the sting of a record home loss to Minnesota. At that point, critics had written them off. Instead, the team responded by winning 16 straight regular season games, storming into the playoffs with renewed confidence and an improbable No. 2 seed. Their turnaround wasn’t just about talent; it was about rediscovering the championship mindset that delivered titles in 2022 and 2023.

That championship DNA is what makes the Aces so dangerous. Having already cemented themselves as one of the league’s modern dynasties, they now have a chance to join the Houston Comets in the history books as one of the only franchises to secure three titles in four years. For a team that fell short last season, losing to New York in the semifinals, the return to the Finals feels like redemption. Wilson, alongside veteran leaders and a battle-tested roster, understands the magnitude of this opportunity—not just for the Aces, but for her own legacy.

On the other side of the court, the Phoenix Mercury embody the definition of resilience. They’ve battled uphill all season, dealing with retirements, free agency departures, and injuries that could have derailed their campaign entirely. Yet here they are, fresh off a stunning postseason run that saw them topple the defending champion New York Liberty and dethrone the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx. Each step of the way, the Mercury leaned into their underdog identity, playing with pride and determination when few outside the locker room believed in them.

Head coach Nate Tibbetts has embraced the underdog narrative, using it as fuel to unify his squad. “No one has had expectations for us except ourselves,” he said. “The pride and the togetherness for such a new group, it’s pretty impressive.” His words capture the spirit of a team that has been written off repeatedly, only to rise stronger each time. That attitude has carried them through the playoffs, where they’ve knocked off two giants and proven that they are no fluke contender.

At the center of Phoenix’s resurgence is DeWanna Bonner, a player whose return to the Mercury midseason was both nostalgic and strategic. Bonner, who previously helped Phoenix to championships in 2009 and 2014, initially struggled during the playoffs, raising doubts about her ability to impact this run. But in Game 4 against Minnesota, with the season hanging in the balance, she delivered in vintage fashion. A huge fourth quarter, highlighted by clutch three-pointers and veteran poise, reminded the league why Phoenix brought her back.

Tibbetts didn’t shy away from admitting that Bonner was acquired for moments like these. “We went and got her for this reason,” he said. “The first games weren’t a big enough moment for her. She needed the fourth quarter to step up. And she hit some big 3s. Her experience—that’s why you go get a player like that.” Bonner’s late-game heroics not only propelled Phoenix into the Finals but also reestablished her as a force capable of altering the outcome of the championship series.

The matchup between Las Vegas and Phoenix promises to be a clash of narratives as much as a battle of basketball. On one side, the Aces are chasing dynasty status, led by Wilson and a roster that has endured the highs and lows of championship pressure. On the other, the Mercury are rewriting their identity on the fly, fueled by the hunger of newcomers and the wisdom of veterans like Bonner. The contrasting storylines make this Finals one of the most intriguing in recent memory, amplified by the league’s decision to expand the series to a best-of-seven.

The stakes could not be higher. For Las Vegas, a victory cements their place among the greatest teams in league history, validating Wilson’s leadership and etching this era of Aces basketball into the record books. For Phoenix, a championship would mark one of the most improbable turnarounds in WNBA history—a team left for dead in the preseason rising all the way to the mountaintop. The emotional weight of either outcome will resonate far beyond the hardwood.

As the Finals tip off in Las Vegas, all eyes will be on Wilson, Bonner, and the supporting casts who have carried their franchises to this point. The series will test endurance, depth, and willpower across a grueling seven games. Whether it ends with the Aces completing a dynasty or the Mercury completing an underdog fairytale, this championship promises to be unforgettable. What began as a season of doubt for both franchises has transformed into a showcase of resilience, legacy, and the relentless pursuit of greatness.

Bonner was a late addition to the team, joining as a free agent midway through the year. She’s no stranger to Phoenix though, helping the Mercury win titles in 2009 and 2014. After struggling for most of the playoffs, she had a huge fourth quarter in the Game 4 win over Minnesota that advanced the Mercury to the Finals.

“I’m sure that there were people wondering why I was playing DB at times in this series,” Tibbetts said after the game. “We went and got her for this reason. I told her after the game, the first games weren’t a big enough moment for her. She needed the fourth quarter to step up. And, I mean, she hit some big 3s. And you know, her experience, that’s why you go get a player like that.”