The Las Vegas Aces didn’t just win Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, they cut the heart and soul out of the Phoenix Mercury’s title hopes.

Whatever chance the Mercury had of winning the 2025 championship, or at least keeping the Aces honest, evaporated after the first quarter, Sunday at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.

Phoenix couldn’t capitalize on its big leads – first seven points and then eight – letting Las Vegas back in each time. Then the Aces stars started cooking, and the Mercury had no answer.

And then there’s A’ja Wilson, the heartbeat of this dynasty. Every possession she touches feels intentional, every movement deliberate. She doesn’t just score — she anchors the entire team’s emotional balance. When Phoenix tried to crowd the paint, she calmly kicked it out to shooters. When Griner went at her one-on-one, she met her chest-to-chest and made her earn every inch. Wilson’s stat line — 24 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks — barely captures her influence. Her presence alone dictated Phoenix’s every decision.

If there was one defining difference between these two teams in Game 2, it was how Las Vegas dictated tempo. The Mercury came out with passion, but the Aces came out with control. By the second half, Phoenix looked like they were chasing ghosts — outpaced, out-rebounded, and out-thought. The Aces’ spacing forced the Mercury into constant rotation, and by the time Phoenix adjusted, the damage was already done.

Coach Becky Hammon deserves immense credit. Her in-game adjustments were subtle but devastating. When Phoenix’s defense began collapsing on Wilson, Hammon shifted the offense through Young’s midrange game — forcing the Mercury to stretch themselves thin. When Copper tried to push transition tempo, Hammon’s guards clogged outlets and forced turnovers. It was a masterclass in how preparation meets instinct.

That second quarter, when A’ja Wilson single-handedly outscored Phoenix? That third, when Jackie Young popped off for 21? That’s how titles are won. When you get an edge on your opponent, you jam your foot on the gas and you don’t take it off.

“That’s the goal, to not let up,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said after her team took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series with their 91-78 dismantling of Phoenix.

“You just don’t want to have a satisfied locker room because we’re not there yet,” Hammon said. “We did what we’re supposed to do.”

But it’s the way Las Vegas did it that will give Phoenix sleepless nights in the offseason.

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WNBA Finals 2025: Las Vegas Aces vs. Phoenix Mercury

A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces are on the cusp of a WNBA dynasty. See photos from the 2025 WNBA Finals.

No on-the-job training in Finals

The Finals are a different beast, even from other playoff series. The Aces know that intimately, the core of their teams that won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 still here. They know you can’t give the other team openings, or you might never recover. They know, too, that if you get one of those openings, you have to take advantage of it.

And then some.

After the Mercury dominated the opening minutes of the game, Las Vegas’ defense started clicking. A defensive rebound became a layup for Wilson. A steal became a stepback jumper. An offensive rebound became a putback. Within a few possessions, the game had gone sideways for Phoenix, and they were never able to get it back.

“I thought we were pretty stagnant offensively,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said. “We tried to force it a little bit ourselves and tried to go get it. That’s part of us just trying to figure it out as a group.”

There isn’t time for that in the Finals. You have to find an answer in the moment or you’re going to be roadkill.

That’s what Las Vegas did in Game 1. Young had, as Hammon said, “no legs, no lift” Friday night. Wilson had 21 points, but seven came at the free throw line. So how did the Aces win that one? They got monster efforts from Dana Evans and Jewell Loyd.

The Las Vegas Aces didn’t just win Game 2 of the WNBA Finals — they delivered a masterclass in championship basketball. From composure under pressure to tactical discipline and sheer firepower, Las Vegas reminded everyone — fans, critics, and especially the Phoenix Mercury — exactly what separates a title contender from a title defender.

For two quarters, Phoenix looked ready to make a statement. They came in sharper, hungrier, and determined to shake off the sting of their Game 1 defeat. Brittney Griner was commanding the paint, Kahleah Copper was attacking fearlessly, and Diana Taurasi was hitting those vintage deep threes that ignite hope in any Mercury fan. But as the game wore on, the Aces showed the most dangerous trait any championship team can possess — the ability to shift gears at will.

That switch flipped midway through the third quarter, when Jackie Young erupted into a solo showcase of control and confidence. Suddenly, Phoenix’s tight defensive rotations started breaking down. Passing lanes opened up. Transition defense evaporated. And before anyone could process what was happening, the Aces were off to the races — running, pressing, and suffocating the Mercury with relentless precision.

Young’s 17-point quarter wasn’t just impressive — it was surgical. She picked her moments perfectly, attacking off the dribble when defenders sagged, spacing out for catch-and-shoot threes when they crowded Wilson, and cutting decisively whenever Gray found a passing window. Her basketball IQ was on full display.

What Phoenix learned the hard way is that against Las Vegas, you can’t just play well — you have to play perfectly. The Aces’ system is built to punish hesitation. They feast on second-guessing, on tired closeouts, on any lapse in communication. Every mistake becomes a layup or an open jumper on the other end. It’s a ruthless cycle that the Mercury couldn’t escape, no matter how hard they fought.

And then there’s A’ja Wilson, the heartbeat of this dynasty. Every possession she touches feels intentional, every movement deliberate. She doesn’t just score — she anchors the entire team’s emotional balance. When Phoenix tried to crowd the paint, she calmly kicked it out to shooters. When Griner went at her one-on-one, she met her chest-to-chest and made her earn every inch. Wilson’s stat line — 24 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks — barely captures her influence. Her presence alone dictated Phoenix’s every decision.

If there was one defining difference between these two teams in Game 2, it was how Las Vegas dictated tempo. The Mercury came out with passion, but the Aces came out with control. By the second half, Phoenix looked like they were chasing ghosts — outpaced, out-rebounded, and out-thought. The Aces’ spacing forced the Mercury into constant rotation, and by the time Phoenix adjusted, the damage was already done.

Coach Becky Hammon deserves immense credit. Her in-game adjustments were subtle but devastating. When Phoenix’s defense began collapsing on Wilson, Hammon shifted the offense through Young’s midrange game — forcing the Mercury to stretch themselves thin. When Copper tried to push transition tempo, Hammon’s guards clogged outlets and forced turnovers. It was a masterclass in how preparation meets instinct.

What makes Las Vegas so exceptional is their mental toughness. Even when they fall behind, there’s no panic. You don’t see frustration or finger-pointing — you see quiet intensity. Chelsea Gray, even while still managing her workload post-injury, acted as the floor general, ensuring every possession had purpose. Kelsey Plum brought her trademark aggression and swagger, driving lanes and spacing the floor. Alysha Clark and Kiah Stokes did the dirty work defensively — boxing out, diving for loose balls, closing angles. Every player knows their role, and that collective understanding is what breaks opponents mentally.

Phoenix, on the other hand, now faces a harsh reality. They came into this series confident, believing that their depth and energy could challenge the reigning champs. But through two games, they’ve been taught what championship maturity really looks like. Every time they make a push, the Aces respond with composure. Every time they sense momentum, Las Vegas calmly reasserts dominance.

That’s not to say the Mercury lack talent or heart — far from it. Copper continues to be their emotional spark, playing with a ferocity few can match. Griner, despite fatigue, remains an interior anchor capable of swinging a game on her own. But what Phoenix hasn’t yet found is consistency. Their highs are electric, but their lows — especially when the Aces lock in defensively — are too costly to survive in a Finals setting.

And that’s the lesson here: the Aces don’t need perfection — they enforce it.

For the Mercury to extend this series, they’ll need to find something deeper than strategy. They’ll need belief — belief that they can disrupt Las Vegas’s rhythm, belief that they can withstand runs without crumbling, belief that they can bring this fight home in front of their fans. Because if they can’t summon that, the Aces will finish this series in a sweep — and they’ll do it with the same calm ruthlessness we saw in Game 2.

What makes this Aces team so compelling isn’t just their dominance — it’s how effortless it looks. They don’t play rushed or panicked; they play like a team that’s already seen every possible scenario. They’ve been here before, and they know exactly what it takes to win again.

So yes, Game 2 was a victory. But more than that, it was a lesson. A reminder that in championship basketball, talent isn’t enough — discipline, chemistry, and confidence matter more. The Las Vegas Aces have all three in abundance.

As the series shifts to Phoenix, the question isn’t whether the Mercury can fight back. It’s whether they can match the mentality of a team that’s redefined what winning looks like in the WNBA.

You figure it out. You get other people involved. You change up your schemes. You do whatever you have to or this window will be gone.

“Even our whole year, the process is always equipping you for what’s coming next. I think they really embraced that,” Hammon said. “It takes a special group to embrace hard.”

But the Aces know what the reward is when they do.

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The WNBA has had 16 MVPs since it started awarding the honor in 1997. Can you name them all?

Hard work pays off

Wilson, Young and Chelsea Gray might not have a monster collective effort like this in Game 3. Young had 32 points and eight rebounds Sunday, while Wilson had a double-double with 28 and 14. Gray had 10 assists, eight rebounds, three steals and three blocks to go with her 10 points.

If they don’t, though, the Aces know how to adjust. They know how to weather storms. They know how to go to Plan B. They know how to respond.

They know how to win at this time of year.

The Las Vegas Aces didn’t just win Game 2 of the WNBA Finals — they delivered a masterclass in championship basketball. From composure under pressure to tactical discipline and sheer firepower, Las Vegas reminded everyone — fans, critics, and especially the Phoenix Mercury — exactly what separates a title contender from a title defender.

For two quarters, Phoenix looked ready to make a statement. They came in sharper, hungrier, and determined to shake off the sting of their Game 1 defeat. Brittney Griner was commanding the paint, Kahleah Copper was attacking fearlessly, and Diana Taurasi was hitting those vintage deep threes that ignite hope in any Mercury fan. But as the game wore on, the Aces showed the most dangerous trait any championship team can possess — the ability to shift gears at will.

That switch flipped midway through the third quarter, when Jackie Young erupted into a solo showcase of control and confidence. Suddenly, Phoenix’s tight defensive rotations started breaking down. Passing lanes opened up. Transition defense evaporated. And before anyone could process what was happening, the Aces were off to the races — running, pressing, and suffocating the Mercury with relentless precision.

Young’s 17-point quarter wasn’t just impressive — it was surgical. She picked her moments perfectly, attacking off the dribble when defenders sagged, spacing out for catch-and-shoot threes when they crowded Wilson, and cutting decisively whenever Gray found a passing window. Her basketball IQ was on full display.

What Phoenix learned the hard way is that against Las Vegas, you can’t just play well — you have to play perfectly. The Aces’ system is built to punish hesitation. They feast on second-guessing, on tired closeouts, on any lapse in communication. Every mistake becomes a layup or an open jumper on the other end. It’s a ruthless cycle that the Mercury couldn’t escape, no matter how hard they fought.

What makes Las Vegas so exceptional is their mental toughness. Even when they fall behind, there’s no panic. You don’t see frustration or finger-pointing — you see quiet intensity. Chelsea Gray, even while still managing her workload post-injury, acted as the floor general, ensuring every possession had purpose. Kelsey Plum brought her trademark aggression and swagger, driving lanes and spacing the floor. Alysha Clark and Kiah Stokes did the dirty work defensively — boxing out, diving for loose balls, closing angles. Every player knows their role, and that collective understanding is what breaks opponents mentally.

Phoenix, on the other hand, now faces a harsh reality. They came into this series confident, believing that their depth and energy could challenge the reigning champs. But through two games, they’ve been taught what championship maturity really looks like. Every time they make a push, the Aces respond with composure. Every time they sense momentum, Las Vegas calmly reasserts dominance.

That’s not to say the Mercury lack talent or heart — far from it. Copper continues to be their emotional spark, playing with a ferocity few can match. Griner, despite fatigue, remains an interior anchor capable of swinging a game on her own. But what Phoenix hasn’t yet found is consistency. Their highs are electric, but their lows — especially when the Aces lock in defensively — are too costly to survive in a Finals setting.

And that’s the lesson here: the Aces don’t need perfection — they enforce it.

For the Mercury to extend this series, they’ll need to find something deeper than strategy. They’ll need belief — belief that they can disrupt Las Vegas’s rhythm, belief that they can withstand runs without crumbling, belief that they can bring this fight home in front of their fans. Because if they can’t summon that, the Aces will finish this series in a sweep — and they’ll do it with the same calm ruthlessness we saw in Game 2.

What makes this Aces team so compelling isn’t just their dominance — it’s how effortless it looks. They don’t play rushed or panicked; they play like a team that’s already seen every possible scenario. They’ve been here before, and they know exactly what it takes to win again.

So yes, Game 2 was a victory. But more than that, it was a lesson. A reminder that in championship basketball, talent isn’t enough — discipline, chemistry, and confidence matter more. The Las Vegas Aces have all three in abundance.

As the series shifts to Phoenix, the question isn’t whether the Mercury can fight back. It’s whether they can match the mentality of a team that’s redefined what winning looks like in the WNBA.

“We just have to play the game that’s in front of us,” Wilson said. “We don’t look at the series as just the numbers. We look it at as, ‘This is another opportunity for us to play basketball the right way.’ Going into Phoenix, that’s the same mindset we’re going to have.”

“We’ve been through a lot,” she added. “We can’t stop here. We can’t be satisfied.”

It is not easy to win a championship. It takes a relentlessness and a commitment like no other time, be it in the regular season or even the playoffs. The Aces know this. The Mercury are learning it the hard way.