Game 1 of the 2025 WNBA Finals was a knife’s edge contest, one the Phoenix Mercury had within their grasp as they chased a fourth championship banner. Yet for a team that built its postseason reputation
on late-game rallies and fourth-quarter fire, the script flipped. The rally never came, and on Friday night, and they fell 89–86 to the Las Vegas Aces.
At halftime, Phoenix carried momentum and a 50–45 lead, fueled by Kahleah Copper’s brilliance. She carved up the Aces defense with ruthless efficiency: 6-of-8 from the field, 5-of-6 from deep, 19 points in 18 minutes. But as the stage grew heavier, the Aces adjusted, the windows closed, and Copper’s flame dimmed to two points in the second half.
The night’s cruelest moment arrived at the line. MVP candidate Alyssa Thomas, with the Mercury down a single point, stood poised to tilt the balance. Two free throws could have put Phoenix in command, yet both rimmed out. The opportunity vanished, momentum flipped, and the Aces walked away with Game 1 in their column.
It’s a best-of-seven fight, and the story is far from written. Game 2 tips Sunday at noon in Las Vegas—a chance for the Mercury to answer back before the series shifts to Phoenix, where the desert crowd will rise on Wednesday and Friday night.
