The Las Vegas Aces have enjoyed an ideal start to the 2025 WNBA Finals. Led by A'ja Wilson and Jackie Young -- with some help from key reserve Dana Evans -- the Aces rallied to win Game 1 over the Phoenix Mercury last Friday before romping to a Game 2 victory on Sunday.
In Sunday's 91-78 victory, Young set a new WNBA Finals record by scoring 21 points in the third quarter, while Wilson looked the part of a four-time MVP -- she scored 28 points, hauled in 14 rebounds and dished out three assists.
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The Aces are inching closer to a third WNBA title in four years, and Vegas can take complete control of the finals with a win in Phoenix on Wednesday night. But Wilson knows the job isn't done yet, and there is one flaw that her Aces need to address at Mortgage Matchup Center: their slow starts.
"We talked about it and we did not know. I feel like we're ready," Wilson said Tuesday. "Sometimes Phoenix is really hot, they come out blazing and sometimes that puts us on our back foot. We know we can't do that here."
A’ja Wilson on what she expects from AT in Game 3 + reasoning behind the slow starts in the first two games pic.twitter.com/q1MMOe5iE2
— Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) October 7, 2025
Indeed, the Mercury came out firing in the first two games, building an early 10-2 lead in Game 1 and scoring the first seven points of Game 2. However, the Aces made key defensive adjustments in both games to come from behind; Vegas head coach Becky Hammon implemented a zone defense that stymied Phoenix in Game 1, and that strong defensive effort continued in Game 2 -- when the Mercury scored only 10 points in the second quarter.
Phoenix will hope its vibrant home support can prompt a reversal in fortunes in Game 3, where another hot start could produce a different finish. Otherwise, Wilson and the Aces will have a chance to sew up the series on Friday.
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