Aces Take 2-0 Lead in WNBA Finals, Defeat Mercury 91-78

The Las Vegas Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury 91-78 yesterday, taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven WNBA Finals and moving closer to their second championship in three years.

Jackie Young led all scorers with 32 points, including a WNBA Finals record 21 points in the third quarter, while A’ja Wilson added 28 points and 14 rebounds for the Aces. The Mercury were led by Kahleah Copper with 23 points and Satou Sabally with 22, but struggled from three-point range, shooting just 5-of-28. Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas, typically a dominant force, was limited to 10 points and struggled with foul trouble. This series marks a critical moment for both franchises, with the Aces aiming to solidify their dynasty and the Mercury seeking their first championship since 2009.

Aces coach Becky Hammon praised her team’s defensive adjustments, noting a stronger performance in man-to-man coverage after utilizing a zone defense in Game 1. “We just did a better job of being more sturdy up front in our defense,” Hammon said. “The other thing was our guard-to-guard actions were a lot more solid today.” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts emphasized the need for defensive improvement, stating, “We’re here because of our defense…and to give up 89 points in Game 1 and 91 in Game 2 – we have to be better at the defensive end.” You can find more in-depth coverage of women’s basketball at The IX.

Despite the setback, the Mercury remain confident, citing their experience overcoming adversity throughout the playoffs. They will now return to Phoenix for Games 3 and 4, where they have been undefeated this postseason. “What gives me confidence is we’ve been down before,” Tibbetts said. “We’ve been overlooked…we’re excited to go home and play in our home arena.” The teams will have two days of rest before resuming the series on Wednesday.