How the Aces’ bench flipped Game 1 and exposed the Mercury’s biggest weakness
The Las Vegas Aces showed everyone that a championship isn't won by stars alone. In Game 1 of the 2025 WNBA Finals, the Aces leaned heavily on their depth to snatch an 89-86 victory over the Phoenix Mercury, turning what looked like a likely loss into a statement win. Behind clutch contributions from the second unit, Las Vegas erased a late deficit and took control of the series before it even truly began.Phoenix held the lead for most of the night, fueled by standout performances from Kahleah Copper, Satou Sabally, and Alyssa Thomas.But when it mattered, the Aces' bench rose to the occasion. Dana Evans poured in 21 points off the bench, matching game highs held by four-time MVP A'ja Wilson and Copper. Jewell Loyd added 18 more from the pine, and together they pulled the Aces back from the […]
