In a dominant display of championship pedigree, the Las Vegas Aces clinched their third WNBA title in four seasons on October 10, 2025, by sweeping the Phoenix Mercury 4-0 in the league’s inaugural best-of-seven Finals. The 97-86 victory in Game 4 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix capped a flawless postseason run for the Aces, who outscored their opponents by an average of 12.5 points per game in the series. Led by superstar A’ja Wilson, who earned Finals MVP honors for the third straight year, the Aces solidified their status as the WNBA’s reigning dynasty, following back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023.
The series showcased the Aces’ offensive firepower and defensive resilience, as they never trailed in any game and held Phoenix to under 90 points in three of four contests. Here’s a game-by-game breakdown:
- Game 1 (Oct. 3, Las Vegas: Aces 89-86): The Finals opener was a nail-biter, with the Aces edging out the Mercury on their home floor. Wilson and guard Dana Evans combined for clutch scoring in the fourth quarter to secure the win, setting the tone for Las Vegas’ control early. The Mercury, fresh off upsetting the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals, showed fight but couldn’t overcome Las Vegas’ late execution.
- Game 2 (Oct. 5, Las Vegas: Aces 91-78): Shifting to a more comfortable margin, the Aces pulled away in the second half behind Jackie Young’s explosive 32-point outburst, including three 3-pointers and eight rebounds. The bench contributed significantly, with Jewell Loyd and others providing spark, while Phoenix struggled with turnovers and shot just 38% from the field. This blowout gave Las Vegas a commanding 2-0 lead.
- Game 3 (Oct. 8, Phoenix: Aces 90-88): The closest contest of the series came down to the final seconds, as Wilson’s career-high 34 points (plus 14 rebounds and three blocks) culminated in a buzzer-beating jumper with 0.3 seconds left. The Mercury rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth, but Las Vegas’ poise—fueled by Wilson’s dominance in the paint—sealed a 3-0 advantage. Alyssa Thomas notched a near triple-double (17 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) for Phoenix in a valiant effort.
- Game 4 (Oct. 10, Phoenix: Aces 97-86): With the sweep on the line, the Aces jumped out to a 30-21 first-quarter lead and never looked back, building a 54-38 halftime cushion on hot shooting (55% from the field). Wilson poured in 31 points (17-of-19 from the free-throw line) and grabbed nine rebounds, while Chelsea Gray (18 points, four 3s) and Young (18 points) provided balance. A second-quarter barrage of three straight 3-pointers from Gray, Loyd, and Evans extended the lead to 19. Phoenix mounted an 8-0 run in the fourth to close within six, but Gray’s two late triples iced the game. The Mercury were hampered by injuries—forward Satou Sabally missed the game due to a concussion from Game 3—and coach Nate Tibbetts’ ejection in the third quarter for arguing calls.
Wilson’s series averages of 28.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and two blocks underscored her MVP-caliber play, making her the first player in WNBA history to win three straight Finals MVPs. Young’s scoring punch and Gray’s playmaking were pivotal, as the Aces’ core—now in their primes at ages 29, 28, and 31—overpowered a gritty Mercury squad led by Kahleah Copper (30 points in Game 4) and Thomas.
For coach Becky Hammon, now 10-2 in Finals games since taking over in 2022, the triumph validates a rollercoaster regular season that saw the Aces surge from .500 in early August to a 16-game winning streak. “This team is elite,” Hammon said postgame, celebrating with the Larry O’Brien Trophy amid a shower of confetti in Phoenix. The Aces join an elite group as the seventh franchise with at least three titles, their Vegas flair—complete with celebrity fans and electric celebrations—continuing to elevate the league’s profile.
As the confetti fell and “We Are The Champions” echoed through the arena, the Aces’ three-peat in four years cements them as the team of the decade, with eyes already on a potential fourth straight run in 2026. For Phoenix, it’s a heartbreaking second Finals loss in five years, but their playoff grit signals promise for the future. What a way to cap the 2025 season.
