By Harshit | October 3, 2025 | Las Vegas | 10:00 AM EDT
LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Aces punched their ticket to the WNBA Finals for the fourth time in six years on Tuesday, but head coach Becky Hammon made it clear: there’s “little time to celebrate.” The Aces, who outlasted the Seattle Storm in a dramatic semifinal series, will face the Phoenix Mercury in a best-of-seven series tipping off Friday at Michelob Ultra Arena at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
This marks the first season in WNBA history in which the Finals will be a best-of-seven series, a move reflecting the league’s growing popularity and the appetite for extended postseason basketball. “The incredible demand for WNBA basketball makes this the ideal time,” commissioner Cathy Engelbert said when announcing the expansion in 2024.
Playoff Grind Tests Teams
The postseason has been a sprint. The first-round best-of-three series (1-1-1) and the best-of-five semifinals (2-2-1) were completed in just over two weeks, leaving little recovery time for players. “We play again in two days. That’s a really quick turnaround,” Hammon said. “It’s not ideal, but it’s the playoffs.”
Las Vegas’ semifinal series against the Seattle Storm showcased the team’s resilience. The Aces had to fight through a decisive Game 3, relying on star forward A’ja Wilson and the depth of their bench. Phoenix faced a similar test, eliminating the defending champion New York Liberty before sweeping the Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals. Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb emphasized the pace of play, noting, “It’s something that should be looked at moving forward. We’re not here to make excuses; we’re here to win.”
Hammon voiced criticism of the 1-1-1 first-round format, which ensures each playoff team gets a home game. “It puts the higher seed at a huge disadvantage,” she said, citing the physical and mental toll on players forced to travel extensively. She suggested a return to a 2-1 format or a longer series would better reward higher-seeded teams and allow for proper recovery.
Mercury Coach Praises the Structure
Phoenix head coach Nate Tibbetts, meanwhile, welcomed the new format despite a tough Game 1 loss to New York at home. “Everything we have to go through, New York’s got to do the same,” Tibbetts said. “I think everybody should get a chance to get a home game. Last year, we didn’t, and I think that was wrong. The league did the right thing.”
The Mercury’s path to the Finals highlighted the challenges of this schedule. After defeating the Liberty in Game 3 on Sept. 19, the team flew to Minnesota for their semifinal series against the Lynx with only hours to recover. Despite the cross-country travel and condensed timeline, Phoenix came back from a Game 1 loss to take the series in four games. Forward Alyssa Thomas credited focus and endurance for their success, noting that mental and physical preparation were just as important as on-court execution.
Guard Kahleah Copper echoed Thomas’ sentiment, calling the day off between series “much needed” and pointing to recovery as a key factor in maintaining peak performance. Both teams will now attempt to balance rest, preparation, and execution as the Finals begin.
Key Matchups and Strategies
Aces forward A’ja Wilson will be the linchpin for Las Vegas, with her scoring, rebounding, and defensive presence critical to the team’s chances. Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas and guard Sami Whitcomb are expected to lead Phoenix’s counterattack, bringing experience, court vision, and clutch shooting to the series.
Hammon’s coaching acumen, particularly in high-pressure situations, will be tested. The condensed schedule, combined with a seven-game series, demands careful management of rotations, player workloads, and in-game adjustments. Tibbetts’ Mercury will rely on depth, timely scoring, and defensive intensity to counter Las Vegas’ star power and home-court advantage.
A Historic Chapter Awaits
With the first best-of-seven WNBA Finals in league history set to begin, both teams are poised to make their mark. The combination of elite talent, tactical coaching, and endurance under a grueling schedule will define this historic matchup.
As the Aces and Mercury tip off Friday night, fans can expect a physical, fast-paced, and strategically rich series. The pressure will be immense, the stakes higher than ever, and both teams will have to balance preparation, recovery, and execution to claim WNBA glory.
For Las Vegas and Phoenix, the first game is just the beginning of a historic journey — one that could redefine the standard for the league’s postseason moving forward.
