Honestly, if you weren't watching the desert showdowns this past year, you missed some of the most intense basketball ever played. People talk about rivalries in the WNBA like they're just stats on a page, but the Las Vegas Aces vs Phoenix Mercury matches in 2025 felt like a heavyweight boxing match that just wouldn't end.
It wasn't just a game. It was a collision of legacies. On one side, you had the Aces trying to cement a dynasty under Becky Hammon. On the other, a Mercury squad that had basically reinvented itself, moving on from the era of Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner to embrace a gritty, "us against the world" vibe led by Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper.
The 2025 Finals: A Clean Sweep That Felt Much Closer
The history books will tell you the Aces swept the Mercury 4-0 to take the 2025 WNBA Championship. That sounds dominant, right? Boring, even?
Wrong.
Game 3 was probably the heart-stopper of the decade. Picture this: October 8, 2025. The Mercury are down 2-0 and playing at home. They rally from 17 points down in the fourth quarter. The crowd in Phoenix is losing its mind. DeWanna Bonner hits a three to tie it at 86 with less than two minutes left. It felt like the momentum had totally shifted.
Then A’ja Wilson happened.
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With 0.3 seconds on the clock, she hits a left-wing jumper to win it 90-88. Just cold. That’s the thing about these Las Vegas Aces vs Phoenix Mercury matches—even when Phoenix plays perfect basketball, the Aces have this "inevitable" quality. A’ja finished that game with 34 points and 14 rebounds. It was the moment everyone realized she wasn’t just the MVP; she was arguably the greatest to ever lace them up.
Why the Mercury are Tougher Than the Scoreboard Says
Phoenix didn't just roll over. Under Coach Nate Tibbetts, they became this incredibly physical, defensive-minded team. Alyssa Thomas—who is basically a walking triple-double and the toughest player in the league—tried to turn every game into a grind.
In the clinching Game 4, Phoenix actually outshot the Aces (49% to 39%) and outrebounded them 41-32. They dominated the paint 48-28. In most universes, you win that game. But the Aces are built differently. They forced 18 Mercury turnovers and turned them into 26 points.
- Game 1: Aces win 89-86 (A tight one decided by free throws)
- Game 2: Aces win 91-78 (Jackie Young goes nuclear with 32 points)
- Game 3: Aces win 90-88 (The A'ja Wilson buzzer-beater)
- Game 4: Aces win 97-86 (The championship clincher)
Jackie Young was a sneaky X-factor all series. In Game 2, she set a Finals record by scoring 21 points in a single quarter. You can't game-plan for that. If you double A'ja, Jackie burns you. If you focus on the perimeter, Chelsea Gray (the "Point Gawd") finds a way to slice the defense open.
The A'ja Wilson Factor
We have to talk about A'ja's 2025 season because it's literally never been done before. She became the first player in history to win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP in the same season.
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She averaged 28.5 points and 11.8 rebounds over those four Finals games. Think about that. Against a Phoenix defense that was specifically designed to stop her, she still got her numbers.
But it’s more than the stats. There’s a psychological weight to these matches. Phoenix is a proud franchise with three rings of their own. By sweeping them, the Aces didn't just win a title; they tied Phoenix (and the Sparks and Shock) for second all-time in championships. They are now officially a dynasty, winning three of the last four.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
A lot of casual fans think the Mercury are "rebuilding" because the old guard is gone. That's a mistake. The 2025 Mercury team was a powerhouse. Kahleah Copper scored 30 in the final game of the season. They were 14-14 at one point and fought their way to the Finals.
The rivalry has shifted from a battle of veterans to a battle of systems. Phoenix wants to play "muddy" basketball—slow, physical, and exhausting. Las Vegas wants to run and shoot threes (they hit 12 of them in the final game).
When these two teams meet, it's a clash of identities. You have the "showtime" Vegas style versus the "valley" grit. Even though the Aces won the hardware this time, the gap isn't as wide as a sweep suggests. Every game was a chess match between Hammon and Tibbetts.
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Looking Ahead: What to Watch for Next
If you’re tracking the next set of matchups, keep an eye on the roster depth. The Aces added Jewell Loyd and NaLyssa Smith recently, which changed their dynamic. They aren't just a "Big Three" anymore; they're a "Big Five."
For Phoenix, the mission is clear: they need more consistent perimeter shooting to space the floor for Thomas and Copper. They shot only 27% from deep in the final game, and you just can't beat Vegas like that.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts:
- Watch the Turnover Margin: In almost every Aces victory over the Mercury, the turnover-to-points conversion was the deciding factor.
- Monitor Jackie Young’s Usage: When Jackie Young scores 20+, the Aces are nearly unbeatable.
- Check the Fatigue: The Mercury’s physical style wears teams down, but the Aces’ depth usually allows them to survive a 7-game-style series better.
The next time you see a scheduled date for Las Vegas Aces vs Phoenix Mercury matches, clear your calendar. It doesn't matter who is favored or what the standings say. These two teams genuinely seem to enjoy trying to ruin each other’s season, and that makes for the best basketball on the planet.
To keep up with the rivalry, you should track the head-to-head point differentials in their next three regular-season meetings, as this has historically predicted playoff seeding for these two desert giants.