Desert Duel for Destiny: Aces and Mercury Set for Historic WNBA Finals

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The 2025 WNBA Finals presented by YouTube TV are set, and for the first time in league history, the championship will be decided in a thrilling best-of-seven series. It’s an all-desert showdown as the two-time champion Las Vegas Aces clash with the revitalized Phoenix Mercury in what promises to be a battle of contrasting paths to the title.

Game 1 tips off on Friday, October 3rd, at 8:00 PM ET on ESPN, with the No. 2 seed Aces holding home-court advantage over the No. 4 seed Mercury.

The Matchup: Pedigree vs. Perseverance

The series pits the recent dynasty and offensive powerhouse of Las Vegas against a gritty, defensive-minded Phoenix squad that has defied expectations all season.

Las Vegas Aces (No. 2 Seed): Chasing History The Aces, led by four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, are chasing a historic third championship in four seasons, a feat only surpassed by the Houston Comets’ four-peat (1997-2000). Their path to the Finals was a rollercoaster, from a mid-season slump to a remarkable 16-game winning streak to close the regular season. They were tested early and often in the playoffs, needing a hard-fought five-game, overtime victory against the Indiana Fever in the semi-finals, a game where Wilson (35 points) and Jackie Young (32 points, 10 assists) delivered a legendary performance under pressure.

Key Storylines: Can Wilson cement her legacy by delivering a third ring? Will veteran playmakers Chelsea Gray and Young maintain their clutch efficiency? How will the Aces’ high-powered offense fare against a Mercury team that thrives on disrupting rhythm?
Regular Season Advantage: The Aces swept the four-game regular-season series, though three of those contests were decided by six points or fewer.

Phoenix Mercury (No. 4 Seed): The Underdog’s Revenge Phoenix enters the Finals with nothing to lose and all the momentum. In their first Finals appearance since 2021, the Mercury have completed a stunning rebuild in their post-Taurasi/Griner era, quickly forming a new “Big Three.” They have embraced the underdog role, knocking off the reigning champion New York Liberty in the first round and stunning the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in four games in the semi-finals—a series where they overcame a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit in the clinching Game 4.

Key Storylines: Can Alyssa Thomas, the veteran superstar acquired in the offseason, complete the storybook comeback and win Finals MVP? How much damage can new acquisition Satou Sabally and veteran sharpshooter Kahleah Copper inflict from the wing? Will the Mercury’s tireless defense and offensive rebounding be enough to neutralize Wilson’s interior dominance?
The X-Factor: Phoenix is a team built on defensive grit, poise in clutch moments, and a never-say-die attitude, exemplified by their historic playoff comebacks. The added rest after closing out their series faster than the Aces could be a crucial factor.

Finals Schedule (All Times ET)

Game	Date	Time (ET)	Network	Location
Game 1	Fri., Oct. 3	8:00 PM	ESPN	Las Vegas
Game 2	Sun., Oct. 5	3:00 PM	ABC	Las Vegas
Game 3	Wed., Oct. 8	8:00 PM	ESPN	Phoenix
Game 4	Fri., Oct. 10	8:00 PM	ESPN	Phoenix
*Game 5*	Sun., Oct. 12 *(If Necessary)*	3:00 PM	ABC	Las Vegas
*Game 6*	Wed., Oct. 15 *(If Necessary)*	8:00 PM	ESPN	Phoenix
*Game 7*	Fri., Oct. 17 *(If Necessary)*	8:00 PM	ESPN	Las Vegas

This best-of-seven championship promises to be a gruelling and unforgettable spectacle, proving once again that in the WNBA, nothing is guaranteed. Tune in to watch one of these desert franchises claim the 2025 WNBA title!