WNBA Finals: Aces Turn Up the Heat and Take Command of the Series

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In Game 2, the Aces turned Wednesday’s nail-biter into a dominant statement. Las Vegas defeated Phoenix 91–78 at home, pushing their Finals lead to 2–0 in the first-ever best-of-seven WNBA championship series.

While the Mercury stormed ahead early — scoring the first seven points and putting up 27 in the first quarter — the Aces responded decisively. Over the next two quarters, they held Phoenix to just 24 combined points, effectively casing the damage and wresting momentum. By halftime, Las Vegas had built a lead, and by the third quarter, they virtually buried the challenge.

They led by as much as 22 points before the final buzzer — a sign that this wasn’t just a tight win, but a blowout in control.

Star Power Rising: Young, Wilson, and More

Jackie Young — Pure Voltage

Young was electric. Her 32 points, including a record-setting 21 in the third quarter, were the difference-maker. She tied her playoff career high and set a Finals record for most points in a single quarter.

That kind of scoring explosion put Phoenix on its heels, giving Las Vegas the breathing room to operate freely in the fourth.

A’ja Wilson — Consistency & Dominance

Wilson also turned in a monster performance: 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 assists. She scored 20 of those points in the first half, laying the foundation for the Aces’ run.

Her presence on both ends — scoring, rebounding, defending — continues to anchor Las Vegas’ title push.

Chelsea Gray — The Quiet Engine

Not to be overshadowed, Gray flirted with a triple-double: 10 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds, along with 3 steals and 3 blocks. She orchestrated the offense and kept the wheels turning in dominance mode.

Her balance — facilitating, scoring, defending — makes her a constant threat even when not lighting up the box score.

Phoenix’s Push & Where It Faltered

The Mercury began with energy, especially from Kahleah Copper (23 pts), Satou Sabally (22 pts), and Alyssa Thomas (10 pts amid foul trouble). But they couldn’t match the Aces’ surge when it mattered most.

Their 3-point shooting cratered in Game 2 — just 5-of-28 from beyond the arc. That drought crippled their spacing and made them vulnerable to collapse when Las Vegas applied pressure.

Also, foul trouble hurt Thomas’ ability to drive the offense late. And unlike Game 1, no bench player made a game-shifting impact to ease the burden on Phoenix’s stars.

Significance & What’s Next

Momentum tilt: Going into Game 3 in Phoenix, the Aces now control the narrative. Teams that start 2–0 in a best-of-seven series historically win the series at overwhelming rates.
Depth edge? Las Vegas has shown it can win via different paths — bench bursts, star output, defensive adjustments — which may prove decisive if the series tightens.
Pressure intensifies: The Mercury are now in desperation mode. They must steal at least one on the road to avoid being clipped out before their home games.
Health & adjustments: Phoenix needs better 3-point execution, cleaner shot selection, and perhaps more creative defensive or offensive schemes to disrupt the Aces’ flow.