It was not that long ago that we at Beyond The W wrote a piece regarding the 2025 Las Vegas Aces season entitled “Will The Real Las Vegas Aces Please Stand Up.”
The remainder of the season, the Aces stood up – and stood on business.
From a 17-game winning streak to close out the season to A’ja Wilson’s fourth MVP – an MVP award that appeared to have Napheesa Collier’s name all but written on it – to a playoff run that culminated in a place Las Vegas is all too familiar with.
For the third time in four years, the Aces are WNBA champions. All three of Las Vegas’ Finals victories have been against different opponents, but none were via a sweep until this year’s against the Phoenix Mercury.
The final result of the final Finals game of 2025 was a 97-86 decision in the Aces’ favor. Wilson’s 31-point, nine-rebound, four-assist, three-block performance earned her Finals MVP honors.
Las Vegas’ efforts also were helped by a pair of 18-point efforts courtesy of Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young. Young also dished out eight assists and hauled in seven rebounds while Gray’s game included four assists and four rebounds.
Jewell Loyd found her footing with this team coming off the bench. She added 12 points and four rebounds plus a steal to the Aces’ cause. Dana Evans, who was the hero for Las Vegas in Game 1 with a 21-point performance, tallied 10 in the clincher for Las Vegas.
For Evans, it is her second championship. It is also the third ring for Loyd, Wilson and Young while it is the fourth championship in Gray’s career.
With no Satou Sabally, the Mercury needed someone to step up in her stead. Kahleah Copper, fittingly, did just that. Copper, who was the Finals MVP in 2021 with the Chicago Sky, scored 30 points and grabbed six rebounds in over 36 minutes of play. Alyssa Thomas did what she typically does – help her team with triple-double performances. She played nearly 40 minutes and scored 17 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and dimed out 10 assists.
DeWanna Bonner – who was placed in the Phoenix starting five with Sabally out – finished with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds while rookie Monique Akoa Makani also helped the Mercury cause with 10 points, five rebounds and four assists. Kalani Brown added 10 points for Phoenix off the bench.
Ironically enough, even though this year’s Finals was the first competed under a seven-game format, this year’s WNBA Finals actually saw fewer games than last year’s Finals between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx.
The Liberty prevailed over the Lynx but it took the full allotment of five games for New York to win its first-ever championship.
All three of the Aces championship victories have occurred in four games. In addition, all three of Las Vegas’ championship clinchers have occurred on the road.
This was an improbable result given that Becky Hammon’s Aces were 14-14 at one point this season. The takes ranged from if Loyd was the right fit to Las Vegas missing Kelsey Plum to Hammon losing her touch to Wilson possibly flexing her muscles with the team’s front office.
As the age old saying goes, the rest is history. In fact, the Aces had the matchup they were looking for in the Mercury – a team which they had already defeated in the season series by a margin of 3-1. Not to mention, Phoenix took advantage of a playoff collapse by the Lynx which gave Las Vegas home court advantage in the Finals.
About Minnesota…this was the same team that earlier in the 2025 season had thrashed Las Vegas by more than 50 points…
On. The. Aces. Home. Floor.
In many ways, that was exactly the wake-up call the entire Aces organization needed because the irony is this championship likely does not take place without.
That blowout loss did take place.
That 17-game winning streak did take place.
Wilson claiming her fourth MVP award while still in her prime took place.
Las Vegas’ playoff victories over the Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever took place.
A sweep of the Mercury took place and a reborn dynasty has taken place.
Champions. The stakes were indeed raised.
