A 44-game WNBA season.
All-Star.
A Best-of-three first round of the playoffs.
A best-of-five second round of the playoffs.
Has once again led us to this point where we are on the precipice of crowning a WNBA champion.
Two teams remain to vie for that prestigious honor – and in 2025, it is an all desert WNBA Finals.
This season’s championship round will feature the Las Vegas Aces – champions in 2022 and 2023 – against the Phoenix Mercury – champions in 2007, 2009 and 2014.
Without further ado, here are five storylines to follow in advance of play tipping off at Michelob Ultra Arena on Friday.
Rags To Riches
It is still remarkable that the Aces arrived at this point considering, earlier in the season, there was a real concern as to if Las Vegas would even qualify for the playoffs.
Becky Hammon’s Aces caught lightning in a bottle at exactly the right time – and it has propelled her team to this point.
Las Vegas was in the throes of a 17-game winning streak. The Aces went from the playoff bubble to the two seed. In addition, because the Mercury already eliminated the Minnesota Lynx, Las Vegas has home court throughout these Finals.
Even though this team does have its weaknesses, Hammon has found a way to make it work. It helps to have Jackie Young, Jewell Loyd, NaLyssa Smith and Chelsea Gray.
Oh, that’s right. The Aces have A’ja Wilson. And if she wins this season especially after she won her fourth MVP, Wilson will firmly be even more in the GOAT conversation than she already is.
Questions Answered
Entering this season, Phoenix had plenty of question marks. After all, it is not often that teams avoid a rebuild after losing two franchise cornerstones in Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner.
Instead, the Mercury did a Cheryl Reeve by reloading. Alongside Kahleah Copper, Mat Ishbia and Nick U’Ren took advantage of deteriorating situations with the Dallas Wings and Connecticut Sun by adding Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas.
Midway through the season, they took advantage of DeWanna Bonner’s desire to leave the Indiana Fever by bringing her back to the Valley.
Thomas will be a sentimental favorite for many fans in these Finals given she came so close in Connecticut only to be denied. This could finally be the season where AT gets her first ring.
Investment
What is one of our favorite sayings? Go cheap and you will weep (looking at you, Chicago Sky).
Invest and you will be blessed.
This Finals – as were the previous two championship series – are a win for owners who invest real money into ensuring their players have world-class, state-of-the-art facilities so they can perform at their best.
Mark Davis has invested major money in the Aces’ practice facility and headquarters in Henderson. Mat Ishbia unveiled the Mercury’s new practice facility in downtown Phoenix around the time of All-Star last year – one where Team USA also practiced at prior to last year’s Olympics in Paris.
Speaking of Team USA – six players from last season’s 12-person roster will be playing in these Finals.
Last WNBA Ball For a While?
If anyone heard or saw Napheesa Collier’s remarks at her end-of-season press conference, one thing is certain – the players and league are not on the same page regarding a new collective bargaining agreement.
The WNBA and the WNBPA do not appear to be reading the same book – or are in the same bookstore.
It is a good thing that we will have college ball to hold us over for the next few months because it is becoming clearer and clearer that all things WNBA will be dominated by all things CBA.
Geographical Rivalry
Memo to the W….this is how one builds a rivalry – organically.
Given how the Aces and Mercury are only a hop, skip and jump away from each other, this has the potential to be a real rivalry in the WNBA as long as both Las Vegas and Phoenix maintain excellence.
Both teams have great players. Both teams have great coaches. Both teams have extremely passionate fanbases.
It is likely both will maintain and sustain that excellence given Davis and Ishbia are among the owners who believe the WNBA is worth the investment. Only time will tell but this could bring back shades of the Minnesota Lynx and Los Angeles Sparks in the 2010s.
