Here’s a breakdown of the WNBA Finals matchup between the Aces and the Mercury:
No. 2 Las Vegas Aces (30-14) vs. No. 4 Phoenix Mercury (27-17)
Season series: Aces won 3-1
Players to watch: Aces G Jackie Young (20.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 5.3 APG), Mercury G Kahleah Copper (15.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 43.5 FG%)
Aces playoff recap: Defeated the No. 7 Storm 2-1 in the first round and the No. 6 Fever 3-2 in the semifinals
Mercury playoff recap: Defeated the No. 5 Liberty 2-1 in the first round and the No. 1 Lynx 3-1 in the semifinals
Key matchup: A’ja Wilson versus Alyssa Thomas. This year’s MVP winner versus the player who finished third in voting. The two stars have squared off 26 times over the course of their WNBA careers, including nine games in the playoffs. Wilson has the 6-3 playoff edge against Thomas. But Thomas is playing on another level this postseason and seems more hungry than ever to get a ring. She’s averaging 18.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 9.1 assists in seven games, while Wilson is posting 26 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game in the playoffs. This will be fun to watch.
X factor: Sami Whitcomb. She hasn’t been shooting the ball as well as she did in the regular season. But she’s come up big when her team needed her the most. She knocked in the game-tying 3 with 3.4 seconds left in regulation, a key moment that ultimately led to the Mercury beating the Lynx in Game 2. She’s a two-time WNBA champion and has proven that she’s not fazed by the moment.
Predictions
Madeline Kenney: Mercury in 6. Phoenix has been playing its best basketball during the playoffs, while the Aces appeared to be losing steam in the semifinals. AT finally gets her ring.
Jonathan Lehman: Aces in 5. Picked them before the season (to beat the Liberty, but who’s counting) and sticking with them here. Aces have championship DNA, Game 1 at home and, most importantly, A’ja Wilson in full flight. Not saying, just saying: Refs are going to be locked in on the Mercury.
