LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The Las Vegas Aces are your 2025 WNBA Champions, finishing one of the unbelievable turnarounds in WNBA Historical past.
A 97-86 victory over the Phoenix Mercury accomplished a 4-0 sweep within the league’s first-ever seven-game collection. The collection document doesn’t mirror how hard-fought this collection was.
Recreation one got here right down to the wire, with ahead Satou Sabally lacking a shot on the closing buzzer for Phoenix. Las Vegas received sport two handily, however sport three was one other nail-biter, culminating in an iconic game-winning shot by A’ja Wilson.
Successful their third title in 4 years, 2025 will go down because the yr the Aces dynasty was cemented. However what makes this title exceptional is the truth that the Aces bordered on lacking the postseason altogether.
Extended wrestle was a international idea for this group, after profitable back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, they have been eradicated within the semi-finals by eventual champions, the New York Liberty.
Two months in the past, the Aces fell to 14-14 after dropping by 53-points on their residence ground to the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx. Dialogue surrounding the crew centered on their subpar play, however this group silenced the doubters emphatically.
That 53-point loss, the biggest ever by a WNBA crew on their residence court docket, was Las Vegas’ closing lack of the common season. A 16-game profitable streak ensued, setting a brand new franchise document and tying the 2nd longest in WNBA historical past.
Following the sport, A’ja Wilson was topped Finals MVP. This falls on the identical day she was introduced as a member of the All-WNBA 1st crew. Wilson set new WNBA data for factors scored in a single playoff run (322) and factors throughout one Finals collection (114).
Aces guard Jackie Younger made Finals historical past as effectively. Her 21-point third quarter in sport two is the very best scoring quarter in league historical past in the course of the championship collection. Younger was named to the All-WNBA crew, 2nd crew Friday as effectively.
Each the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury entered the season with important roster change. Phoenix began the yr with solely two gamers coming back from final yr’s crew. Ahead Alyssa Thomas completed the season third in MVP voting and can also be a 2025 All-WNBA 1st crew member.
The Aces added a number of new gamers, most notably guard Jewell Loyd. Loyd was acquired in a three-team commerce with Seattle and Los Angeles that despatched guard Kelsey Plum to the Sparks. Plum was the longest tenured Aces participant on the time of the commerce.
Head Coach Becky Hammon deserves immense credit score for guiding this crew by way of a turbulent stretch that now culminates in her third championship as head coach.
To not be forgotten, guard Chelsea Grey now has probably the most WNBA Championships amongst all energetic gamers (4). She has three with Las Vegas along with one in 2016 with the Los Angeles Sparks.
