“I’ve been chasing a championship for a long time, and I believe this is our moment,” Alyssa Thomas had stressed during the semis. The Phoenix Mercury entered the playoffs as the 5th-favourite team to win the championship. The franchise responded in kind by defeating the defending champions, New York Liberty, and the Minnesota Lynx, who were the favorites to win the title. For Alyssa Thomas, the series will be a repeat of the 2022 Finals, when she was part of the Sun. Her determination will push the other Mercury players to put out a good fight against the Aces.
As is the case with any series like the Finals, both teams need to have all their players available and in their best condition. Fortunately, that is expected to be the case.
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Las Vegas Aces vs Phoenix Mercury: Injury Report
According to the Phoenix Mercury Injury Report, as highlighted by ESPN, there are no injured players listed. This means that all the players on the current roster will be available to give their best in Game 1 of the 2025 WNBA Finals.
The same goes for the Las Vegas Aces, since A’ja Wilson and Co. also have zero injured players. Even though Chelsea Gray had a scare in Game 5 against the Fever, she is fit for the Finals.
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Las Vegas Aces vs Phoenix Mercury Game 1: Where to Watch
This is the first time the Finals will be in a Best-of-7 format. Game 1 will be held on Friday, October 3rd, at the Michelob ULTRA Arena located in Paradise, Nevada. Tip-off time is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Basketball fans can view the game on ESPN or live-stream it either from the official WNBA app or from Fubo, which offers a free trial for its new users. Additionally, SiriusXM will provide coverage on channel 86.
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Probable Starting Lineups
Las Vegas Aces
Head Coach: Becky Hammon
Players:
Chelsea Gray
Jackie Young
Kierstan Bell
NaLyssa Smith
A’ja Wilson
Phoenix Mercury
Head Coach: Nate Tibbetts
Players:
Alyssa Thomas
Satou Sabally
Natasha Mack
Monique Akoa Makani
Kahleah Copper
Prediction: Can the Phoenix Mercury Win Game 1?
According to Bleacher Nation, the Las Vegas Aces are the favorites to win by a very narrow -3 odds. Similarly, USA TODAY Sports, FanDuel, and CBS Sports have predicted that the series will go till Game 7, but in the end, A’ja Wilson & Co. will emerge victorious.
The Las Vegas Aces have home-court advantage. Furthermore, they boast the MVP A’ja Wilson, who is averaging 26.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists over the course of 8 games in the playoffs this year. However, it is important to remember that it has taken time for the team to defeat its opponents in the postseason. The Aces almost lost to an Indiana Fever team that was without Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, Aari McDonald, and more. And after Kelsey Mitchell exited the 3rd quarter of Game 5 due to injury, the remaining Fever players still took the game to OT. There is a reason that the odds aren’t too high for the Aces.
If they show their prowess in Game 1, then the Phoenix Mercury can flip the switch in their favour.
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During a recent episode of her ‘Courtside Club’ show, Rachel A. DeMita said, “Now, the Aces are also a team that plays physical. They don’t back down to anyone, but they have truly been relying on one and a half players. It’s pretty much been the A’ja Wilson and the Jackie Young show, and it’s primarily been the A’ja Wilson show. So, for the Aces, for them to have a chance in these Finals, somebody else is going to have to step up besides those two players.”
The Las Vegas Aces or the Phoenix Mercury? Who will you be rooting for? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.