LAS VEGAS In the course of the common season, Dana Evans was a crucial a part of the Las Vegas Aces bench. She got here in and supplied reduction to Chelsea Grey and Jackie Younger, however she didn’t should be the star who stepped as much as make large pictures. On a roster with four-time MVP Aja Wilson and a number of All-Stars/Olympians in Younger and Grey, she didnt have to be the one hitting these pictures.
However they wanted her in Sport 1 of the WNBA Finals, and she or he answered the decision. She scored 21 factors off the bench matching Wilson’s factors whole to assist lead the Aces to an 89-86 win over the Mercury on Friday night time. That whole included 5 3-pointers, and she or he added 4 steals on the defensive aspect a mix no participant has completed in WNBA Finals historical past.
I wish to are available and be a spark,” Evan mentioned after the sport. “I wish to do no matter my staff wants for me, whether or not that’s getting after it defensively, getting us organized, getting buckets like, no matter that appears like. However that is what I’ve labored all my life for to be on this place.
Evans’ journey to achieve this level hasnt been linear. After a powerful profession at Louisville that noticed her win back-to-back ACC Participant of the 12 months honors, Evans was drafted by the Dallas Wings within the second spherical in 2021. She was shortly traded to the Chicago Sky, successful a championship in her first season however taking part in minimal minutes. The Skys fortunes modified shortly after that championship, as a number of star gamers and the pinnacle coach left the staff. Evans performed in Chicago for 3 extra seasons in a strong bench position, and was traded to the Aces for draft picks earlier than the 2025 season.
As Evans ready for her twenty fifth profession playoff sport, Aces head coach Becky Hammon advised her that she wanted the 5-foot-6 guard to remain aggressive on the court docket, and thats precisely what she did within the Sport 1 win.
I’ve mentioned a number of occasions that Dana’s our battery. She makes us play at a special tempo, Wilson mentioned. Informed her we go as she goes, and that’s a fast tempo, however we’re gonna at all times attempt to comply with her, as a result of we all know she’s very exhausting to cease on this league, very exhausting to maintain in entrance of. And so when she’s in a position to get downhill and get beauty. It performs in our favor.
Evans wasnt the one bench participant to make a distinction. Former All-Star Jewell Loyd moved to the Aces bench in late July when the staff was struggling, and its one of many causes they managed to come back again from a tough begin to the season. Loyd added 18 factors and 4 rebounds on Friday night time.
Evans and Loyd’s large performances took a few of the stress off Wilson and Younger by the five-game collection with Indiana, Wilson performed not less than 33 minutes in every sport, whlie Younger performed not less than 32.
Now we have weapons. We wish to use all of them, as a result of we’re more durable to protect that approach, Hammon mentioned. It was only a actually nice time for our bench to come back up and have an enormous sport, as a result of I feel you noticed a bit of little bit of fatigue, possibly from Jackie and Aja, who form of carried us by that final Sport 5. The remaining is actually vital at this level for each of them, and that’s what makes us a troublesome staff. We do have that potential for any person else to [come up] and get 20.”
With the win at dwelling, Vegas takes a 1-0 collection lead, however the 2025 Finals are a best-of-seven collection for the primary time in WNBA historical past, and the sport was tight within the closing minutes.
Phoenix had a powerful begin to the sport, with Kahleah Copper scoring 19 within the first half, however the Aces switched up their protection to place extra stress on her. She completed with a team-high 21. Satou Sabally chipped in 19, however obtained in some foul bother. Alyssa Thomas added 15 factors, 10 rebounds and 9 assists.
In Phoenixs two earlier playoff collection wins over New York and Minnesota they misplaced the primary sport. They’ve been on this place earlier than.
It is a lengthy collection,” Copper mentioned. “To remove from these different first ones was, the mindset was again to the drafting board. Now we have the utmost confidence in our locker room and in our coaches to make the adjustment, so now it’s the identical factor. Its nonetheless just a bit irritating.
Sport 2 is on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET in Las Vegas.
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