LAS VEGAS Las Vegas Aces guard Dana Evans may barely converse on the eve of the 2025 WNBA Finals. Her voice was past scratchy. The 5-foot-6 guard was barely audible.
A day later, she let her play do the speaking.
Evans scored 21 factors in 26 minutes off Las Vegas bench to gas the Aces to a 89-86 second-half comeback in opposition to the Phoenix Mercury for a 1-0 sequence lead. Fellow reserve guard Jewell Loyd added 18 factors to assist Las Vegas claw again from a nine-point deficit halfway by means of the third quarter.
Heading into the seven-game sequence opener, Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon predicted the Aces bench might be a possible separator between the opponents. I believe we now have the perfect general bench that weve had since Ive been right here, she mentioned.
It might be arduous to disagree with that evaluation, particularly after Las Vegas three-point win through which the Aces bench outscored the Mercury reserves 41-16.
In fact, starter and four-time league MVP Aja Wilson was important too. She chipped in with a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double, and in a recreation that includes little protection for 3 guards, the skilled Aces stiffened within the fourth quarter, permitting simply 15 factors on 33.3 % taking pictures.
Phoenix had alternatives to drag away within the second half and within the video games waning seconds. Mercury ahead Alyssa Thomas went to the free-throw line with 24.6 seconds remaining to shoot two that would have given Phoenix a one-point lead. However Thomas, a profession 65.1 free-throw shooter, missed each. The Aces, not like the Mercury, wouldnt let their alternative on their residence court docket go to waste.
Thomas completed simply shy of a triple-double, contributing 15 factors, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally scored 21 and 19 factors, respectively, for Phoenix.
Nevertheless it was not the starters who set the tone of Sport 1. It was the reserves, and the Aces group was superior.
Sport 2 will tip off on Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas.
This story can be up to date.
This text initially appeared in The Athletic.
Las Vegas Aces, Phoenix Mercury, WNBA
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