A’ja Wilson leads means as Aces narrowly seize Recreation 1 WNBA Finals win over Mercury

A’ja Wilson and Dana Evans every scored 21 factors, and the Las Vegas Aces beat the Phoenix Mercury 89-86 in Recreation 1 of the WNBA Finals on Friday evening.

Wilson scored 12 of her factors over the ultimate 14 minutes, and Phoenix’s Satou Sabally missed an extended 3-pointer with 2 seconds left that will have tied it.

Recreation 2 is Sunday in Las Vegas.

Evans led an Aces bench that outscored the Mercury’s reserves 41-16. Reserve Jewell Loyd scored 18 factors for second-seeded Las Vegas, and starter Jackie Younger had 10. Wilson had 10 rebounds, and Chelsea Grey had 10 assists.

Kahleah Cooper scored 21 factors for the fourth-seeded Mercury. Sabally added 19 factors and Alyssa Thomas had 15 factors, 10 rebounds and 9 assists.

Copper scored 19 factors within the first half, one off her playoff profession excessive for a half. Her private greatest additionally got here towards the Mercury, when she scored 20 factors for Chicago within the first half of Recreation 3 of the 2021 Finals. Copper’s 5 3-pointers within the first half topped her earlier excessive of 4 for a sport.

If this sport was any indication, these Finals — a best-of-seven sequence for the primary time — determine to be tight all through. The biggest lead was 9 factors, and there have been 12 lead adjustments and 9 ties.

The Mercury threatened to take management a number of occasions, just for the Aces to reply with a run. Ultimately, it was Las Vegas that almost pulled away, just for Phoenix to maintain it shut.

With Phoenix Down a degree with 24.6 seconds left, Thomas went to the free-throw line however missed each. Younger was fouled on the opposite finish with 13.5 seconds remaining and made each free throws for the ultimate margin.