Joey Huang ‘28
The Las Vegas Aces swept the Phoenix Mercury 4-0 in the 2025 WNBA Finals, clinching their third championship in just four years. The 2025 WNBA Finals made history as the first best-of-seven series, expanding from the traditional best-of-five format.
League MVP A’ja Wilson led the Aces with a dominant postseason performance. Wilson, who earned her fourth career MVP award after averaging 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds during the regular season, elevated her game in the Finals with 28.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per contest.
In Game 3, Wilson hit a game-winning fadeaway jump shot with 0.3 seconds on the clock under the double team of Mercury players Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner. This clutch performance capped off a remarkable 34 points, 14 rebound game, marking a new Finals career high for Wilson.
While Wilson’s dominance made headlines, the Aces’ championship was the result of team basketball. Chelsea Gray controlled the tempo of the court with clutch passing and leadership, while Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum provided critical perimeter shooting, clearing the paint for their teammates. As Wilson shared, “This is a symbol of just the joyfulness we have right now, and I'm grateful to be with this bunch,” which showed the shared happiness with their teams.
The championship marked the first time since the early 2000s that a team has won back-to-back titles, a feat last achieved by the Los Angeles Sparks. The Aces’ success underscored both the team’s consistency and the growing prominence of women’s sports nationwide.
Tensions ran high for Phoenix in the decisive Game 4. Mercury head coach Nate Tibbets was ejected after receiving two technical fouls for disputing calls. “I feel bad for our team, our fans, my family. In my opinion, it wasn’t needed,” Tibbets said after the game. Despite a 30-point performance from Kahleah Copper, the Mercury could not overcome the defending champions.
The Mercury’s run to the Finals was notable given the team’s major roster changes following the retirements of Diana Taurasi and the departure of Brittney Griner.
As the women’s professional season wraps up, the basketball season at St. Mark’s is about to begin. The community wishes the St. Mark’s teams the best of luck as they start their new season.