The Phoenix Mercury have traveled to Las Vegas to face the Aces in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Friday, Oct. 3 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).
When the season opened, it was fair to wonder if either team would be here. The Mercury saw the end of the Diana Taurasi-Brittney Griner era but reloaded by acquiring Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally. Phoenix beat the defending champion New York Liberty and No. 1-seeded Minnesota Lynx to advance to the WNBA Finals.
“We’ve done an incredible job as far as getting our chemistry together and figuring out our spots,” Kahleah Copper, the third member of the Mercury Big 3, said. “I don’t think anyone thought we could do it so quickly, especially with (DeWanna Bonner) jumping in there halfway through the season. Some of us being in and out with injuries.
‘It’s a testament to who we are as players and the sacrifices we’re willing to make for each other. And then it’s that off-the-court chemistry that keeps us super confident and comfortable with each other, and it translates on the court.”
For their part, the Aces started the season with a 5-6 record and reached the .500 mark by the All-Star break, before going on a 16-game winning streak to claim the No. 2 seed for the playoffs. Las Vegas beat the Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever to advance to the Finals.
What time is Mercury vs. Aces Game 1?
Game 1 of the WNBA Finals between the No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces and No. 4 seed Phoenix Mercury is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 3 at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.
How to watch Mercury vs. Aces in WNBA Finals: TV, streaming for Game 1
- Date: Friday, Oct. 3
- Time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
- Location: Michelob Ultra Arena (Las Vegas)
- TV: ESPN
- Stream: Fubo, ESPN Unlimited
Stream Mercury-Aces series on Fubo (free trial)
Phoenix Mercury starting lineup
Head coach: Nate Tibbetts
- 0 Satou Sabally | F 6′ 4′ – Oregon
- 2 Kahleah Copper | G 6′ 1′ – Rutgers
- 4 Natasha Mack | C 6′ 4′ – Oklahoma State
- 8 Monique Akoa Makani | G 5′ 11′ – Cameroon
- 25 Alyssa Thomas | F 6′ 2′ – Maryland
Las Vegas Aces starting lineup
Head coach: Becky Hammon
- 0 Jackie Young | G 6′ 0′ – Notre Dame
- 1 Kierstan Bell | F 6′ 1′ – Florida Gulf Coast
- 3 NaLyssa Smith | F 6′ 4′ – Baylor
- 12 Chelsea Gray | G 5′ 11′ – Duke
- 22 A’ja Wilson | C 6′ 5′ – South Carolina
USA TODAY at the WNBA Finals
Phoenix Mercury arrivals
Satou Sabally with a cute little bag.
Las Vegas Aces arrivals
Dane Evans with the heels.