The Las Vegas Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury in game two of the WNBA Finals on Oct. 5. Jackie Young led the charge for the Aces with 32 points, eight rebounds, two assists and one steal.
Other standout performances come from Aces’ A’ja Wilson with her Most Valuable Player award, who scored 28 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and one steal, as well as Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper, who dropped 23 points and three rebounds, and Satou Sabally, with her 22 points, nine rebounds and two assists.
Offense was key for the Aces in game two. Both teams, hungry to win the championship, went head-to-head in the first quarter, much like in game one. Wilson took over in the second quarter and made 13 points and seven rebounds, picking up a sense of urgency and proving her status as a four-time MVP.
Staying in the midrange as much as possible, she made the game extremely difficult for her defenders. This left her with 20 points in the first half that cushioned the Aces with a 9-point lead at halftime.
Young, after a weak performance in Game 1, felt it was necessary to make the second game of this series count. She was able to score on every level, take pull-up threes, and make it in the midrange, dominating in the paint and earning her free throws. With her 21 third-quarter points, Young was one point away from breaking a WNBA record for most points scored in a postseason quarter.
The Mercury’s defense was able to eliminate both teams that made it to the 2024 finals, the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx, from the playoffs this season. However, with adjustments made by the Aces’ coach, Becky Hammon, the Mercury’s strongest suit failed to stop the Aces’ momentum.
The team was unable to find its groove in transition, while Wilson thrived and ruined any chance to slow down her unstoppable force.
The Mercury struggled with both offense and defense. Copper had an electric first quarter, making three three’s, but the entire team had issues with efficiency and shot selection.
It made five out of 28 threes the whole game, which constituted an efficiency of less than 18%. Sabally, despite scoring 22 points, was making poor decisions when shooting, often attempting threes too early in possessions. She could have passed the ball or driven to the rim, which was proven to be effective for her during this game. The Mercury’s bench also struggled, dividing a total of 14 points among six players.
Ending the game with a score of 91-78, the Aces are now up 2-0 in the best-of-seven WNBA Finals.
They meet again in Phoenix on Oct. 8 for the third game. The Mercury will need to adapt or they will fall short of the Aces dynasty, letting the team win its third ring in the last four years.
