The journey has been long. From the opening tip in May to 286 regular-season battles, through the grind of the postseason where dreams were crushed and legends rose, we’re finally here. Only two teams remain standing. And for the first time ever, the WNBA Finals will be decided in a best-of-seven series. Game 1 already gave us a thriller; now it’s Game 2 time. Buckle up, it’s Las Vegas Aces vs Phoenix Mercury time.

Both teams have completely defied expectations to get here. The Aces were below .500 midway through the season, lost Kelsey Plum, and had Jewell Loyd struggling to find her rhythm–hardly Finals material on paper. And the Mercury? They lost Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner, with only one starter returning from last season. Nobody saw them making it this far either.

This matchup promises another nail-biter, just like Game 1, where nine ties and 12 lead changes–including three in the fourth quarter alone–set the tone, with the Aces narrowly edging out the Mercury by three points. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Game 2.

Las Vegas Aces vs Phoenix Mercury: Where to watch

Date: Sunday, October 5, 2025
Time: 3 p.m. EDT
Venue: Michelob ULTRA Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Watch on: ESPN
Streaming: Fubo and WNBA TV

Las Vegas Aces vs Phoenix Mercury: Injury Report

Las Vegas Aces

• No injured players

Phoenix Mercury

• No injured players

Probable Starting Lineups

Las Vegas Aces

• NaLyssa Smith
• Kierstan Bell
• A’ja Wilson
• Chelsea Gray
• Jackie Young

Phoenix Mercury

• Alyssa Thomas
• Natasha Mack
• Satou Sabally
• Kahleah Copper
• Monique Akoa Makani

Prediction: Can the Mercury come back to win Game 2?

The Mercury will be kicking themselves for letting Game 1 slip away. At one point, they held a nine-point lead but couldn’t protect it. Even in the final moments, they had a chance to steal the win, but Alyssa Thomas missed both free throws–the first clanging long off the back rim, the second teasingly circling the rim before rolling off.

The Aces needed a big fourth-quarter push to get past a Phoenix team that had mostly controlled the game. In those final minutes, Las Vegas’ playoff experience showed–they held the Mercury to just 15 points on 33.3 percent shooting. This was the third time this season the Aces had beaten Phoenix by exactly three points, adding to regular-season wins of 84-81 and 86-83, proving yet again they know how to close out tight games, especially against the Mercury.

Heading into Game 2, the Aces will naturally feel confident. Their switch to a 2-3 zone defense in the second half of Game 1 was key. “I was seeing them score too much against our man,” Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon said about the change. “Them getting the ball in the paint, whether it was off the pass or penetration, was really hurting us. It was putting us very vulnerable on the back side with those 3s.”

The plan worked perfectly–they clogged the paint and kept Alyssa Thomas from controlling the tempo. After making 13 of their first 26 three-pointers, the Mercury missed nine of their last 10, falling victim to Las Vegas’ zone defense. They couldn’t figure it out in Game 1–will they adjust for Game 2? That’s what makes this series so compelling.

ESPN is predicting the Aces to take Game 2 as well, giving them a 68.9% chance of winning. That confidence likely stems from more than just home-court advantage. The Aces are dominating offensively, leading the postseason with 87.2 points per game while shooting a postseason-high 48.2% from the field.

If we had to pick a winner, the Aces would be the choice, but history suggests not to count out the Mercury. This team has a pattern of dropping Game 1 only to bounce back and win the series, as we’ve seen with the Liberty and Lynx. Can they do it again? What’s your take? Drop your predictions in the comments below.