atlatomlinson

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				Betty Lennox embraces a teammate as they celebrate their win against the Connecticut Sun in Game Three of the WNBA Finals on October 12, 2004 at Key Arena in Seattle. The Storm defeated the Sun 74-60 and won the series 2-1.
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				Tully Bevilaqua of the Seattle Storm celebrates.
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				Lauren Jackson gets a hug from Tully Bevilaqua post-win.
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				Sue Bird celebrates her first of three WNBA Championships by cutting down the net.
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				Sue Bird shows off her 2004 WNBA Champions hat.
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				Lauren Jackson, Sue Bird and their Seattle Storm teammates hold up the WNBA Championship trophy.
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				The Storm pose for a photo.
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				Adia Barnes, Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson, Head Coach Anne Donovan, Tully Bevilaqua and Sheri Sam pose for a portrait with the WNBA Championship Trophy.
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				Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson snap a photo with the WNBA Championship Trophy.
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				Betty Lennox holds up the WNBA Finals MVP award.
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Betting + Odds

To call this WNBA season a wild ride would be an understatement. From rookie breakouts and record win streaks to MVP-level dominance (looking at you, Las Vegas Aces), it’s been nonstop drama. Now the stage is set for the ultimate showdown. The Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury tip off the WNBA Finals on Friday, October 3rd, in what’s not only a clash of heavyweights, but also the first-ever best-of-seven Finals series in league history.
There are plenty of storylines to dive into and sharp angles to attack, so let&#8217;s take a look at the <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba">WNBA odds</a> for the WNBA Finals on DraftKings Sportsbook and preview this series.
Stay locked into the WNBA Finals with game previews, best bets, and predictions all postseason long on <a href="https://dknetwork.draftkings.com/">DraftKingsNetwork.com!</a>
<hr />
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=team-futures&amp;subcategory=champion">2025 WNBA Finals Odds</a>
The Favorite: LV Aces (-135)
After a thrilling 107–98 overtime win in Game 5 over the Indiana Fever, the two-time champion Las Vegas Aces (-135) punched their ticket back to the Finals. Their opponent? The No. 4 seed Phoenix Mercury (+115), a team that caught fire late in the regular season and carried that momentum through the playoffs. Phoenix stunned the league by taking down the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx — heavy favorites for much of the year — in four games. The Mercury showed resilience and poise under pressure, erasing a 20-point deficit in Game 2 (tying the largest road comeback in WNBA playoff history) and storming back from 13 points down in the fourth quarter to close out the series.
The Aces, meanwhile, have looked unstoppable down the stretch. After sitting at .500 at the All-Star break, Las Vegas ripped off a 16-game win streak to surge into the No. 2 seed — then extended it to 17 with a Game 1 victory over Seattle. Reigning MVP A’ja Wilson elevated her game even further, locking up her fourth MVP award while cementing herself as the league’s most dominant force. Her playoff heroics have only added to her legend, highlighted by a record-setting third career 35-point postseason performance in a series-clinching win (per ESPN).
Buckle up — this one has all the makings of a classic.
<hr />
Las Vegas Aces vs. Phoenix Mercury WNBA Finals Preview
Game 1 tips off Friday, October 3rd, 8 p.m. ET
While the Mercury have been dominant in closing out games, the Aces have been battle-tested at every step of the postseason. Las Vegas edged the Storm by a single point in Game 3 of the opening round and needed overtime to put away Indiana in the semis. Phoenix, by contrast, has stumbled out of the gate in multiple games — but their knack for late rallies and fourth-quarter poise has powered them into the Finals. Momentum may tilt toward the Mercury, but Las Vegas still has the ultimate X-factor in A’ja Wilson, with Jackie Young putting on a clinic of her own.
The Mercury embraced the underdog role this postseason, first knocking out the reigning champion New York Liberty in Round 1, then stunning the No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx in Round 2. With their Big 3 of Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas, and Kahleah Copper fully healthy, Phoenix enters another series as the betting underdog — but this team is far from overmatched.
How Do The Finalists Stack Up?
The numbers tell the story: the Aces own the best postseason offensive rating (108.9), while the Mercury counter with the top defensive rating (92.2). Phoenix has had slow starts — including missing their first six shots in Game 4 of the semis — yet still found ways to close. Their stars have delivered: Thomas has been nearly a triple-double machine (18.6 PPG, 9.1 APG, 8.4 RPG), Sabally adds 17.9 PPG and 7.4 RPG with legit stretch-big range (34% from three in the playoffs), and Copper rounds it out with 15.0 PPG.
Las Vegas, though, has Wilson — and she’s been every bit the MVP. She’s averaging 26.0 PPG, 9.1 RPG, and 2.8 BPG in the postseason, after torching Phoenix for 25 per game in the regular season. Jackie Young has been the Aces’ other engine, putting up 20.5 PPG, including the clutch game-winner to seal the Storm series. Chelsea Gray adds steady veteran playmaking with 10.3 PPG and 7.3 APG, giving Vegas a balanced three-headed attack.
Realistically, this series hinges on whether Phoenix can limit Wilson — and I say “limit” lightly. The other swing factor: which team closes better in the fourth quarter. While Wilson is the best player on the floor, I lean Mercury to keep their underdog magic alive.
Sabally’s versatility as a 6’4 forward who can shoot the three, get to the line, and defend multiple positions is a threatening matchup. If Phoenix continues to show resiliency late in games and gets consistent production from its Big 3, they could flip this Finals on its head.
For bettors, this series is the definition of strength vs. strength: the Aces’ high-powered offense against the Mercury’s gritty identity. Their paths to the Finals couldn’t be more different, but Phoenix’s fourth-quarter toughness makes them a dangerous underdog — particularly against the spread and in live-betting spots if they fall behind early. With the W’s first-ever best-of-seven Finals, this isn’t just history in the making. It’s a clash of styles, stars, and storylines that should deliver fireworks on every level.
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=series-markets&amp;subcategory=correct-score">PICK: PHO in 7 (+650)</a>
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All odds and lines provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change.
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2025-wnba-finals-pick

WNBA Finals Preview, Pick: Las Vegas Aces vs. Phoenix Mercury

Uncategorized

The stage for the 2025 WNBA Finals presented by YouTube TV is set.
The second-seeded Las Vegas Aces will face the fourth-seeded Phoenix Mercury in the first-ever best-of-seven series in WNBA history to decide the league&#8217;s 29th champion.
Finals Schedule
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Game 1: Mercury at Aces (Friday, Oct. 3, 8 ET, ESPN)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Game 2: Mercury at Aces (Sunday, Oct. 5, 3 ET, ABC)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Game 3: Aces at Mercury (Wednesday, Oct. 8, 8 ET, ESPN)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Game 4: Aces at Mercury (Friday, Oct. 10, 8 ET, ESPN)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Game 5: Mercury at Aces (Sunday, Oct. 12, 3 ET, ABC)*</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Game 6: Aces at Mercury (Wednesday, Oct. 15, 8 ET, ESPN)*</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Game 7: Mercury at Aces (Friday, Oct. 17, 8 ET, ESPN)*</li>
</ul>
*If necessary
How They Got Here
Aces: Las Vegas entered the playoffs on a 16-game win streak, but went the distance in both playoff rounds to return to the Finals stage following a one-year absence.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Regular Season: Sitting at .500 (14-14) through 28 games, the Aces won their final 16 games to finish 30-14 and earn the 2 seed</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">First Round: Defeated the Seattle Storm in three games (2-1)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Semifinals: Defeated the Indiana Fever in five games (3-2)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Finals: Making their third Finals appearance in last four seasons (fifth overall: 2008 as the San Antonio Silver Stars, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025), and seeking third championship in franchise history (2022, 2023)</li>
</ul>
Mercury: Phoenix defeated last year’s two finalists – the defending champion Liberty and runner-up Lynx – in the first season of their new-look squad following the retirement of Diana Taurasi and departure of Brittney Griner as part of a roster overhaul.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Regular Season: Despite dropping their final three games, the Mercury finished two wins shy of a franchise record at 27-17 to earn the 4 seed</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">First Round: Defeated the New York Liberty in three games (2-1)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Semifinals: Defeated the Minnesota Lynx in four games (3-1)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Finals: Making their first Finals appearance since 2021 (sixth overall: 1998, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2021, 2025), and seeking fourth championship in franchise history (2007, 2009, 2014)</li>
</ul>
Regular Season Series
Las Vegas won the season series over Phoenix, 3-1, with three of the four games decided by six points or less.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">June 15: <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/game/1022500070">Mercury 76, Aces 70</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">June 29: <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/game/1022500106">Aces 84, Mercury 81</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Aug. 15: <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/game/1022500215">Aces 86, Mercury 83</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Aug. 21: <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/game/1022500231">Aces 83, Mercury 61</a></li>
</ul>
The Aces were led by four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, who averaged 25 points and 15.7 rebounds over three games (all Aces wins) against Phoenix, while Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray each averaged 14+ points and 5+ assists while playing all four games.
The Mercury were led by All-Stars Satou Sabally, who averaged a team-high 18.3 points along with 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.3 triples over four games, while triple-double queen Alyssa Thomas stuffed the stat sheet, averaging 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 1.8 steals over the four matchups.
Series Breakdown: 3 Things To Watch
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1. Strength vs. Strength
This matchup sees the best offense of the postseason (Las Vegas) against the best defense of the postseason (Phoenix).
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">The Aces lead the WNBA playoffs in offensive rating (108.9), points per game (87.0) and effective field goal percentage (53.9%) over eight games.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">The Mercury lead the WNBA playoffs in defensive rating (92.2) and fewest opponent points per game (75.9), while allowing the third-lowest effective field goal percentage (45.5%) over seven games.</li>
</ul>
The must-see matchup in this series is Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson vs. Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas, who finished first and third, respectively, in MVP voting this year. Both serve as their team’s centerpiece on both ends of the court.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">On offense, Wilson led the league in scoring (23.4 ppg), while Thomas led the league in assists (9.2 apg).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">On defense, Wilson led the league in blocks (2.3 bpg), while both players finished top five in steals and rebounding.</li>
</ul>
How will Phoenix try to contain the scoring from Wilson, who is coming off a 35-point effort in Game 5 against Indiana to set the WNBA record for most career 30+ point playoff games (8)? This year, the Aces are 14-2 between the regular season and playoffs when Wilson scores 30+ points. 
Between Thomas, Sabally and Natasha Mack, the Mercury have tough post defenders to throw at Wilson as it will take a team effort to keep the MVP from getting buckets.
Conversely, can the Aces slow down Thomas as a playmaker and prevent AT from distributing to her teammates? Between the regular season (13-3) and playoffs (3-0), the Mercury are 16-3 this season when AT drops at least 10 dimes. Finding a way to make “The Engine” more of a scorer than a passer could be key for Vegas.
In 26 career head-to-head matchups, Wilson has a 17-9 edge over Thomas, including a 6-3 record in the playoffs as Wilson’s Aces eliminated Thomas’ Sun in both 2020 (Semifinals) and 2022 (Finals).
2. Which Team Will Win Clutch Time?
With three of their four regular season matchups being decided by six points or less, we can expect close games throughout this series. That means the team that executes best in the pressure-packed closing minutes will have the best shot at hoisting the WNBA championship trophy this month.
Throughout the regular season and postseason, the Aces and Mercury have been two of the best teams in the league in clutch situations – defined as the final five minutes with the score within five points.
During the regular season, the Aces went a league-best 14-5 (.737 win percentage) in clutch games, with the Mercury not far behind with the third-highest win percentage at 13-8 (.619). In the playoffs, six of Phoenix’s seven games have featured clutch time and the Mercury have gone 4-2 in those games, while Vegas is 2-2 in clutch playoff games.
Keep an eye on these players as the clock ticks down in the fourth quarter.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Alyssa Thomas (PHX): Tied for fifth in total clutch points (50) and first in clutch assists (17) while shooting 74.1% (20-of-27) – second among players with 10+ shot attempts.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Jackie Young (LVA): Tied with Thomas with 50 total clutch points, while posting 50-50-100 shooting splits, showing off the ice water in her veins by going 21-of-21 at the line.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Jewell Loyd (LVA): The only player to shoot a higher percentage than AT was Loyd, who shot 75% (9-of-12), including tying for the league-high in clutch 3-pointers made with six on just seven attempts (85.7%).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Satou Sabally (PHX) and A’ja Wilson (LVA): Tied for 12th in clutch scoring with 40 points apiece, with Wilson leading all players in clutch plus/minus at +52 in 47 minutes.</li>
</ul>
3. AT Chasing Elusive WNBA Title
After an eight-year run of contention in Connecticut &#8212; including WNBA Finals losses in 2019 (to Washington) and 2022 (to Las Vegas) &#8212; Alyssa Thomas joined the Mercury in the offseason as part of a historic 10-team trade.
She was part of a roster overhaul for the Mercury, who carried over only two players from 2024 to 2025 – Kahleah Copper and Mack. The city may have changed for Thomas, but AT’s all-around excellence (single-season record nine triple-doubles, more than any other player in league history for their career) led to another deep playoff run.
While Thomas has racked up plenty of accolades over the course of her WNBA career – she’s a six-time All-Star, a three-time All-WNBA performer (likely to soon to be four-time), a six-time All-Defensive Team selection (likely to soon to be seven-time), a season-long league lead in three different categories (steals in 2020, rebounds in 2023, assists in 2025) – the ultimate prize of a WNBA title (and potential Finals MVP) has eluded her thus far.
Will the third WNBA Finals appearance be the charm for Thomas to add champion to her already outstanding resume.
Potential X-Factors To Watch
AT Triple-Double Watch: The Mercury are 8-1 this season when Alyssa Thomas records a triple-double, including her 20-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist performance in the series-clinching win over New York in the first round.
DB Back In The Valley: After being released by Indiana, DeWanna Bonner signed with the Mercury as a free agent, returning to Phoenix, where she played her first 10 WNBA seasons and won two titles (2009, 2014). The Mercury are 8-2 this season (including the playoffs) when Bonner scores 13+ points.
Trio Of Finals MVPs: Three of the last four players to be named WNBA Finals MVP will be in this series: Las Vegas&#8217; A&#8217;ja Wilson (2023) and Chelsea Gray (2022) as well as Phoenix&#8217;s Kahleah Copper (2021 with Chicago). All three players possess the skills to take over a game at any time and have proven to be players that can single-handedly swing a series.
Jewell Looking For More Gold: Already a two-time champion during her decade-long run in Seattle, Loyd is in her first season in Vegas following an offseason trade. Loyd’s midseason move to a reserve role coincided with Las Vegas’ season-ending run to the 2 seed. She’s averaged 12.1 points on 40.9% 3-point shooting off the bench.
Limited Travel: With Las Vegas and Phoenix separated by just 300 miles, travel between the two cities should be a breeze in this duel of the desert – compared to a matchup of teams on opposing coasts – giving both teams more time to recover and prepare for each ensuing game.

WNBA_Playoffs_2025_Google_white

2025-wnba-finals-preview

2025 WNBA Finals Preview: (2) Las Vegas Aces vs. (4) Phoenix Mercury

2025 Playoffs

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		<h2>Gallery Block</h2>
	</div>

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Photo Gallery: WNBA Finals MVPs Through the Years

AP Recap

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Fever, with about half their roster in street clothes, weren’t supposed to be this kind of challenge for the Aces.
And then when <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/article/mitchell-fever-aces-injury-70d9e64f22798b0ca71944597d93ec7a" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">Kelsey Mitchell left Game 5</a> on Tuesday night because of severe leg cramping, victory seemed assured for Las Vegas — only to have Indiana keep fighting back.
But the Aces, pushed to the brink for the second postseason series in a row, survived 107-98 in overtime to advance to the WNBA Finals for the third time in four years. A’ja Wilson, with 35 points, and Jackie Young, with 32, became the first teammates to score more than 30 points in a playoff game.
The second-seeded Aces, who won the league title in 2022 and 2023, will host the fourth-seeded Phoenix Mercury on Friday in the opener of the best-of-seven championship series.
Las Vegas went on a 16-game winning streak to end the regular season, but was pushed to the edge by Seattle in the first round and then Indiana.
“I think that streak we went on prepared us for moments like this, how to fight through the highs and lows of the game,” Wilson said. “It allows us to never take our foot off the gas.”
Indiana made Las Vegas work for it even though the sixth-seeded Fever have been decimated by injuries, with Mitchell added to that list that includes Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham. Coach Stephanie White somehow not only kept the team together, the Fever reached the doorstep of their first Finals appearance since 2015.
“They have been an absolute joy to coach,” White said. “It’s an incredible group of women, an incredibly connected group. They’re a great example to everybody to what it means to just put one foot in front of the other to persevere, to welcome people into the fold, to not give in to circumstance.”
Mitchell had scored a team-high 15 points at the time of her injury. Six Fever players reached double digits, including Odyssey Sims with 27 points and Natasha Howard with 16. Aliyah Boston finished with 11 points and 16 rebounds, but fouled out with 27 seconds left in regulation.
The Aces were closer to a three-woman show, with Wilson coming within three points of her playoff career high. Young, whose <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/article/storm-aces-playoffs-score-5e8e1bc7bbe8868fc54d58086556e4d6" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">putback basket</a> in the opening round against Seattle allowed Las Vegas to advance to this round, had a playoff career-high 10 assists.
Chelsea Gray — who briefly went into the locker room in early in the third quarter with an apparent right leg injury — scored 17 points, including eight in overtime.
Las Vegas needed every one of those points because the Fever challenged the Aces throughout, including after Mitchell got hurt. Rather than fade away and concede the playoff series to the home team, the Fever battled to tie the game at 84 on two Sims free throws with 52 seconds left.
After Young made two free throws with 27.1 seconds remaining, Sims answered with a drive down the lane for a layup with 22.5 seconds to go to again tie the game. Young missed a layup in the closing seconds and Jewell Loyd the follow to send the game to overtime.
The Aces then took the lead early in OT and didn’t give it up.
“They would just not go away,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said of the Fever. “The resiliency of (White’s) group. They went through a lot of adversity this year and for Steph to keep everybody onboard &#8230; I thought they did an unbelievable job all the way around. They just gas-pedaled the whole time, and it was tough for us.”

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Game Recap: Indiana Fever vs. Las Vegas Aces (Semi-Finals, Game 5)

&#8211;USA Network to Present at Least 50 WNBA Regular-Season and Playoff Games Each Year, As Well As Portions of WNBA Semifinals and Finals in Select Years Beginning in 2026&#8211;
&#8211;WNBA Schedule on USA Network to Primarily Feature Wednesday Night Doubleheaders&#8211;
STAMFORD, Conn. – September 30, 2025 – VERSANT and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) today announced an 11-year media rights agreement for USA Network to present WNBA games – including the regular-season and portions of the Playoffs and WNBA Finals in select years – beginning with the 2026 season.
As part of the multi-year agreement which runs through 2036, USA Network will present at least 50 WNBA games annually, including coverage of the WNBA Playoffs and WNBA Finals games in select years beginning in 2026. The new agreement expands the game package that was to be distributed by USA Network under the WNBA’s historic national media deals signed in 2024.
“We’re incredibly proud to expand our multi-year partnership with the WNBA,” said Matt Hong, President of Sports, VERSANT. “USA Network will be a destination for WNBA viewers all season long, as we showcase the star power across the league in our marquee Wednesday night doubleheaders and build toward the intensity of the WNBA Playoffs and WNBA Finals.”
“Partnering with VERSANT and USA Network marks another significant milestone for the WNBA’s continued growth,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “As demand for women’s basketball continues to rise, partnerships like this expand the visibility and accessibility of our game. By establishing a weekly primetime destination for fans, this agreement will showcase the excitement of the WNBA to more households than ever before and further elevate the incredible athletes in this league.”
USA Network’s WNBA coverage will be anchored by Wednesday night doubleheaders featuring marquee matchups across the league. Each broadcast night will also include dedicated pre-game and post-game studio programming, establishing USA Network as a weekly destination for WNBA fans.
The complete 2026 WNBA on USA Network programming schedule, including production details and on-air game and studio commentary teams, will be announced in the coming months.
About VERSANT
VERSANT, Comcast Corporation’s (NASDAQ: CMCSA) planned spin-off, will be a leading independent publicly traded media company comprised of most of NBCUniversal’s cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed in early 2026, subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions.
About the WNBA
Currently in its 29th season, the WNBA celebrates and elevates the game of basketball and the culture around it. The league was ranked by Morning Consult as the fastest-growing brand in 2024, and No. 4 on Fast Company’s list of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2025, on its way to setting records for engagement on social and digital platforms, attendance, merchandise sales and unique viewers across its broadcast partners. The WNBA’s commitment to societal impact is supported by the first-of-its-kind WNBA Changemaker Collective, a group of purpose-driven companies that have partnered with the WNBA to enhance the player experience, build the brand of the league and players, inspire innovation and connectivity, increase media coverage and visibility, and help drive the league’s business transformation. Ally, AT&amp;T, CarMax, Deloitte, Google, and Nike are part of the WNBA Changemaker Collective. The WNBA is a bold, progressive basketball league that stands for the power of women in sport.
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VERSANT Announces Media Rights Agreement to Broadcast WNBA Games

PHOENIX (AP) — Alyssa Thomas scored 23 points, DeWanna Bonner made two late 3-pointers and the Phoenix Mercury overcame a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the short-handed Minnesota Lynx 86-81 in Game 4 on Sunday to advance to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2021.
Phoenix will face the Indiana-Las Vegas winner. Indiana forced a Game 5 earlier Sunday with a 90-83 home victory.
“We knew they were going to challenge us today and I’m just proud of how we responded,” Thomas said. “We could have easily given up and be headed to Minnesota right now. But we stuck together and dug deep on defense.”
The Mercury won the final three games of the best-of-five semifinal series. The top-seeded Lynx were playing without Cheryl Reeve, <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/article/lynx-reeve-officials-rant-a763f97451322cbd02a80f532445177a" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">who was suspended for Game 4</a> because of her behavior and comments toward officials in Game 3. Minnesota also was without All-Star guard Napheesa Collier, <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/article/lynx-collier-injury-706b1a8309362992433870d1a1aa288a" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">who suffered an ankle injury</a> near the end of the Game 3 loss.
Down 68-55 after three quarters, Phoenix pulled to 70-69 on Sami Whitcomb’s 3-pointer with 4:46 left. Bonner’s 3-pointer pushed them ahead 72-70 and she hit another 3 with 2:03 left for a 77-73 lead.
Minnesota’s Kayla McBride hit a 3-pointer — her sixth of the second half — to cut it to 77-76 with 1:04 left. The 38-year-old Bonner then made a pair of free throws to push the Mercury ahead 79-76.
Bonner scored 11 points in the fourth — part of the Mercury’s 31-point outburst in the final quarter.
“We didn’t have much of a choice,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbets said. “We were down 13, needed to get stops. And when we get stops, we’re pretty good offensively because we’re playing free and we don’t have time to overthink it.
“We made some great plays, some really good passes. That’s what it took.”
Phoenix’s Satou Sabally scored 21 points.
Phoenix will play for the title for the first time in four years in a bid for its first championship since 2014.
McBride led Minnesota with 31 points on 6-of-11 shooting from 3-point range. Courtney Williams added 20 points. The Lynx’s fourth- quarter collapse was a common theme in the series.
“Got to give Phoenix credit for the way they defended in the fourth quarters,” Lynx associate head coach Eric Thibault said. “They switched and made it hard on us. We didn’t get enough quality shots down the stretch.”
Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper hit a 3-pointer early in the third quarter to give the Mercury their first lead of the game at 41-38. But the Lynx responded with a 23-9 run, highlighted by three 3-pointers from McBride.
The Lynx jumped out to an early 12-1 lead but the Mercury slowly chipped away at the deficit. Thomas hit Bonner for a layup just before the halftime buzzer to tie it 38.
“It was ugly at times,” Tibbets said. “But we kept fighting.”
The Mercury had just two players on this year’s roster — Copper and Natasha Mack — who were with the team in 2024. They are the first team in WNBA history to make two Finals in a five-year span without any of the same players on the two teams.

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