PHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 10: A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates with head coach Becky Hammon after winning Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Las Vegas Aces defeat the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 to win the championship. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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A new dynasty was crowned as the Las Vegas Aces won the franchise’s third WNBA championship in four years after beating the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 in Game 4 of the first-ever WNBA best-of-seven Finals series at Mortgage Matchup Center, in Phoenix.
A’ja Wilson, later voted Finals MVP, scored a game-high 31 points along nine rebounds, dominating early with 12 points in the opening period, when as the Aces shot 55% from the field to open an early double-digit lead (30-21).
Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young kept the offense balanced, combining for 36 points and 12 assists, while Jewell Loyd added 12 and Dana Evans 10 off the bench.
Wilson also attempted 19 free throws, the second-most in WNBA Finals history behind Angel McCoughtry’s 21 in 2011. She hit 17 of those, falling only one short of the Finals record set by Penny Taylor in 2007, 18.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 10: A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces holds up the championship trophy after winning Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Las Vegas Aces defeat the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 to win the championship. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
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By halftime, Las Vegas had extended its advantage to 54–38, fueled by efficient ball movement and a 9-of-17 clip from beyond the arc. Despite Phoenix’s efforts to attack the paint, where they outscored the Aces 48–28, the early hole proved difficult to escape.
The Mercury began chipping away to cut what had been a 20-point deficit in the third quarter (58-38, 8:41) down to a two-possession game by outscoring the Las Vegas 32-18 for 11 minutes spanning into the fourth (76-70, 7:58), sparked by Kahleah Copper’s relentless drives to the rim.
Copper finished with a game-high 30 points, including 13 on 5-of-6 from the field in the third period. Alyssa Thomas added a near triple-double with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, keeping the Mercury’s energy alive. Thomas had to be helped to the locker room before halftime as she felt her shoulder during an illegal screen by Loyd, but powered through in the second half getting back then as a starter.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 10: Kahleah Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury takes a shot against Megan Gustafson #17 of the Las Vegas Aces in the second quarter during Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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But each time Phoenix threatened, Las Vegas answered. Gray buried a pair of timely threes midway through the final period and The Aces’ defense capitalized on Phoenix turnovers, converting 26 points from 18 Mercury miscues.
Phoenix’s frustration boiled over with head coach Nate Tibbets ejected following two consecutive technical fouls in the third quarter just before his team started resurfacing. Later on, in the fourth, DeWanna Bonner and Copper both received technicals, ending their comeback hopes as the Aces calmly closed the game from the foul line.
Aces Players And Coach Make History In WNBA Championship
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 10: A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates with Chelsea Gray #12 and Jewell Loyd #24 after winning Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Las Vegas Aces defeat the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 to win the championship. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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A’ja Wilson proved, once again, that she’s the leader of the Aces dynasty. With the addition of the Finals MVP, she etched her name in history as the first player ever to win Defensive Player of the Year, MVP and Finals MVP in the same season.
Chelsea Gray joined an elite group becoming one of only seven players to win four WNBA championships.
Jewell Loyd, who transferred from the Seattle Storm in a tumultuous offseason, made history not only earning her third ring, but winning her 10th WNBA Finals game. She is 10-0 in decisive series, 6-0 with the Storm and 4-0 with the Aces. Jackie Young also earned her third championship.
On the sidelines, Becky Hammon tied Bill Laimber for second-most championships as a head coach, with three. Hammon, who played for the San Antonio Silver Starts before it relocated to Vegas, took the helm of the three-time champions from Laimbeer in 2021.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberta-rodrigues/2025/10/11/aces-win-2025-wnba-championship-with-sweep-over-mercury/
