LAS VEGAS — The final minute of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals presented a defining moment for Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas. After driving past A’ja Wilson for a crucial basket to pull her team within one, Thomas stripped the Aces’ star on the ensuing possession, charged down the court, and drew a foul. With a chance to give Phoenix the lead, she stepped to the free-throw line.
She missed both. The first was long off the back rim; the second spun out.
While those misses were the game’s most jarring sequence, the Las Vegas Aces earned their 89-86 victory through key halftime adjustments and offensive depth. The Aces did what was expected—defend their home court—but had to overcome a Phoenix team that controlled much of the game.
The turning point came from a strategic shift by Aces coach Becky Hammon. After the Mercury scored 50 first-half points on 52.9% shooting, Las Vegas switched to a zone defense. The change stifled Phoenix’s rhythm, which had been orchestrated by Thomas’s ability to penetrate and create.
“Just tried something different,” Hammon said, “so maybe we didn’t give up the middle so easily.”
The zone effectively walled off the paint. Thomas, who had dominated by attacking smaller defenders in the first half, found herself surrounded. This new look limited Phoenix to just four points in the paint in the fourth quarter and cooled off guard Kahleah Copper, who scored 19 in the first half but took only four shots after halftime. The Mercury shot just 40.4% in the second half, missing nine of their last 10 three-point attempts as their offense settled for outside shots.
“AT has great basketball IQ. She could pick the game apart,” said A’ja Wilson. “So you’ve just gotta try to make it a little bit junky.”
Despite the ending, Thomas delivered a brilliant all-around performance, finishing with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists while playing with torn labrums in both shoulders. Her near triple-double underscored the immense burden she carries for the Mercury.
Post-game, her teammates showed unwavering support. Asked if Thomas needed to be uplifted after the misses, Kahleah Copper’s response was brief and firm: “Nah, she good.”
The loss puts Phoenix in an early series hole, but the focus now shifts to how Thomas and the Mercury will respond. The outcome of Game 1 sets up a compelling narrative for the remainder of the Finals: Wilson’s pursuit of a third championship against Thomas’s quest for a career-defining first title, a journey now marked by a moment of adversity she will be determined to overcome.
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