Aces Dominate Mercury in Game 2, Move to 2-0 Lead in WNBA Finals
The Las Vegas Aces secured a commanding 91-78 victory over the Phoenix Mercury in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals on October 5th, taking a 2-0 series lead.A stellar performance from Aces stars Jackie Young and A’ja Wilson, who combined for 60 points, proved too much for the Mercury to overcome.
Despite the setback, Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts expressed confidence in his team’s resilience. “What gives me confidence is we’ve been down before,” he stated. “We’ve been overlooked. People are going to start talking about how good Las Vegas has been initially. We’ve always bounced back, so we’re excited to go home and play in our home arena. Vegas did what they were supposed to do, and they played a really good Game 1 and came out and were ready today.”
Aces’ Star Power Shines
The dynamic duo of Jackie Young and A’ja Wilson were the driving force behind the Aces’ victory.The pair’s combined 60 points underscored their dominance,wiht Young leading all scorers with 32 points and Wilson contributing 28. Aces head coach Becky Hammon noted a important advancement in Young’s performance from Game 1. “Apparently, she went and found some legs as she was cooking today,” Hammon remarked, referencing Young’s struggles with just 10 points in the series opener.
Wilson also showcased her all-around game, shooting 13-for-23 from the field and adding 14 rebounds.The Aces’ offensive firepower proved decisive, particularly in the second and third quarters.
Mercury Struggle with Shooting and Second-Quarter Collapse
The Mercury struggled to find their rhythm offensively, shooting a dismal 5 for 28 from 3-point range (17.9 percent). The second quarter proved particularly damaging, as the Aces outscored Phoenix 22-10, fueled by Wilson’s 13 points in the period alone.According to one analyst,the Mercury’s offensive stagnation in the second quarter shifted the momentum irrevocably in favor of the Aces.
“We just kind of held the ball and overdribbled the ball,” Tibbetts explained. “We did not do a good job of that today.” The Aces capitalized on the Mercury’s struggles, closing the second quarter on a 19-4 run to establish a nine-point halftime lead.
Injury Concerns and Third-quarter Adjustments
A potential injury concern arose for the Mercury when Satou Sabally tweaked her ankle. However, Sabally downplayed the severity of the injury, stating in her postgame press conference that her ankle was “fine,” despite appearing visibly dejected. The Mercury starters were held out for the final three minutes of the game as a precautionary measure, according to Tibbetts, to avoid further injury.
The Mercury attempted to adjust their defensive strategy in the third quarter,focusing on limiting Wilson’s scoring opportunities,holding the league MVP to just two shot attempts. This adjustment, however, opened the door for Young, who exploded for 21 points in the quarter, including two 3-pointers.Her eight field goals in the third quarter surpassed the entire Mercury team’s total for the same period.
Looking ahead to Game 3
Despite the loss, the Mercury remain optimistic about their chances of mounting a comeback. Sabally emphasized the importance of returning home for Games 3 and 4. “The positive today is that we have so many games left to play,” she said. “We lost two, but we’re returning home, so that’s also a positive. I still believe in us.”
Kahleah Copper led the Mercury with 23 points, followed by Sabally’s 22. However, the rest of the team struggled to contribute consistently, scoring just 23 points collectively. The Aces, now 9-0 when hosting a Game 2 in Las Vegas, will look to continue their dominance as the series shifts to Phoenix.
