October 2, 2025
Providence College's Student-Run Newspaper Since 1935
by Dorothée Durivage ‘28 and Emilia Farrell ‘28 on October 2, 2025
One win away from the WNBA finals, the Las Vegas Aces are likely to come out on top in the championship. This win would be their third title in the last four seasons, after wins in 2022 and 2023 that demonstrate that the team has what it takes to win. The core players on the Aces have not really changed, except for the addition of All-Star guard Kelsey Plum in February. As the No. 2 seed, the Aces have been able to secure wins even with injuries among the team and some players not playing their best games. To combat that, Las Vegas’ guards have stepped up, with Chelsea Gray at 7.3 assists per game for the postseason, compared to 5.4 during the regular season. Another important player for the Aces is NaLyssa Smith, who was traded from the Dallas Wings back in June and contributed to a 30–14 record for Las Vegas since joining the team. At first, the trade raised some questions and left people confused, but it has become clear that it was the right move for the Aces. It is hard to imagine where the team would be without her at this time; she has been a major upgrade over former starting center Kiah Stokes, who opponents generally pretended did not exist on the offensive end. With Smith engaged on both ends, she is able to take away the scoring burden from A’ja Wilson, making the team harder to beat. The Aces’ strength lies in their players, and Wilson was named this season’s WNBA MVP, earning the top individual honor in the league. She has become the league’s first four-time MVP, after receiving the title in 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2025, which goes to show just how strong a player she is. The finals are scheduled to start on Friday, Oct. 3, and will be the first WNBA finals to be played as a best-of-seven series, where the higher seed would host games one, two, five, and seven.
Up until earlier this week, it looked like the Minnesota Lynx were going to run away with the WNBA title. However, the Phoenix Mercury were not about to just let it happen. The Mercury were riding high on the emotions of a first-round series win against the defending champions, the New York Liberty. The No. 4-seeded Mercury overcame a 20-point deficit to defeat the No. 1-seeded Lynx in game two of the WNBA semifinals, proving that they have what it takes to overcome any team in their path. On Sept. 26, in game three of the semifinals, the Mercury dominated the Lynx yet again with an 84–76 statement win. The Mercury are more than just their wins; they have the versatility and focus to win the entire tournament, mainly through their “Big 3” trio of star players. Kahleah Copper has been the driving force behind the offense, using her speed and dexterity to create crucial scoring opportunities for both herself and her fellow teammates. Satou Sabally makes opposing teams’ defenses work through her impressive scoring ability. Alyssa Thomas does a little bit of everything, from scoring to rebounding to facilitating plays. In game two of the semifinals, Thomas had a commanding 13 assists and a total of 19 points, showcasing her grit and determination for the win. In game three, the trio combined for a total of 65 points, leaving only 19 points to be scored by other teammates. The “Big 3” is one of the most dynamic groups in the WNBA and works together to keep the Mercury balanced. Phoenix has shown that they can adjust to any challenge and will make big moves this season, which proves all the more important now in the postseason. The Phoenix Mercury are just one game away from a trip to the WNBA finals, where they have a huge chance to win the whole tournament.
