A'ja denies Sami Whitcomb historic title double

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• Step back Sami busts Lynx home court advantage

The Las Vegas Aces have swept Sami Whitcomb's Phoenix Mercury to win the 2025 WNBA Championship.

FINALS

1. ‍Game 1: Las Vegas Aces 89 def Phoenix Mercury 86. The Aces erased a seven-point deficit with perimeter shooting and late defensive stops, while Phoenix faltered at the line and beyond the arc. Sami Whitcomb had six points, two rebounds, and a steal.‍
2. Game 2: Las Vegas Aces 91 def Phoenix Mercury 78. The Aces lead the series 2-0 (holding home court advantage). Australian Sami Whitcomb was -13 in 14 minutes. She went 0-3 from the field but had two assists and a steal.
3. Game 3: Las Vegas Aces 90 def Phoenix Mercury 88.
4. Game 4: Las Vegas Aces 97 def Phoenix Mercury 86. Whitcomb had three points in 17 minutes, including one assist and a block.

Las Vegas Aces win the 2025 WNBA Championship 4-0.

SEMI-FINALS

‍Indiana Fever vs Las Vegas Aces

• Game 1: Indiana Fever 89 def Las Vegas Aces 73
• Game 2: Indiana Fever 68 lost to Las Vegas Aces 90
• Game 3: Las Vegas Aces 84 def Indiana Fever 72
• Game 4: Las Vegas 83 lost to Indiana Fever 90
• Game 5: Indiana Fever 98 lost to Las Vegas Aces 107

Las Vegas Aces win 3-2.

Phoenix Mercury vs Minnesota Lynx

• Game 1: Phoenix Mercury 69 def by Minnesota Lynx 82 (Watch the Highlights)
• Game 2: Phoenix Mercury 89 def Minnesota Lynx 83
• Game 3: Minnesota Lynx 76 lost to Phoenix Mercury 84
• Game 4: Minnesota Lynx 81 lost to Phoenix Mercury 86

Mercury win series 3-1. Alanna Smith eliminated. Sami Whitcomb advances.

FIRST ROUND

(1) Minnesota Lynx vs Golden State Valkyries (8)

Game 1: Minnesota Lynx 101 def. Golden State Valkyries 72 (Alanna Smith: Nine points, six rebounds, two assists and four steals in 28 minutes).

Game 2: Golden State Valkyries 74 def. by Minnesota Lynx 75 (Alanna Smith: Two points, three blocks, one rebound, one steal in 18 minutes).

Lynx wins series 2-0

2025 ALANNA SMITH:
G: 42 I GS: 42 I MP ↑: 26.5 I FG ↑: 3.8 I FGA ↑: 7.9 I FG% ↑: .485 I 3P ↑: 1.3 I 3PA ↑: 3.8 I 3P% ↑: .329 I 2P ↑: 2.5 I 2PA ↑: 4.0 I 2P% ↑: .633 I eFG% ↑: .565 I FT ↓: 0.7 I FTA ↑: 1.5 I FT% ↓: .477 I ORB ↑: 1.5 I DRB ↑: 3.5 I TRB ↑: 5.1 I AST ↑: 2.9 I STL ↑: 1.3 I BLK ↑: 1.9 I TOV ↑: 1.5 I PF ↑: 2.8 I PTS ↑: 9.6

Career (2019–2025)
G: 183 I GS: 117 I MP: 21.1 I FG: 2.9 I FGA: 6.2 I FG%: .467 I 3P: 0.9 I 3PA: 2.9 I 3P%: .311 I 2P: 2.0 I 2PA: 3.3 I 2P%: .594 I eFG%: .536 I FT: 0.9 I FTA: 1.4 I FT%: .648 I ORB: 1.3 I DRB: 3.0 I TRB: 4.3 I AST: 1.8 I STL: 1.0 I BLK: 1.2 I TOV: 1.1 I PF: 2.1 I PTS: 7.7

The Lynx come into the postseason as the top seed, riding a balanced attack led by Napheesa Collier’s two-way dominance and Alanna Smith's career year. Smith, 29, is in the conversation for DPOY after an outstanding regular season where she averaged 9.6 points per game, 5.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.9 blocks.

Minnesota has been consistent all season, combining defensive discipline with timely scoring depth, and they enter the series confident in their ability to dictate pace. At home, the Lynx have been nearly untouchable (20-2, and their playoff experience gives them a clear edge in crunch time moments.

The Valkyries, in their inaugural season, have already made history by clinching a playoff berth. Their up-tempo style and three-point heavy offense, led by WNBL champion Veronica Burton, make them a dangerous underdog capable of pulling off a surprise if shots fall.

(2) Las Vegas Aces vs (7) Seattle Storm

Game 1: Las Vegas Aces 102 def. Seattle Storm 77 (Ezi Magbegor: Two points, three rebounds, two assists and one block in 24 minutes)

Game 2: Seattle Storm 86 def Las Vegas Aces 83 (Ezi Magbegor: Four points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal in 23 minutes).

Game 3: Las Vegas Aces 74 def. Seattle Storm 73 (Ezi Magbegor: Nine points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals in 26 minutes)

Las Vegas wins the series 2-1

2025 EZI MAGBEGOR
G: 44 I GS: 44 I MP ↓: 27.3 I FG ↓: 3.2 I FGA ↓: 6.5 I FG% ↓: .493 I 3P ↓: 0.3 I 3PA: 1.1 I 3P% ↓: .292 I 2P ↓: 2.9 I 2PA ↓: 5.4 I 2P% ↓: .534 I eFG% ↓: .517 I FT ↓: 1.3 I FTA ↓: 1.9 I FT% ↓: .687 I ORB ↑: 1.9 I DRB: 4.3 I TRB ↑: 6.2 I AST ↑: 2.1 I STL: 0.7 I BLK ↑: 2.2 I TOV ↓: 1.0 I PF ↑: 2.9 I PTS ↓: 8.0

Career (2020–2025)
G: 206 I GS: 147 I MP: 25.3 I FG: 3.9 I FGA: 7.6 I FG%: .518 I 3P: 0.4 I 3PA: 1.1 I 3P%: .332 I 2P: 3.6 I 2PA: 6.5 I 2P%: .549 I eFG%: .541 I FT: 1.5 I FTA: 2.0 I FT%: .752 I ORB: 1.7 I DRB: 4.3 I TRB: 6.0 I AST: 1.7 I STL: 0.8 I BLK: 1.7 I TOV: 1.3 I PF: 2.8 I PTS: 9.7

The Las Vegas Aces were unbeatable in the second half of the season (16-0) and once again look formidable, powered by the continued MVP-level play of A’ja Wilson. Las Vegas’ offensive firepower and playoff experience are unmatched, and their ability to score in bunches often puts opponents on the back foot quickly.

Seattle, though entering as the seventh seed, has plenty of weapons to make this an intriguing matchup. Nneka Ogwumike has carried the Storm in both scoring (18.2) and rebounding (7.0). Magbegor played all 44 games this season, averaging 8.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.2 blocks per game.

(3) Atlanta Dream vs Indiana Fever (6)

Game 1: Atlanta Dream 80 def. Indiana Fever 68 (Chloe Bibby is out for the remainder of the season with an injury).

Game 2: Indiana Fever 77 def Atlanta Dream 60

Game 3: Indiana Fever 87 def Atlanta Dream 85

Indiana wins the series 2-1

2025 CHLOE BIBBY

G: 14 I GS: 0 I MP: 11.0 I FG: 1.5 I FGA: 3.9 I FG%: .382 I 3P: 1.2 I 3PA: 3.0 I 3P%: .405 I 2P: 0.3 I 2PA: 0.9 I 2P%: .308 I eFG%: .536 I FT: 0.6 I FTA: 0.6 I FT%: .889 I ORB: 0.4 I DRB: 1.4 I TRB: 1.8 I AST: 0.5 I STL: 0.6 I BLK: 0.1 I TOV: 0.5 I PF: 0.9 I PTS: 4.8

Australian forward Chloe Bibby's perseverance has paid off. Bibby, 27, joined the Valkyries for training camp, was waived, re-signed, played five games and was waived again and then signed with the Indiana Fever for the remainder of the 2025 season. But she was injured and will not play the rest of the season.

WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark was ruled out for the season because of injury. She played just 13 games in 2025, her last on July 16, in a 85-77 win against Connecticut Sun.

(4) Phoenix Mercury vs (5) New York Liberty

Game 1: New York Liberty 76 def. Phoenix Mercury 69 (Sami Whitcomb: Six points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 20 minutes; Steph Talbot DNP-coach's decision)

Game 2: Phoenix Mercury 85 def. New York Liberty 60 (Sami Whitcomb: Three points, four assists, three steals, and two rebounds in 23 minutes)

Game 3: Phoenix Mercury 79 def. New York Liberty 73 (Sami Whitcomb: 13 points, one rebound, one assists and one steal in 22 minutes)

Phoenix Mercury win 2-1

2025 SAMI WHITCOMB (PHO)
G: 43 I GS: 20 I MP ↑: 23.9 I FG ↑: 3.0 I FGA ↑: 7.8 I FG% ↓: .385 I 3P ↑: 2.0 I 3PA ↑: 5.5 I 3P%: .361 I 2P ↑: 1.0 I 2PA ↑: 2.3 I 2P% ↓: .443 I eFG% ↓: .513 I FT ↑: 1.1 I FTA ↑: 1.3 I FT% ↓: .852 I ORB: 0.4 I DRB ↑: 2.3 I TRB ↑: 2.6 I AST ↑: 2.5 I STL: 0.8 I BLK: 0.2 I TOV ↑: 1.6 I PF ↑: 2.1 I PTS ↑: 9.1

Career (2017–2025)
G: 307 I GS: 89 I MP: 19.3 I FG: 2.4 I FGA: 6.2 I FG%: .392 I 3P: 1.7 I 3PA: 4.6 I 3P%: .361 I 2P: 0.8 I 2PA: 1.6 I 2P%: .483 I eFG%: .526 I FT: 0.7 I FTA: 0.8 I FT%: .863 I ORB: 0.4 I DRB: 2.0 I TRB: 2.4 I AST: 2.0 I STL: 0.8 I BLK: 0.2 I TOV: 1.4 I PF: 1.6 I PTS: 7.2

2025 STEPH TALBOT (TOT – GSV + NYL)
G ↑: 38 I GS ↓: 10 I MP ↓: 14.2 I FG ↓: 1.0 I FGA ↓: 2.7 I FG% ↓: .375 I 3P ↓: 0.4 I 3PA ↓: 1.5 I 3P% ↓: .286 I 2P ↓: 0.6 I 2PA ↓: 1.3 I 2P% ↓: .479 I eFG% ↓: .452 I FT ↓: 0.5 I FTA ↓: 0.7 I FT% ↓: .643 I ORB ↑: 0.7 I DRB: 2.0 I TRB ↑: 2.7 I AST ↑: 1.7 I STL: 0.5 I BLK ↓: 0.2 I TOV: 1.1 I PF ↓: 1.1 I PTS ↓: 2.9

Career (2017–2025)
G: 237 I GS: 72 I MP: 16.2 I FG: 1.6 I FGA: 3.7 I FG%: .423 I 3P: 0.6 I 3PA: 1.8 I 3P%: .351 I 2P: 0.9 I 2PA: 1.9 I 2P%: .492 I eFG%: .509 I FT: 0.6 I FTA: 0.8 I FT%: .717 I ORB: 0.6 I DRB: 2.0 I TRB: 2.6 I AST: 1.6 I STL: 0.6 I BLK: 0.3 I TOV: 1.1 I PF: 1.5 I PTS: 4.3

This series has three Australians Opals – two players and a coach – going head-to-head. Europe-bound Sami Whitcomb's numbers up across the board for the Phoenix Mercury while Steph Talbot started the season at Golden State before being waived and then signed by Opals head coach Sandy Brondello as part of New York Liberty's quest to defend their 2024 WNBA championship.

Whitcomb found her groove as the bench, starting just 20 of the 43 games she played and the Mercury will need to be at their best to counter Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu, present a formidable challenge despite the fifth seed. Stewart’s versatility on both ends and Ionescu’s perimeter shooting give New York one of the most dangerous one-two punches in the league.