Your guide to the WNBA Finals: Aces-Mercury predictions and how each team could win

The longest regular play successful WNBA past could beryllium followed by the longest WNBA Finals. For the archetypal time, the bid is simply a best-of-seven, and the teams that person played the champion truthful acold successful the postseason person precocious for a high-powered matchup betwixt the No. 2 effect Las Vegas Aces and the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury.

The Aces volition big Game 1 connected Friday (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). As the higher seed, Las Vegas volition besides big Game 2 and, if necessary, Games 5 and 7.

The Mercury are the archetypal squad successful WNBA past to scope the Finals doubly successful a five-year span without a azygous carryover player. Their rebuild this play brought successful Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally and DeWanna Bonner, among others.

The Aces, meanwhile, person 5 players who person been with Las Vegas since astatine slightest 2022, including No. 1 picks A'ja Wilson (2018) and Jackie Young (2019). The Aces revamped astir their core, which includes Chelsea Gray, but they person much acquisition playing unneurotic than the Mercury.

Will that substance astatine this constituent successful the season? Although overmuch of the absorption successful the playoffs frankincense acold has been connected officiating, injuries and wide subordinate discontent arsenic the corporate bargaining statement deadline looms astatine the extremity of this month, the existent hoops has been scintillating astatine times. Here is however ESPN's experts spot the WNBA Finals playing out.

Las Vegas Aces

ESPN BET odds: -135

Projected starters (playoff stats): G Chelsea Gray (10.9 PPG, 7.3 APG, 2.3 SPG), G Jackie Young (20.5 PPG, 5.3 APG, 4.8 RPG), F Kierstan Bell (2.4 PPG), F NaLyssa Smith (8.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG), C A'ja Wilson (26.0 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.8 BPG, 2.6 SPG)

Insider intel: In immoderate ways, the Aces' biggest hostile successful the Finals remains themselves. Wilson lamented aft Game 5 of the semifinals that their losses to the Fever were particularly frustrating "because it felt similar the losses were self-inflicted. It felt similar we had power implicit it and we conscionable did not amusement up. And those wounded much truthful than like, 'Dang, they conscionable deed much shots than us.'

"Emotionally, it was pugnacious lone due to the fact that you consciousness it. When you cognize you tin beryllium amended and you lose, that's the worst benignant of feeling you tin have, that consciousness of regret."

Even astatine halftime of the deciding game, manager Becky Hammon lit into her squad aft Las Vegas allowed 45 first-half points. Indiana's gait hardly slowed aft the interruption arsenic the Aces won contempt allowing their astir points successful a playoff crippled since 2022.

"I emotion that we deed immoderate shots contiguous and scored 107 points, but it's not the mode this squad has traditionally won games," Hammon said. "Our defence has to get better. Our rebounding has to get better. We person to larn from this series, and we person to get amended -- quickly."

One happening Las Vegas mightiness not person to interest about: the wellness of defender Chelsea Gra...