LAS VEGAS — Call it the duel in the desert. The Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury will meet in the 2025 WNBA Finals.

The franchises, located roughly 300 miles apart, have both won multiple titles but have never met in the championship series before.

The No. 2 seed Aces outlasted the No. 6 seed Indiana Fever 107-98 in overtime Tuesday in Game 5 of their semifinal series. Now they host the Mercury on Friday in Game 1 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN). Phoenix, the No. 4 seed, eliminated the No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx 3-1 on Sunday.

The Aces, led by four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, won WNBA titles in 2022 and 2023. The Mercury’s championships were in 2007, 2009 and 2014, all with Diana Taurasi as the team’s star. She retired after last season, and a retooled roster — led by triple-double standout Alyssa Thomas — has Phoenix back in the Finals for the first time since 2021.

The WNBA Finals will be a best-of-seven format for the first time, so this could be a history-making series. Here is a breakdown of how the teams match up.

Regular-season series: Las Vegas went 3-1 against Phoenix

June 15: Mercury 76, Aces 70 (at Las Vegas)
June 29: Aces 84, Mercury 81 (at Phoenix)
Aug. 15: Aces 86, Mercury 83 (at Phoenix)
Aug. 21: Aces 83, Mercury 61 (at Las Vegas)

How Phoenix got here

The Mercury lost Game 1 at home in the best-of-three first round and on the road in the best-of-five semifinals, so they’ve proved their mettle away from home and in elimination games.

After a 13-point loss in Game 1 of the semifinals against Minnesota, Phoenix won each of the next three games by single digits, dominating in the fourth quarter in each. In Game 2, the Mercury overcame a 20-point deficit to tie the record for largest road comeback in WNBA playoff history. The Game 3 win at home will most likely be remembered for the controversial final 22 seconds, but also featured another big Mercury finish. In Game 4, Phoenix started cold, trailing by 14 in the first quarter and by 13 entering the final frame, before pulling out the 86-81 victory.

How Las Vegas got here

Las Vegas was .500 at the All-Star break before riding a 16-game winning streak into the playoffs. That hot streak extended to 17 with a Game 1 win in the first round — but then the Aces lost three of their next six postseason games before Tuesday’s overtime win clinched a spot in the Finals. Las Vegas beat Seattle 2-1 in the best-of-three first-round series, then had to go the distance to eliminate No. 6 Indiana in the best-of-five semis.

On Tuesday, Wilson recorded her WNBA-record third career 35-point game in a series-clinching win. The four-time MVP also became the first player with 35 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in a playoff game.

What we’re hearing about the Aces

Considering their long winning streak, Las Vegas was the hottest team coming into the playoffs. But they struggled to close out both of their playoffs series so far.

They were nearly upset by No. 7 seed Seattle in the first round, pulling out a Game 3 victory 74-73. Then it took overtime in Game 5 of the semifinal for them to get past Indiana, despite the Fever being depleted by injury and foul trouble.

This is something to be concerned about going against the Mercury, who seem to be peaking in the playoffs. That said, the Aces have a great deal of WNBA Finals experience to rely upon: Both Chelsea Gray and Wilson have been Finals MVPs for the Aces. Jackie Young also has been a crucial part of Las Vegas’ past championships. Jewell Loyd won two WNBA titles when she was with Seattle.

It took about 2½ months for the Aces to figure themselves out this season. Once they did, they were formidable the rest of the regular season. They now have a few days before the Finals to get a handle on where they’ve fallen short in the playoffs despite advancing, because they can’t have the same kind of lapses against Phoenix. — Michael Voepel

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Phoenix Mercury reach Finals after taking down Minnesota Lynx

The Phoenix Mercury come from behind to beat the Minnesota Lynx in Game 4 to reach the WNBA Finals.

What we’re hearing about the Mercury

Rebuilds usually take years to be successful, but in their first season without Taurasi and Brittney Griner, the franchise’s two former cornerstones, the Mercury are headed back to the Finals for the first time since 2021.

Embracing an underdog mentality has fueled the Mercury throughout the season. Phoenix returned just two players from 2024 — Kahleah Copper and Natasha Mack — and is the fifth team in league history to lose at least 70% of its scoring from the previous season (71.3%), according to ESPN Insights. The other four teams all had losing records the following season.

With two of their big three — Copper and Satou Sabally — missing extended time in the regular season because of injury, Phoenix wasn’t fully healthy until late July. At the start of August, Sabally told ESPN she felt her team was playing at 80% of its capability. The Mercury hoped that through the last month of the regular season they’d meld all of their pieces together. They did.

Their rookies — Kathryn Westbeld, Sami Whitcomb and Monique Akoa Makani — were revelations. The addition of DeWanna Bonner in early July provided their bench with needed experience. And their big three have thrived together.

They were underdogs again as they entered the postseason, facing defending champion New York in the first round and this year’s title favorite, Minnesota, in the semifinals. The Mercury are the fourth team in WNBA history to eliminate both teams that participated in the previous year’s Finals within a single postseason. — Kendra Andrews

What is this series’ X factor?

The team whose big three plays the best will win the title.

So often in championship games or series, we look for one unsung hero, one seemingly unforeseen moment that will decide the outcome. This series won’t be that complicated or unpredictable. It will come down to the performances of Wilson, Young and Gray for the Aces and Thomas, Sabally and Copper for the Mercury. Sure, there might be a big Sami Whitcomb 3-pointer, or a stretch where Dana Evans supplies the Aces some extra energy — but this is about the stars.

Their impact was on display in both Las Vegas’ and Phoenix’s semifinal close-out games. Wilson (35), Young (32) and Gray (17) combined for 84 of the Aces’ 107 points; Thomas (23), Sabally (21) and Copper (13) were the Mercury’s three leading scorers in their comeback win over Minnesota in Game 4. The advantage will go to the trio that separates itself, even if it’s by a small margin.

Throw out the first time these teams met in the regular season (a Mercury win) because Wilson did not play. In the final three meetings, the MVP was the best player on the floor, averaging 25.0 points. Young scored in double digits in each of those games and Gray had at least nine. Conversely, in one Phoenix loss, Sabally had just 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting. In the most recent matchup, Copper had just six points. Las Vegas won all three of those games. The Aces will win their third title in four years if that recent history repeats itself. — Charlie Creme

How big is Phoenix’s rest advantage after Las Vegas had to go to overtime to win Game 5 on Tuesday?

I don’t think it will be much of a factor. Las Vegas will still get two full days off without any travel. While the Aces will sleep well after going the distance against the Fever, they will be doing it in their own beds. Even with the extra two days to prep, the Mercury still had to wait to find out their opponent. The rest might help a little, but 48 more hours at this time of year probably means little. Adrenaline is overcoming any fatigue for most of these players, and both teams have all their regular rotations fully healthy heading into the best-of-seven series. — Creme

How they match up

While only two players returned from last season’s Mercury team (Copper and Mack), the Aces have six players back from last season, and five of them — Wilson, Gray, Young, Kiah Stokes and Kierstan Bell — were also on Las Vegas’ 2022 and 2023 title teams.

During the regular season, the Aces and Mercury were close to each other in categories such as scoring average (83.6 and 82.8), net rating (plus-3.7 and plus-3.4) and effective field goal percentage (50.6 and 50.2). Same for 3-pointers per game, although the Mercury had the slight edge there with 9.4 to the Aces’ 9.1.

There was a little more separation with defensive rating, as the Mercury were at 102.5 and the Aces 104.4. In the past, the Aces have been a better defensive team than they have been this year, but Las Vegas has improved in that area since its season turnaround began in early August.

As for the teams’ two biggest stars, Wilson and Thomas have faced off 26 times in their WNBA careers, counting both regular season and playoffs. Wilson has a 17-9 edge overall, 6-3 in the playoffs. Wilson has averaged 21.0 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in those playoff matchups against Thomas, who has averaged 15.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists.

The teams’ coaches, Las Vegas’ Becky Hammon and Phoenix’s Nate Tibbetts, both spent several years as NBA assistants before taking over as WNBA head coaches. Hammon was a San Antonio Spurs assistant from 2014-2022, and Tibbetts was an assistant from 2011-2023 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers and Orlando Magic. — Voepel

The Virginia Tech board of visitors overwhelmingly approved a plan to add $229 million to its athletics budget over the next four years.

The decision moves Virginia Tech among the top of its ACC peers in funding, at a time when the Hokies are searching for a new head football coach to replace Brent Pry, who was fired earlier this month.

School president Tim Sands said the decision “unlocks the door to future success.”

“We have the opportunity to reset the organization to align with the new realities at the conference and national levels. It’s never been clearer that the future of Hokie athletics will depend on the institutional commitments to compete in partnership with our alumni and supporters. Today, we are stepping up to compete, and we ask our loyal fans and generous donors to step forward with us.”

The decision will add $47.1 million to the budget in the current fiscal year, bringing the total athletics department budget to $190.1 million. That number would increase to $212.1 million for 2029-30.

Sands also announced he will be appointing an athletics investment oversight committee to monitor spending to “ensure that funds are spent wisely.”

We’re a month into the NFL season, and insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have been making calls to sources around the league for the latest news and buzz on key situations heading into October play.

One of the biggest storylines of the week is what’s going on with the Ravens and their 1-3 start. Jeremy and Dan have intel on the sentiments in Baltimore and how much panic the Ravens are feeling. They are also diving in on the Titans’ 0-4 start and long-term ramifications of it, along with what they’re hearing on the quarterback front as the Nov. 4 NFL trade deadline approaches.

That’s not all, as Jeremy and Dan will also be examining rookies who have earned themselves more playing time. It’s all here, as our reporters answer big questions and empty their notebooks heading into Week 5.

Jump to:
Potential Titans changes | Ravens’ panic meter
Rookies making a move | Will a QB be traded?
More notes on Week 5

What are you hearing on the Titans’ 0-4 start and potential changes they could make — now or in the offseason?

Fowler: There is moderate concern among the coaching staff that the front office and ownership might not be as patient as they originally believed, which could lead to change sooner than later. The proverbial “vibes” simply are not good right now. The front office entered the season with optimism about head coach Brian Callahan, who was a hot name on the coaching circuit in 2024. And though it wouldn’t set a win-loss goal in regard to his tenure, Titans brass wanted to see a team that’s improving. That’s hardly the case in Tennessee, where a minus-69 point differential through four games is by far the worst in the league (next closest is New Orleans at minus-55).

The overall lack of flow from week to week is only intensifying the discomfort. Callahan relinquishing playcalling duties to assistant Bo Hardegree a week ago could buy the Titans staff a little time, but firing him a week after such a change would be counterproductive. The Titans’ bye is Week 10, which feels important. But the expectation among some around the league I’ve talked to is that the temperature is increasing, especially with owner Amy Adams Strunk’s willingness to make drastic changes in recent years.

Graziano: It’s one thing to start 0-4 with a rookie quarterback, but it’s another to be as noncompetitive as the Titans have been. They had a second-half lead against the Broncos in Week 1, but things seem to have gotten progressively worse each week since. Sunday’s loss to Houston was a complete no-show, and to get shut out the week after making an offensive playcaller change doesn’t say much about their chances to fix this thing on the fly.

Callahan was Tennessee’s top choice as head coach following the 2023 season, and the franchise entered this season with the belief that he was the guy to shepherd Ward’s transition into the league. But there have been red flags, including some game management situations and some postgame news conferences in which Callahan seemed unaware of some of the rules governing replay challenges, etc. If the Titans can win a couple of games, I’m sure that will buy him time, but that’s a big if right now, and Callahan hasn’t helped himself with some of his gaffes.

I will say, from talking to people who follow these situations in the league, that there’s belief this will be a desirable job if and when it comes open. Young, promising QB, new stadium on the horizon, etc. You agree?

Fowler: Agreed. This can be a good job, Dan. Cam Ward has serious potential but needs an infusion of pass-catching talent around him. A few drafts can fix that. The offensive line hasn’t come together despite significant investments. But offensive tackle JC Latham (currently injured) and guard Peter Skoronski are players to build on. The defense has held up at times.

President of football operations Chad Brinker and general manager Mike Borgonzi come from well-established, methodical personnel trees — the Packers and Chiefs, respectively. That should lead to build-through-the-draft patience … which I once thought would help Callahan’s case, but now I’m not so sure. As you mentioned, game management issues in multiple games this season have not helped his cause. That’s such a priority for teams now.

Graziano: Yeah, that’s another thing to watch, because Borgonzi and Brinker weren’t really in their current roles when the organization hired Callahan. (Maybe Brinker was, but he didn’t have as much clearly delineated power at the time.) It’s never a comfortable feeling working for people who didn’t hire you. And your point about the offensive line is a critical one, because the offensive line coach is Callahan’s father, Bill Callahan, who’s considered one of the best to ever do that job. I believe Bill wouldn’t stick around if Brian got fired, so you’re talking about major change in critical areas. I might look foolish in a couple of weeks (or days, who knows?), but if I’m making a prediction, I lean toward the Titans giving Callahan the rest of the year before making a decision.

Rate the level of panic in the Ravens’ building on a scale of 1-10.

Graziano: I say 5, but it’s important to note that that’s a really high number in Baltimore, where there’s typically not much panic at all. This defense has had no answers for anyone but the Browns, and with Nnamdi Madubuike out for the season and a ton of other injuries (Nate Wiggins, Roquan Smith, Ar’Darius Washington, the list goes on and on) on that side of the ball, where are the answers going to come from? Add Lamar Jackson‘s hamstring injury, and now you have a potential for disaster.

If Jackson misses significant time, this season could go downhill quickly. Cooper Rush is the backup, and obviously the offense will look a lot different when he starts than it does when Jackson starts. The run game hasn’t done anything since the season opener against Buffalo. There are a lot of problems for a team that was a popular preseason Super Bowl pick.

I am guessing the panic meter about the Ravens outside the building — among fans and those of us who analyze objectively — is closer to 10 right now. But the Ravens count on the strength and steadiness of coach John Harbaugh, general manager Eric DeCosta and their internal leadership structure to solve problems and get them through tough times. You can bet they’re scouring for answers, internally and externally.

Fowler: I’ll go 6. It’s worth remembering in times like this that Jackson has a .717 career winning percentage as a starter. That’s a Tom Brady-like figure. Assuming Jackson does not miss significant time, the Ravens have a path to a backdoor playoff spot.

All three losses are to elite teams with championship hopes. It’s not like the Ravens are blowing leads to winless teams. The offense is still trying to find its rhythm with personnel groupings — when to play big people for the run game (such as two or three tight ends) vs. playing through receivers and the passing game more often. There’s enough talent on offense to make it work regardless. But this defense is galaxies away from the once-proud unit that charged Super Bowl runs. It’s currently serving as a confidence builder for struggling offenses to get right. And losing Madubuike for the year is a crushing blow. That’s a premier player on a defensive front that’s struggling to generate a pass rush.

Graziano: Like you, I also look at who their losses are against. The Bills, Lions and Chiefs are among the best teams in the league, sure, but the Ravens were supposed to be, too. And in the case of Buffalo and Kansas City, those are losses that could really come back to bite the Ravens late in the season when we’re sorting out playoff seeding and tiebreakers. At 1-3, Baltimore is probably hoping it has that problem, but assuming the Ravens come back from this and make the run we all expected, these early-season losses could put them behind the 8-ball come playoff seeding time. Sunday’s game against the Texans is another that could potentially have implications for tiebreakers and seeding if the Ravens play their way back into contention.

When I was at their training camp, I was talking to Harbaugh about the coming season and he was stressing how important it was to get off to a fast start — how they started 0-2 last season and ended up having to play a playoff game in Buffalo in January instead of playing the Bills at home. I’m sure Harbaugh is as perplexed as the rest of us are about why September went so poorly.

Fowler: The Ravens’ schedule will ease up. Only one of their next seven opponents (Rams, Week 6) has a winning record. The AFC North is winnable. But it appears they’ll have to win shootouts. On defense, the Ravens need more from pass rusher Odafe Oweh, a former first-round pick, and corner Jaire Alexander, who hasn’t played since Week 1. Otherwise, my preseason Super Bowl pick looks bleak.

Harbaugh made an unconventional defensive coordinator hire in Zach Orr, a former Ravens linebacker who quickly worked his way up the ranks, in February 2024 to replace Mike Macdonald. Orr was able to help steady a struggling Ravens defense late last season, but this is two consecutive years of suboptimal results for long stretches.

Which rookie has made a case for more playing time after a strong start?

Fowler: He’s already getting more time, but Giants running back Cam Skattebo is proving a capable option out of the backfield with Tyrone Tracy Jr. sidelined by injury. Skattebo’s recent impact has been undeniable. His ability to knife through tackles and create additional yards will be crucial for a streaky (that’s putting it nicely) New York passing offense. He averaged nearly six yards per touch thus far.

Another emerging offensive option is Seahawks receiver Tory Horton, who is making the most of his limited role. He’s averaging just under 27 snaps but has six catches on 10 targets for 74 yards and two touchdowns, including an impressive over-the-shoulder grab in the end zone in Week 3. While Cooper Kupp seems entrenched as Seattle’s WR2, Horton is giving the Seahawks something to think about after producing three total touchdowns (including a 95-yard kickoff return). Looks like GM John Schneider got a fifth-round gem.

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Eric Karabell: Acquire Cam Skattebo if you can

Eric Karabell explains why Cam Skattebo is a definite top-20 fantasy running back for the rest of the season.

Graziano: Woody Marks looks like a more exciting running back than Nick Chubb in Houston, where the Texans are looking for any answer they can find on offense. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Marks get a little more run. Chiefs rookie running back Brashard Smith has seen more involvement in the offense in recent weeks and I’m told to expect that to continue.

And my guy Harold Fannin Jr., who we pointed out in Week 1 as a rookie to watch, has worked his way into the pass catcher rotation in Cleveland even with David Njoku ahead of him on the Browns’ tight end depth chart. The Browns love using Fannin in a lot of different roles, and I think that usage will only expand.

Fowler: Cleveland is really excited about Fannin’s future — and that of running back Quinshon Judkins and wide receiver Isaiah Bond. On defense, Carolina edge rusher Nic Scourton has made a quick impression. The Panthers wanted to utilize more young players on defense after a sluggish start, and Scourton, a second-round pick in April, has played 100 snaps over the past two weeks, producing a pass deflection and several quarterback pressures. He has a high motor, plays with power and has a nifty spin move in his arsenal. The youth movement is on for Carolina, which is also giving third-round edge rusher Princely Umanmielen extended snaps.

Graziano: Edge rusher Ashton Gillotte is a player who really excites the Chiefs. He got his hand on a field goal attempt in the Week 3 victory over the Giants and has seen his snap count rise each week as the team continues to trust him more. I would not be surprised to see Kansas City continue to use Gillotte more as the season goes on as they rely more and more on their defense while the offense gets its act together.

True or false: A quarterback will be traded before the deadline.

Graziano: True. Now, it could be someone such as Carson Wentz or Kenny Pickett, which wouldn’t exactly make headlines, but I think you’re asking if it could be someone such as Kirk Cousins or Russell Wilson or one of the Cleveland rookies. Anything’s possible. It doesn’t feel like Wilson has a real role in New York, where rookie Jaxson Dart is now the starter and Jameis Winston is signed through 2026 to be his backup. Wilson’s trade value is also likely very low right now, so the Giants might wait until someone gets desperate to ship him out.

Cousins’ situation in Atlanta, as the veteran backup behind Michael Penix Jr., is one we’ve frequently discussed. He could get dealt, but Atlanta is not desperate to deal him and is still asking for a relatively high price. The Falcons believe he has value as a reliable backup in case something should happen to Penix. And having been on the sideline for Sunday’s game against Washington, I can tell you Cousins is one of the prominent voices in Penix’s ear between possessions. He’s been helpful in Penix’s development and, along with offensive coordinator Zac Robinson and quarterbacks coach D.J. Williams, is a helpful extra set of eyes and ears that benefits Penix.

Fowler: Man, Pickett getting dealt for the third time in a calendar year would be tough on his real estate portfolio. Do I believe a quarterback will be traded? Yes, so my answer is true. A quarterback with a marquee name, I’m not so sure. Wilson would be the most sensible candidate. Cleveland had some level of interest in Wilson before he signed with the Giants, and his $2 million base salary makes him very tradeable.

But it’s uncertain where Cleveland will be from a roster-building standpoint three to four weeks from now. If the Browns want to stash Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders for a few months longer, then Wilson would be a low-cost play. And Cleveland explored the Cousins situation before ultimately signing Joe Flacco, trading for Pickett and drafting two passers. But here’s to guessing Gabriel will be on the field by the end of October, at which point the Browns will want to see what they have in the third-rounder.

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Rex Ryan wants Shedeur to start for the Browns

Rex Ryan questions why the Browns have not started Shedeur Sanders at quarterback.

Outside of that, there’s not a clear-cut need for teams, barring injury. One intriguing option is Anthony Richardson Sr., who is stuck behind Daniel Jones in Indianapolis. My sense is Richardson would be open to joining a premier playcaller such as Sean McVay as a developmental player so he can reset for 2026.

Graziano: Richardson is an interesting one. I remember a couple of teams wondering if Indy would be open to moving him during free agency. So far, they’ve insisted they aren’t, but you’re right. If Jones keeps playing well and leads them to their first division title in more than a decade, who’s to say the Colts don’t decide he’s their future at quarterback and sign him to an extension?

In general, acquiring a starting QB at the trade deadline is tough, because in most cases it’s a guy who must learn a new offense on the fly. By the time he’s up to speed, it could be too late for him to save the season. That’s why someone like Richardson, whom teams might view for development in the long term, makes more sense. But there are situations that come up where a team with high hopes finds itself with a sudden need and might be willing to take the risks involved with bringing in someone from outside its system, right?

Fowler: That question reminds me that quarterback needs can change in a hurry — especially after what the Bengals just showed Monday night. Got to wonder if Cincinnati evaluates quarterback options if the downward spiral deepens. After Monday night’s lifeless outing, Cincinnati now has gained fewer than 200 offensive yards in three of its first four games. The last team to do that was the 2009 Raiders, who rolled out a combination of JaMarcus Russell, Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye at quarterback.

The Bengals still believe in Jake Browning, who was far from the only culprit in Denver on Monday, but Cincinnati has too much skill position talent to accept the status quo. At some point, it could need reinforcements at the game’s most important position. It might be worth calling up recently retired Derek Carr to check on how his shoulder injury is healing.