PHOENIX — A’ja Wilson had one last dash of brilliance left in her. As the final buzzer echoed through the arena, signaling her third WNBA championship in just four years, Wilson, the sport’s most formidable force, had no remaining shots to take but plenty of people to embrace. She had already shared four euphoric leaps with her pick-and-roll partner, Chelsea Gray. Now, it was time to connect with the rest of her teammates—those who had stood beside her during the Aces’ arduous journey back to the pinnacle of the WNBA.
Wilson approached the overflowing Aces' bench, where teammates, whom she often refers to as family, eagerly awaited her. “I would never be who I am without my teammates,” Wilson humbly stated. This sentiment rings true, but it’s equally undeniable that the Aces would not have claimed victory on that momentous Friday night against the Phoenix Mercury, winning 97-86 in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, without Wilson’s extraordinary contributions.
On this night, the league’s first four-time MVP transformed into a two-time Finals MVP, further solidifying her status in the conversation for the WNBA's greatest of all time. “You have your Mount Rushmore, she’s alone on Everest,” remarked Aces coach Becky Hammon. “There’s no one around.” Few would challenge Hammon's assertion after another remarkable performance from the Aces' forward, who finished with 31 points and nine rebounds, averaging a double-double throughout the finals.
Wilson is undeniably a singular force in the league, not just a star for her team but a prominent figure representing the entire WNBA. Sporting her signature Nike A’One sneaker, Wilson dazzled fans with her deft spin moves, mid-range jumpers, and unmatched defensive skills. “She’s a generational talent,” noted Aces president Nikki Fargas. If there was any debate regarding the Aces' position in the league, it has been put to rest; they are the WNBA’s premier dynasty, now only the third franchise in history to secure three titles within four years.
In an era marked by rapid turnover, the Aces' core has remained consistent. Coach Hammon has led the team from the sidelines, boasting the highest win percentage in finals history. Key players like guards Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray also played pivotal roles, each contributing 18 points in Game 4. Nearly an hour post-victory, the trio and their coach sat together, reflecting on their remarkable journey. Wilson held up a towel emblazoned with “2025 WNBA Champions” as Hammon fought back tears, overwhelmed with emotion.
“I’m invested in their greatness and getting that out of them every day,” Hammon expressed. “This one hits different because it was different. There was probably a lot more adversity than any of us anticipated.” Previous championship runs for the Aces had been relatively smooth, but this season's path was fraught with challenges. They entered the All-Star break with a .500 record—the first time since Wilson’s rookie season in 2018 that they were not above .500 at that juncture.
“To be here right now, and where we were in May and June,” Gray reflected, highlighting the team's resilience. “We had confidence in each other. I’m just really proud of how we stayed the course.” For two months, the Aces’ defense struggled, and their revamped roster, featuring six newcomers on opening night, faced difficulties finding cohesion. A historic 53-point loss to the Minnesota Lynx on August 2—marking the second-largest defeat in WNBA history—was a significant low point. Yet, it sparked a crucial moment of reflection for the team.
In the aftermath of this crushing defeat, Hammon was aware that she had few positives to share with her team. “And my mom told me,” Hammon recalled, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all.” However, standing in Phoenix post-victory, Hammon radiated pride as she sang the praises of her players. Wilson set the tone for the championship game, much like she had throughout the season and playoffs, scoring 12 points in the first quarter and helping the Aces establish a nine-point lead.
The Aces extended their lead to 16 by halftime, even as the Mercury struggled to adapt to the absence of All-Star forward Satou Sabally, who suffered a concussion during Game 3. Although the Mercury briefly rallied late in the third quarter after the ejection of coach Nate Tibbetts, Wilson and her teammates quickly silenced any hopes of a comeback. Post-game, Wilson wandered through the confines of the Mortgage Matchup Center, joyously shaking a pink tambourine gifted to her by an Aces trainer. “This is the symbol of the joyfulness we have right now,” she proclaimed. “Good things happen to the right people. And that’s what you see in this locker room today.”
When her teammates praised her, Wilson shook the tambourine even louder. “She was the positive person during our struggles,” said reserve guard Dana Evans. “She was the one sending texts, saying, ‘Hey, y’all, we good. Keep your heads up. Don’t get down on yourself.’ She’s just always been that positive.” Fargas added, “A’ja Wilson, once finished playing, will be the GOAT. There’s not gonna be anything left for her to do. I just don’t want us to get tired of seeing and watching her greatness.”
Following their historic defeat to the Lynx, the Aces lost only three more games. On Friday, Las Vegas celebrated their 2025 championship run with a trophy in hand, basking in the glory of their hard-earned victory. As the celebration enveloped them, Aces owner Mark Davis posed a final question: “Can we do it again?” With Wilson leading the charge, the answer remains a resounding yes.
