Since relocating in 2018, the Las Vegas Aces’ dynasty has taken the WNBA by storm as they have made it to the Finals in three of its six years of existence and are the reigning, back-to-back champions.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Fielding out a star-studded lineup consisting of stars like A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, head coach Becky Hammond’s team has quickly risen to one of the most dominant teams in the league, when healthy.
While the Aces are sitting in fifth in the WNBA with an 8-6 record, injuries to Gray and others hampered their start of the season. Now with Gray and Co. back, Las Vegas has beaten the red-hot Seattle Storm and No. 2 seeded Connecticut Sun in consecutive games, looking to get back on track and make noise once again.
With the inevitable rise of the Aces back to their best brand of basketball, they have a chance to go for a threepeat this season. Las Vegas was the 2022 and 2023 WNBA champs.
But when talking about who can disrupt their chance of that becoming reality, ESPN women’s basketball analyst LaChina Robinson believes there is a team that can wipe out Vegas’ hopes: the Phoenix Mercury.
Mercury has what it takes to upset Aces
On the show First Take, Robinson went with Phoenix because of the experience they have and how the roster is constructed.
“I am digging down to the sixth team in the standings right now and I’d say the Phoenix Mercury,” Robinson said about which team can upset the Aces. “Them adding Natasha Cloud and Kahleah Copper has been huge for this organization. Yes, they had a slow start. Brittney Griner missed some time due to a toe injury, they have a new head coach, they need time to gel. But when you look at this roster, they have all of the proven experience you could want. They have two players [Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi] that have been [WNBA] Finals MVP. Of the four players that I just named, they have won championships with three different organizations.”
The Mercury won three WNBA championships in 2007, 2009 and 2014. Taurasi was with the team when they won all three, and Griner won the latest one.
Emphasizing how important championship pedigree is tagged along with the immense amount of talent Phoenix has at its disposal, Robinson is high on the Mercury and how far they can go.
“Kahleah Copper has been a bucket this season, more 30-point games this season than in her career,” Robinson said. “Brittney Griner playing with a renewed sense of purpose… This is a team that is ready to compete for a championship. Now, it is going to take some time for them to come together and to play at the highest level possible.”
As things stand, the Mercury are 8-8 on the season even though they are 4-2 in their last six games. Before Griner came back from her injury, Phoenix was 4-6 as they started the year 3-1 and went 1-5 afterward.
Acknowledging that the Aces are a serious contender no matter what, the Mercury is a team that Robinson would keep an eye on.
“When you look at the ingredients it takes to win a championship, Vegas is nothing to play with,” Robinson said. “You have to have experience, great leadership as we have in Natasha Cloud and 6-foot-9 Brittney Griner, there is absolutely no answer for her on either end of the paint. I am going with Phoenix.”
Time will tell if the Mercury does make it into the playoffs and can take down a powerhouse like Las Vegas. The season is almost near the halfway point, so their destiny will be clear with time progressing.
The Aces are 2-1 against the Mercury this season, with the last result ending in a high-scoring, 103-99 thrilling win on June 13. Phoenix will host the series finale against one another on Sept. 1.
If this were to be a playoff series, the star power on both sides would make it an enticing battle for any WNBA fan to enjoy watching while high stakes are on the line.
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers ASU Athletics, Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
