Phoenix squeezes past the Aces in physical game

The Mercury capitalized on MVP A'ja Wilson's absence, with Satou Sabally scoring 22 points and grabbing nine rebounds, while Alyssa Thomas contributed 14 points and 13 assists to edge the Las Vegas Aces 76-70 on Sunday.

Sami Whitcomb ignited the bench with 18 points, including a pivotal fourth 3-pointer that came just 13 seconds after Jewell Loyd's 3-pointer narrowed the gap to three points with 1:37 remaining.

Kahleah Copper, in her season debut after recovering from a preseason knee injury, scored 11 points and shifted Whitcomb to a bench role, where she helped Phoenix dominate the Aces 28-14 in the Commissioner's Cup matchup. The Mercury also doubled the Aces in points off turnovers, converting 22 Las Vegas miscues into 22 points.

Chelsea Gray led the Aces with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Loyd and Jackie Young added 17 and 15 points, respectively. Wilson missed her second consecutive game due to a concussion sustained on Wednesday.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Whitcomb and Lexi Held extended the Mercury's lead to 60-49 late in the third quarter, and they carried a 60-54 advantage into the final period. The Aces narrowed the gap to two points with four early free throws in the fourth, but Thomas and Whitcomb countered every challenge.

Wilson's absence significantly impacted the Aces' ability to dominate the paint and maintain offensive momentum. Without their star player, the Aces struggled to find consistent scoring options and defensive stops, which allowed the Mercury to capitalize on turnovers and build a decisive lead. Her leadership and presence on the court were sorely missed, as her teammates had to adjust to new roles and increased pressure.