 | Together With  |
| From The GIST Team |
It's the Final(s) countdown! | ||
| We're back in your inbox because the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury are preparing to hit the hardwood for the WNBA's first-ever best-of-seven Finals series. In this case, more is definitely more.
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| Quote of The Day |
 | We weren't necessarily buried, we were planted. |
 | — Aces superstar A'ja Wilson, discussing the team's early-season struggles and the impressive turnaround that's put Vegas on the cusp of history yet again. |
| The Breakdown |
🃏 No. 2 Las Vegas Aces — The dynasty chasers Source: Ian Maule/Getty Images Back in the finals for the third time in four years, the Aces are knocking on dynasty's door — but earning the chance to compete for a third championship was anything but easy. ◀️ How they got here: Eighth in the WNBA standings with a mediocre .500 record at the All-Star Break, the Aces dominated the second half of the season, catapulting themselves into the league's No. 2 spot behind an impressive 16-game win streak, two victories shy of the W's all-time record.
👍 Why they'll win: Their guard play. Yes, four-time MVP and forward Wilson is one of the greatest women's basketball players of all time, averaging a double-double and almost three blocks per game in the regular season. She's all but a guarantee, which is why this series could come down to the productivity of Vegas' talented guard trio: Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, and Jewell Loyd.
👀 Underrated player to watch: The aforementioned Loyd. Her output has declined since heading to Vegas as part of a blockbuster deal in January — but you can't dismiss the 31-year-old. She was the 2023 WNBA scoring leader for a reason and proved that clutch gene is still kicking after knocking down momentum-changing buckets in Vegas' Game 5 semifinal win.     |
| Together With Nike 💅 Basketball's best choose to Just Do It Source: Getty Images Nike athlete and Aces star A'ja Wilson bends the game of basketball to her will. Now an unprecedented four-time WNBA MVP at just 29 years old, Wilson's Hall of Fame–worthy résumé has catapulted her to the top of Everest. Dominance? That's her default setting. 👏 Our love for this legend is as limitless as her game. Here's why: 📈 She smashes records like it's her day job, including this one and this one. 👟 She has a shoe…because of course she does. 🤩 She drops 35 points, cracks a joke in the huddle, and throws a 'fit all in the same night. Being first means you have to be fearless. Take a page out of Wilson and Nike's book and Just Do It. |
🪐 No. 4 Phoenix Mercury — The revamped warriors Source: Christian Petersen/Getty Images No Diana Taurasi, no problem for the new-look Mercury, who are headed to their first Final since 2021 despite losing the legendary Taurasi to retirement last season. ◀️ How they got here: Phoenix spent much of the regular season shorthanded with All-Stars Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally missing extended time due to injuries. Finally fully healthy in July, the Mercury added savvy veteran DeWanna Bonner and began to meld, but they were still flying under the radar…until now.
👍 Why they'll win: The authors of multiple double-digit comebacks in the semis, the Mercury are as resilient as they come, in part because of their defense. Led by perennial MVP candidate Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix tops the league's postseason defensive rating, allowing just 75.6 points per game.
👀 Underrated player to watch: The aforementioned Bonner, who knows a thing or two about bringing championships to the desert. The 15-year WNBA vet is the most experienced player in postseason history, competing in a whopping 94 playoff games. She also has a knack for scoring in the game's biggest moments — they don't call her "big shot Bonner" for nothing. |
| Together With Nike  Source: Getty Images 🙌 Yes, A'ja Wilson is A'One of one, but did you know there are three more Nike athletes competing in the Finals? It's no surprise given the iconic brand is synonymous with hoops success. Time for a roll call: 1️⃣ Starting off, it's Vegas' consistently clutch Jewell Loyd, 2️⃣ Then there's Alyssa Thomas, the Mercury triple-double queen, 3️⃣ And rounding out the squad, it's legendary Phoenix vet DeWanna Bonner. Talk about an iconic crew. It can't be a coincidence that four of the most talented players in the WNBA trust Nike to power their game — now it's time to elevate your fandom in tandem. Explore Nike's Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury collections today. |
🔢 Numbers to know Source: Ethan Miller/Getty Images At the end of the day, the only numbers that really matter are on the scoreboard — but that doesn't mean we can't dig into the digits that could define this series. 🤔 The Aces beat the Mercury in three out of four meetings this season. Their only loss? A game in which the aforementioned Wilson didn't suit up. ⚔️ The series' superstars — Vegas' Wilson and Phoenix's Thomas — have gone head-to-head 26 times in their careers with the four-time MVP holding a 17-9 edge over The Engine. 💰Two of the four WNBA teams with state-of-the-art practice facilities are now in the Finals: Vegas built a $40M practice facility after their 2022 championship, while Phoenix's ownership group shelled out $100M for theirs last summer. Coincidence? We think not. 🏆 The Mercury are hooping for history: If they win, they'll earn a WNBA record fourth title, matching the Lynx, Storm, and now-defunct Houston Comets for most all-time. |
| The GIST's Picks |
Peep our squad's MVPs (Most Valuable Picks):
🎧 What to listen toThe latest episode of The GIST of It, digging into Lynx icon Napheesa Collier's mic drop–worthy comments during her exit interview earlier this week. The tea is piping hot. |
🛍️ Where to cop the freshest W gearNike, the best place to find signature shoes, jerseys, and more from your favorite team. Whoever you rep, make it official with Nike.* |
🎉 What to be excited aboutThe second season of Unrivaled. The innovative 3v3 league is back and better than ever, with a recently announced two-game field trip to Philadelphia on deck. *P.S. This is a sponsored post. So fresh. |
| Fun and Games |
Take Your Pick | ||
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Las Vegas Aces | vs | Phoenix Mercury |
| Now that all of your hard-hitting Finals questions are answered, we have one for you: Who do you think will come out on top in tonight's series opener? | ||
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Today's email was brought to you by Lisa Minutillo. Editing by Alessandra Puccio. Fact-checking and operations by Marga Sison. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster, Alessandra Puccio, and Lisa Minutillo. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.
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