Las Vegas Aces take 2-0 lead in best-of-seven WNBA Finals

The GIST: The Las Vegas Aces boast a commanding 2-0 lead in the WNBA’s first-ever best-of-seven Finals following yesterday’s 91–78 win over the Phoenix Mercury. The series now shifts from Vegas to Phoenix ahead of Wednesday’s Game 3…but not before we discuss the latest from the hardwood.

🃏 Aces firing on all cylinders: From Dana Evans’ record-breaking Game 1 performance to Jackie Young’s historically spectacular 21-point third quarter, the Aces’ offense has been, ahem, all in so far this series. But what happened in Vegas was also a result of some hard-nosed defense.

• With nine steals and six blocks, the Aces’ D was stifling in Game 2 — particularly in the second quarter, when they outscored the Mercury 22–10 to take a nine-point lead at the half.

🪐 Mercury can’t capitalize on strong starts: While Phoenix jumped out to early leads in both Games 1 and 2, their scoring noticeably tapered as the games progressed. All-Stars Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally put up a combined 45 points yesterday, but that’s where the standout scoring ended.

• Perennial MVP candidate Alyssa Thomas has struggled this series, managing just 10 points in Game 2 while dealing with foul trouble. The bench, which includes six-time All-Star DeWanna Bonner, added just eight points combined. Room for improvement.

☝️ One more thing: Elsewhere in the W, amid ever-growing tensions between the league office and its players, Minnesota Lynx star (and WNBPA vice president) Napheesa Collier reportedly canceled a meeting with league commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who wanted to “clear the air” after Collier’s mic drop exit interview last week.

• Why did Collier cancel? Engelbert’s remarks in her annual pre-Finals news conference ahead of Game 1 reportedly “pushed the relationship beyond repair.” *gulps*