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Las Vegas Aces vs. Phoenix Mercury WNBA Finals live updates, lineups, how to watch Game 3
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- Las Vegas Aces vs. Phoenix Mercury WNBA Finals live updates, lineups, how to watch Game 3
The Phoenix Mercury enter Game 3 of the WNBA Finals with their backs against the wall.
The No. 4 seed Mercury lost Game 2, 91-78, to the No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces in Las Vegas , going down 2-0 in the best-of-seven championship series, which shifts to Phoenix for Game 3 on Wednesday and Game 4 on Friday.
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The Aces' trio of Jackie Young (32 points, eight rebounds), A'ja Wilson (28 points, 14 rebounds) and Chelsea Gray (10 point, 10 assists) outplayed the Mercury's Big 3 of Kahleah Copper (23 points, three rebounds), Satou Sabally (22 points, nine rebounds) and Alyssa Thomas (10 points, six rebounds, five assists) in Game 2.
Las Vegas' reserves have also had a better showing so far, with the Aces bench outscoring the Mercury 41-16 in Game 1 and 16-8 in Game 2.
The Mercury may be down, but they're not out. Copper said "fighting back" is "part of our identity." Can Phoenix protect home court at Mortgage Matchup Center or will the Aces take a commanding 3-0 lead?
GAME 2: Las Vegas Aces take 2-0 lead in WNBA Finals with Game 2 rout of Phoenix Mercury
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WINNERS, LOSERS: Jackie Young, A'ja Wilson shine, Mercury deflated
Here's what you need to know for Game 3 of the WNBA Finals:
What time is Mercury vs. Aces Game 3?
Game 3 of the WNBA Finals between the No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces and No. 4 seed Phoenix Mercury is scheduled to tipoff at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.
How to watch Mercury vs. Aces in WNBA Finals: TV, streaming for Game 3
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Date: Wednesday, Oct. 8
-
Time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
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Location: Mortgage Matchup Center (Phoenix)
-
TV: ESPN
-
Stream: Fubo , ESPN Unlimited
WNBA starting lineups today
Here are the projected starting lineups for Game 3 of the WNBA Finals:
Las Vegas Aces starting lineup
Head coach: Becky Hammon
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0 Jackie Young | G 6' 0" - Notre Dame
-
1 Kierstan Bell | F 6' 1" - Florida Gulf Coast
-
3 NaLyssa Smith | F 6' 4" - Baylor
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12 Chelsea Gray | G 5' 11" - Duke
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22 A'ja Wilson | C 6' 5" - South Carolina
Phoenix Mercury starting lineup
Head coach: Nate Tibbetts
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-
0 Satou Sabally | F 6' 4" - Oregon
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2 Kahleah Copper | G 6' 1" - Rutgers
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4 Natasha Mack | C 6' 4" - Oklahoma State
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8 Monique Akoa Makani | G 5' 11" - Cameroon
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25 Alyssa Thomas | F 6' 2" - Maryland
Las Vegas Aces roster
| # |
NAME |
POS |
EXP |
HT |
COLLEGE |
| 0 |
G |
7 |
6' 0" |
Notre Dame |
|
| 1 |
F |
3 |
6' 1" |
Florida Gulf Coast |
|
| 3 |
F |
3 |
6' 4" |
Baylor |
|
| 11 |
G |
4 |
5' 6" |
Louisville |
|
| 12 |
G |
10 |
5' 11" |
Duke |
|
| 13 |
G |
Rookie |
6' 0" |
Alabama |
|
| 17 |
C |
6 |
6' 4" |
Iowa |
|
| 22 |
C |
7 |
6' 5" |
South Carolina |
|
| 24 |
G |
10 |
5' 11" |
Notre Dame |
|
| 32 |
F |
10 |
6' 4" |
Middle Tennessee State |
|
| 41 |
C |
10 |
6' 3" |
Phoenix Mercury roster
| # |
NAME |
POS |
EXP |
HT |
COLLEGE |
| 0 |
F |
5 |
6' 4" |
Oregon |
|
| 1 |
G |
Rookie |
5' 10" |
DePaul |
|
| 2 |
G |
9 |
6' 1" |
Rutgers |
|
| 4 |
F |
4 |
6' 4" |
Oklahoma State |
|
| 8 |
G |
Rookie |
5' 11" |
Cameroon |
|
| 9 |
G |
Rookie |
6' 1" |
South Florida |
|
| 14 |
G |
16 |
6' 4" |
Auburn |
|
| 21 |
C |
7 |
6' 7" |
Baylor |
|
| 23 |
G |
4 |
5' 8" |
Stanford |
|
| 24 |
F |
Rookie |
6' 3" |
Notre Dame |
|
| 25 |
F |
11 |
6' 2" |
Maryland |
|
| 33 |
G |
8 |
5' 10" |
2025 WNBA Finals schedule
| Date |
Game |
. |
Time (ET) |
TV Channel |
| Fri, Oct. 3 |
1 |
|||
| Sun , Oct. 5 |
2 |
|||
| Wed, Oct. 8 |
3 |
Aces at Mercury |
8:00PM |
ESPN |
| Fri, Oct. 10 |
4 |
Aces at Mercury |
8:00PM |
ESPN |
| Sun, Oct. 12 |
5* |
Mercury at Aces |
3:00PM |
ABC |
| Wed, Oct. 15 |
6* |
Aces at Mercury |
8:00PM |
ESPN |
| Fri, Oct. 17 |
7* |
Mercury at Aces |
8:00PM |
ESPN |
How many games are in the WNBA Finals?
The league expanded the 2025 WNBA Finals from a best-of-five series to best-of-seven as the popularity and appetite for women's basketball continues to skyrocket. "The incredible demand for WNBA basketball makes this the ideal time," WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said at the announcement in 2024.
"It's exciting to be part of the first one," Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas said on Oct. 2. "We talk about how a best-of-five is a tough series. ... We don't know what a best-of-seven brings, but nothing changes. We still approach it the same way."
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WNBA champions by year
| Year |
Champion |
Runner-Up |
| 2024 |
||
| 2023 |
Las Vegas Aces |
New York Liberty |
| 2022 |
Las Vegas Aces |
|
| 2021 |
Phoenix Mercury |
|
| 2020 |
Las Vegas Aces |
|
| 2019 |
Connecticut Sun |
|
| 2018 |
Seattle Storm |
Washington Mystics |
| 2017 |
Minnesota Lynx |
|
| 2016 |
Los Angeles Sparks |
Minnesota Lynx |
| 2015 |
Minnesota Lynx |
|
| 2014 |
Phoenix Mercury |
Chicago Sky |
| 2013 |
Minnesota Lynx |
|
| 2012 |
Indiana Fever |
Minnesota Lynx |
| 2011 |
Minnesota Lynx |
Atlanta Dream |
| 2010 |
Seattle Storm |
Atlanta Dream |
| 2009 |
Phoenix Mercury |
Indiana Fever |
| 2008 |
Detroit Shock |
San Antonio Silver Stars |
| 2007 |
Phoenix Mercury |
Detroit Shock |
| 2006 |
Detroit Shock |
Sacramento Monarchs |
| 2005 |
Sacramento Monarchs |
Connecticut Sun |
| 2004 |
Seattle Storm |
Connecticut Sun |
| 2003 |
Detroit Shock |
Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2002 |
Los Angeles Sparks |
New York Liberty |
| 2001 |
Los Angeles Sparks |
Charlotte Sting |
| 2000 |
Houston Comets |
New York Liberty |
| 1999 |
Houston Comets |
New York Liberty |
| 1998 |
Houston Comets |
Phoenix Mercury |
| 1997 |
Houston Comets |
New York Liberty |
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aces vs. Mercury WNBA Finals live updates, time, how to watch Game 3
