Story by
Ranking the WNBA Finals rosters: Who's at the top of the list?
- Story by
- Ranking the WNBA Finals rosters: Who's at the top of the list?
The 2025 WNBA Finals tipoff on Friday, October 3, in Las Vegas and this season's main event will feature two teams seeking to add more hardware to the championship trophy cases.
The No. 4 seed Phoenix Mercury will make their sixth appearance in the Finals and are seeking their fourth title and first since 2014. The No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces are making their fourth WNBA Finals appearance and will push for their third championship since 2022.
Advertisement
Both teams are led by incredible players like 2025 WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson and six-time All-Star Alyssa Thomas . As these two franchises prepare to put on an elite display of hoops, here is a ranking of all 23 players between the rosters:
( Statistical averages are per game during the 2025 regular season .)
23. Kiah Stokes , C, Las Vegas Aces
Points:1.1, Rebounds:3.6, Assists:0.4, Steals: 0.4
Stokes is not a major scoring threat, but what she does provide is size and length for the Aces. She's also a solid rim protector when asked to contribute.
22. Megan Gustafson , C, Las Vegas Aces
Points: 3.0, Rebounds: 1.8, Assists: 0.3, Steals: 0.2
Advertisement
Gustafson can be inconsistent with her production, but she's been a timely boost of energy and offense when called upon during the playoffs. Her 3-point shooting has gotten the Aces out of a bind more than once.
21. Kiana Williams , G, Phoenix Mercury
Points:4.1, Rebounds: 1.0, Assists: 0.9, Steals: 0.3
Williams was a mid-season hardship signing for the Mercury and contributed to the team's success as it battled injuries. She hasn't had as much playing time lately, but if deployed, she moves well off the ball and does a good job of elevating to get her shots up in traffic.
20. Kierstan Bell , F, Las Vegas Aces
Points: 4.2, Rebounds: 1.8, Assists: 0.7, Steals: 0.4
Advertisement
Bell has consistently done what Las Vegas asks, whether off the bench or in the starting lineup. She's a willing defender who the Aces can move around, and her signature splashy 3-point shot is always a welcome sight.
19. Aaliyah Nye , G, Las Vegas Aces
Points: 3.8, Rebounds: 1.5, Assists: 0.5, Steals:0.3
Nye is one of the grittiest young players in the WNBA. She's never afraid of the moment, and it's a big reason she's on the roster. Nye brings perimeter shooting and a poise and presence that Las Vegas needs.
18. Kathryn Westbeld , F, Phoenix Mercury
Points: 5.1, Rebounds: 2.5, Assists: 0.9, Steals:0.8
Advertisement
Westbeld is an underrated piece of the Mercury's success this season. She held down the starting lineup when they injury bug hit the team and continued to produce when moved to the bench. In the playoffs, Westbeld has shot a blistering 53.3% from 3-point range, something Phoenix will need to win a championship.
17. Cheyenne Parker-Tyus , F, Las Vegas Aces
Points: 8.0, Rebounds: 1.0, Assists: 0, Steals: 0
Parker-Tyus missed most of the Aces' regular season on maternity leave, but she fit right into Becky Hammon's lineup when she returned in September. Parker-Tyus is an efficient shooter who can score on all three levels and has good footwork in the paint, something Las Vegas needs when teammate A'ja Wilson isn't on the floor.
Advertisement
16. Lexi Held , G, Phoenix Mercury
Points: 5.3, Rebounds: 1.1, Assists: 1.1, Steals: 0.7
Held has a sneaky good acceleration to the basket that often catches opposing defenders off guard. However, she can also stop on a dime and deliver a basket with her impeccable footwork that she utilizes to create separation.
15. Kitija Laksa , G, Phoenix Mercury
Points: 5.9, Rebounds: 1.2, Assists: 0.6, Steals: 0.4
Laksa is a master at manipulating defenders on the court through impressive footwork and elevation that's hard to keep up with. Her midrange work is her best asset, but she can also knock it down from range.
Advertisement
14. Kalani Brown , C, Phoenix Mercury
Points: 5.1, Rebounds: 4.0, Assists: 0.6, Steals: 0.2
Brown's minutes have dwindled this season with Phoenix, but she's a critical depth piece who has zero problem with scoring. She's also a solid defender who can track movements, perfectly timing her blocks.
13. Dana Evans , G, Las Vegas Aces
Points: 6.6, Rebounds: 1.1, Assists: 2.2, Steals: 0.4
Evans has been very good as of late for the Aces. Her two-man game with teammate Jewell Loyd has helped elevate Las Vegas' bench unit when it struggled earlier this year. What's more, she's shooting 40 percent from deep in the postseason and hasn't been afraid to take on any assignments in her Aces tenure.
Advertisement
12. Sami Whitcomb , G, Phoenix Mercury
Points: 9.1, Rebounds: 2.6, Assists: 2.5, Steals: 0.8
Whitcomb is a walking toolbox who has every characteristic you could want out of a guard. Tough, gritty and unleashes shots at the right time. Don't sleep on Whitcomb. She can get hot at any moment, and she can clean up the little things for the Mercury that are often game-changing shifts in energy.
11. DeWanna Bonner , F, Phoenix Mercury
Points: 9.8, Rebounds: 4.2, Assists: 1.2, Steals: 0.8
A 16-year veteran, Bonner has the most experience of anyone in the WNBA Finals, and though her production has waned over the last several seasons, she can still knock it down from 3-point land. When Bonner's not scoring, she's crashing the glass and causing defensive disruption.
Advertisement
10. Natasha Mack , F, Phoenix Mercury
Points: 4.7, Rebounds: 5.8, Assists: 0.9, Steals: 0.9
Mack's confidence grew throughout the 2025 season and she's brought out more skills, including ball handling and footwork, that make her tough to defend. On the opposite end of the floor, she's a nightmare defensively. She uses her instincts and length to cause mayhem at every turn.
9. NaLyssa Smith , F, Las Vegas Aces
Points: 7.6, Rebounds: 5.1, Assists: 0.7, Steals: 0.6
Smith was a midseason pickup for the Aces, who has benefited from playing with MVP A'ja Wilson. Smith seems more comfortable in Las Vegas and has truly blossomed into a 3-point specialist. Smith also uses her 6-foot-4 frame to her advantage defensively, securing rebounds and cutting off driving lanes.
Advertisement
8. Monique Akoa Makani , G, Phoenix Mercury
Points: 7.7, Rebounds: 2.2, Assists: 2.7, Steals: 0.8
Makani is fearless as the only rookie starter in the WNBA Finals. She does so much that doesn't show up on a stat sheet, including breaking down defenses with her incredible vision and playmaking abilities. Makani can also hit any shot the Mercury ask her to make, including seemingly everything behind the arc. She's works well in tandem with teammate Alyssa Thomas , something the Mercury will need in the the Finals.
7. Jewell Loyd , G, Las Vegas Aces
Points: 11.2, Rebounds: 3.2, Assists: 1.8, Steals:1.2
Advertisement
Coming off the bench, Loyd had provided a spark this season. Her big play ability has helped keep the Aces' in games where the bench needed to help carry the load, including in Game 5 against the Indiana Fever . Loyd swarmed the glass and knocked down timely 3-point shots to help Las Vegas get to the Finals. Loyd may not churn out jaw-dropping games as often as she used to, but she's still dangerous with the ball in her hands.
6. Chelsea Gray , G, Las Vegas Aces
Points: 11.2, Rebounds: 3.9, Assists: 5.4, Steals:1.4
Gray has never been a volume shooter, but she doesn't need to be for the Aces. Scoring only when she must suits her game the best and allows her to be an elite passer and floor general. Her court vision is mesmerizing and allows her to put the ball in places few can. In the postseason, she's averaging an impressive 7.3 assists per game and is second in total assists (58) behind only Phoenix's Alyssa Thomas.
Advertisement
5. Kahleah Copper , G, Phoenix Mercury
Points: 15.6, Rebounds: 2.9, Assists: 1.5, Steals: 1.1
Copper has one of the fastest steps in the WNBA, and she uses it to punish opposing defenses with explosive drives and cuts to the basket. The Mercury guard also shoots extremely well from 3-point range, and that makes defending her incredibly frustrating. Additionally, she's an excellent defender who uses pressure to cause disruption and then immediately turns that into back-breaking transition points on the other end.
4. Satou Sabally , F, Phoenix Mercury
Points: 16.3, Rebounds: 5.9, Assists: 2.5, Steals: 1.3
Advertisement
Sabally is a versatile player who can score in multiple ways and defend nearly every position on the floor. She also does a good job of helping to get the most out of stagnant possessions by weaving her way through the paint or draining shots from the perimeter with little time to work with. After a slow start to the playoffs, Sabally's been in double-digits every game, including churning out four stat lines of 20 or more points.
3. Jackie Young , G, Las Vegas Aces
Points: 16.5, Rebounds: 4.5, Assists: 5.1, Steals: 1.3
Young might be the most underrated player on both finals rosters. Her quiet presence is unassuming, but her game is very loud. She is absolutely unfazed by defenses and will pull up for a shot or drive to the basket regardless of who is on the other end. Young is averaging nearly 20 points, five rebounds and five assists on a magnificent 54 percent shooting from the field in the postseason.
Advertisement
2. Alyssa Thomas , F, Phoenix Mercury
Points: 15.4, Rebounds: 8.8, Assists: 9.2, Steals: 1.6
Thomas is a freight train in every sense of the word. Nicknamed the Engine, she's a walking triple-double and a seemingly immovable force on both sides of the ball. As a point-forward, she controls so much for Phoenix, and teams often have zero answer for her because even if she's not scoring, she's still a massive threat everywhere else. There are little to no weaknesses in Thomas' game, and she imposes her will without hesitation.
1. A'ja Wilson , F, Las Vegas Aces
Points: 23.4, Rebounds: 10.2, Assists: 3.1, Steals:1.6
Advertisement
When she's not busy putting up 30-point double-doubles, Wilson is often causing havoc from every part of the floor. She's an extremely athletic post player who can guard all positions, and that makes her the most dangerous player in the WNBA Finals. Wilson can do it all, including ball handling and facilitating, her most underrated skills. Sleep on the four-time MVP, three-time Defensive Player of the Year and two-time WNBA champion at your own risk.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ranking the players in the 2025 WNBA Finals, including A'ja Wilson
