WNBA finals Game 2: Aces take another step towards title after overwhelming Mercury

The Las Vegas Aces moved a step closer to their third championship in four years as they overwhelmed the Phoenix Mercury 91-78 on Sunday to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven WNBA finals.

Jackie Young led the way for the Aces with 32 points, 21 of which came in a scintillating third quarter surge. Young, who tied a career playoff high in total points, fell just short of the league record of 22 points for any postseason quarter. Reigning MVP A’ja Wilson was typically brilliant as she recorded a double-double with 28 points and 14 rebounds.

Kahleah Copper led the Mercury with 23 points, Satou Sabally scored 22 and Alyssa Thomas had 10 while coping with foul trouble much of the game.

As had been the case in Game 1 when they began with a 10-2 lead, the Mercury came out strong, scoring the first seven points. Phoenix wound up with 27 points in the first quarter, but then the Aces held the Mercury to a combined 24 points over the following two periods. By that point, the Aces had taken charge, leading 76-51 going into the fourth and eventually going up by as much as 22 points.

Any team facing Aces coach Becky Hammon in a Game 2 in Las Vegas is asking for trouble. She ran her record to 9-0 with this victory, the average margin being more than 17 points.

Game 3 is Wednesday in Phoenix, where the Aces hope to put a stranglehold on the series as they chase their third title in four years. The Mercury have the tall task of needing to win four of five games to capture their fourth championship, which would tie the WNBA record.