The first game of a best-of-seven affair is rarely definitive, but it often sets the temperature for the rest of the series. At the Michelob ULTRA Arena the other day, it burned slowly and steadily in a contest that rewarded poise rather than precision. The Aces outlasted the Mercury despite the latter’s scorching-hot opening; starting guard Kahleah Copper scored 19 by halftime to lead an offense that made more than half its shots from the field. As the night wore on, however, the rhythm gave way to disjointed notes, and the lead thinned until it vanished altogether. Even as there was no collapse, the gradual erosion could not be denied.
Interestingly, head coach Becky Hammon needed two and a half quarters to find her footing. The Aces went to a zone defense — used sparingly all season — and it broke the Mercury’s cadence. What had been fluid turned uncertain, with shooters suddenly second-guessing open looks. In the fourth, the visitors went an ice-cold six-of-18 from the field. Meanwhile, the Aces leaned on their bench, and depth — not normally associated with them — became the difference. Dana Evans and Jewell Loyd combined for nearly forty off the pine, outscoring their bench counterparts by more than two to one. Needless to say, their force of will was rewarded with a favorable outcome.
To be sure, there was no prior indication that the set-to would be settled easily. With 24 seconds left and the Aces clinging to a one-point lead, principal nemesis Alyssa Thomas stepped to the line and missed two free throws. The sequence — with a player of her caliber faltering under pressure — hung in the air. The Mercury fouled, absorbing two points off made charities to retain possession. It was the right call; unfortunately, bench tactician Nate Tibbets’ inbounds play could not be executed as planned, and Satou Sabally’s desperate heave at the buzzer was off-target. For all intents, it was a fitting end to a contest defined by inches: protagonists on both sides collectively holding their breath while carrying polar-opposite expectations.
The numbers told part of the story. Four-time Most Valuable Player awardee A’ja Wilson posted 21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and not a single turnover — the first such stat line in WNBA history. It reflected the Aces’ efficiency in halving the Mercury’s error count, a measure that, after the final buzzer, held more value than shooting splits. What truly separated the title hopefuls was intent. The black and silver played the long game, trading style for structure, flash for control. The purple and orange, for all their capacity to hit the ground running, never quite regained their preferred pace.
And so the series tilts, not decisively but meaningfully all the same. Game One revealed no clear superior — only who better understood the importance of adjustment. The Mercury will talk of missed chances and the need to solve area coverage. The Aces will seek confirmation that patience can be weaponized. Both know that Finals basketball is about survival.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
