2025 WNBA Finals: Aces-Mercury predictions, preview, odds - ESPN

The longest regular season in WNBA history could be followed by the longest WNBA Finals. For the first time, the series is a best-of-seven, and the teams that have played the best so far in the postseason have advanced for a high-powered matchup between the No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces and the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury.

The Aces will host Game 1 on Friday (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). As the higher seed, Las Vegas will also host Game 2 and, if necessary, Games 5 and 7.

The Mercury are the first team in WNBA history to reach the Finals twice in a five-year span without a single carryover player. Their rebuild this season brought in Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally and DeWanna Bonner, among others.

The Aces, meanwhile, have five players who have been with Las Vegas since at least 2022, including No. 1 picks A'ja Wilson (2018) and Jackie Young (2019). The Aces revamped around their core, which includes Chelsea Gray, but they have more experience playing together than the Mercury.

Will that matter at this point in the season? Although much of the focus in the playoffs thus far has been on officiating, injuries and general player discontent as the collective bargaining agreement deadline looms at the end of this month, the actual basketball has been scintillating at times. Here is how ESPN's experts see the WNBA Finals playing out.

ESPN BET odds: -135

Projected starters (playoff stats): G Chelsea Gray (10.9 PPG, 7.3 APG, 2.3 SPG), G Jackie Young (20.5 PPG, 5.3 APG, 4.8 RPG), F Kierstan Bell (2.4 PPG), F NaLyssa Smith (8.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG), C A'ja Wilson (26.0 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.8 BPG, 2.6 SPG)

Insider intel: In some ways, the Aces' biggest opponent in the Finals remains themselves. Wilson lamented after Game 5 of the semifinals that their losses to