LAS VEGAS -- Despite trailing for most of the contest, the Las Vegas Aces escaped Game 1 of the WNBA Finals with an 89-86 victory over the Phoenix Mercury after a furious fourth-quarter rally.

With Las Vegas up 87-86 and 24.6 seconds remaining, Alyssa Thomas missed a pair of free throws that could have given Phoenix the lead. After the Aces' Jackie Young sank two free throws, Las Vegas closed the game with a defensive stop on the final possession.

Momentum shifted early in the fourth quarter. Las Vegas trailed 76-70 with 8:23 remaining when Phoenix's Satou Sabally was assessed a technical foul of the night for spiking the ball after being whistled for her fifth foul of the night. That incident kickstarted a 17-6 Aces run.

Dana Evans sank a 3-pointer that put the home team ahead for good

See Full Page