LAS VEGAS -- The Phoenix Mercury have already erased two separate 0-1 deficits on their way to the WNBA Finals, but the circumstances in which they lost Friday's series opener make this situation feel a bit more precarious.

Those circumstances loom large as the Mercury prepare to face the Aces in Las Vegas in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday.

The Mercury controlled the first 34 minutes of Game 1 and nearly held the lead for the entirety of the first three and a half quarters. They got a historic first-half shooting performance from star Kahleah Cooper to the tune of five 3-pointers and held Aces stalwarts A'ja Wilson and Jackie Young to a combined 34 percent shooting.

And yet, after a pair of missed free throws from perennial MVP candidate Alyssa Thomas with 24.6 seconds remaining, t

See Full Page