A'ja Wilson Powers Aces Back to Commissioner’s Cup Final.

The Las Vegas Aces are headed back to the WNBA Commissioner's Cup Championship after defeating the Phoenix Mercury 86-76 on Wednesday night at Footprint Center.

Behind another dominant performance from reigning MVP candidate A'ja Wilson, the Aces secured the Western Conference's spot in the league's in-season championship game. Wilson finished with 33 points and 11 rebounds, leading Las Vegas to its sixth victory in seven Commissioner’s Cup contests. The win sets up a highly anticipated showdown against the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty on June 30 at Barclays Center. It will mark the third Commissioner’s Cup appearance for both franchises. Wilson said the opportunity to compete for a championship during the regular season provides valuable experience for the challenges that await later in the year. “It's kind of good for us to have a chance to compete for a championship midway through the season,” Wilson said. “It's not going to be easy, but it gives us a taste of what we'll need when the playoffs arrive.” Las Vegas punched its ticket after winning the tiebreaker over the Minnesota Lynx, who also finished Commissioner’s Cup play at 6-1. The Aces earned the advantage with a narrow 100 97 victory over Minnesota earlier in the week. Head coach Becky Hammon acknowledged the challenge awaiting her team against a Liberty squad that remains one of the league's hottest teams.

“Barclays has been a tough place for us to play the last few years,” Hammon said. “New York is playing really well right now, so it should be a great battle.” The Liberty secured the Eastern Conference berth after completing a perfect 6-0 Commissioner’s Cup record with an 86-64 win over the Washington Mystics on Sunday. The championship matchup adds another chapter to one of the WNBA's premier rivalries. The Aces captured the 2023 WNBA Finals over New York, while the Liberty defeated Las Vegas in the 2023 Commissioner’s Cup championship game. Since the tournament debuted in 2021, no franchise has won the Commissioner’s Cup more than once. Las Vegas remains the only team to claim both the Commissioner’s Cup and the WNBA championship in the same season, accomplishing the feat in 2022. In addition to the trophy, players will compete for a share of the tournament's $500,000 prize pool when the two title contenders meet in Brooklyn on June 30.