Alyssa Thomas scored 20 and the Phoenix Mercury routed the Las Vegas Aces 99-66 on Saturday, spoiling the reigning WNBA champions' pregame ring ceremony.
Alyssa Thomas scored 20 points, and the Phoenix Mercury walloped the Las Vegas Aces 99-66 on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, spoiling the reigning WNBA champions' pregame ring ceremony.
Jovana Nogic, a Mercury rookie, scored all of her 19 points in the first half. DeWanna Bonner added 13 points and 7 rebounds, Kahleah Copper had 13 points, and Natasha Mack finished with 10 points and 15 rebounds. Six Mercury players scored in double figures.
The Mercury never trailed and took control with a 14-2 run to open the second quarter and go up 41-23. Phoenix's biggest lead was 38.
Phoenix shot 49.4% from the field and 11-of-24 from 3-point range. The win came against the team that swept the Mercury in last season's WNBA Finals.
Thomas shot 9-of-17 from the field and 2-of-4 from the free-throw line in 26 minutes. She added 6 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals.
Nogic, who most recently played professionally in Russia and is a member of the Serbian national team, shot 5-of-8 from the field, 4-of-5 from 3-point range, and 5-of-5 from the free-throw line. She added 4 assists and 2 steals in 21 minutes.
All 19 of Nogic's points came in the first half.
Bonner shot 5-of-7 from the field and 3-of-4 from 3-point range. Copper went 6-of-16 with no 3-pointers. Mack pulled down 15 rebounds — 10 of them defensive — and shot 4-of-5 from the field. Kiana Williams added 11 points off the bench on 3-of-7 shooting from 3-point range.
The 33-point margin was the Mercury's largest since a 95-60 win over Indiana on Aug. 7 last season. It was also the worst loss for Las Vegas since a 111-58 defeat to Minnesota on Aug. 3, after which the Aces won 16 consecutive regular-season games.
Four-time MVP A'ja Wilson led Las Vegas with 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists on 8-of-15 shooting in 24 minutes. Jackie Young added 12 points and 6 rebounds. NaLyssa Smith scored 11 points and 6 rebounds on 4-of-7 shooting, and Chennedy Carter added 10 off the bench.
Las Vegas shot 40.8% from the field, 4-of-19 from 3-point range, and 4-of-8 from the free-throw line. The Aces committed 17 turnovers that led to 19 Mercury points.
Las Vegas players and coaches received their championship rings before tip-off. The ring features a removable top so that piece can be worn outside of formal display, with the player's name and position inscribed in 14-karat white gold on the left side.
Because Saturday's game was held at T-Mobile Arena instead of the Aces' usual home at Michelob Ultra Arena, the championship banner will not be raised until Las Vegas hosts the Los Angeles Sparks on May 23.
The Aces have won 3 of the past 4 WNBA titles.
Phoenix visits Golden State on Sunday. Las Vegas travels to face Los Angeles on Sunday.
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