No Offseason: The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show

Episode: "Aces Deal a Winning Hand from Their Bench in Game 1"

Date: October 4, 2025
Hosts: Ben Pickman & Sabrina Merchant

Overview:

This episode, recorded live from Michelob Ultra Arena after Game 1 of the 2025 WNBA Finals, breaks down the Las Vegas Aces’ thrilling 89-86 victory over the Phoenix Mercury. Ben Pickman and Sabrina Merchant first dive into a pivotal press conference from WNBA Commissioner Kathy Engelbert, addressing player criticism and league leadership, before turning to an in-depth analysis of Game 1: the big plays, coaching decisions, and the bench’s decisive impact.

Commissioner Kathy Engelbert's Press Conference

[02:07–10:27]

Main Themes:

• Response to Player Criticism: Engelbert addressed comments from Nafisa Collier, who recently criticized the league and Engelbert’s leadership, notably regarding officiating and perceived disrespectful comments about players.
• Officiating Task Force: Engelbert announced the formation of a new “state of the game officiating task force,” signaling formal recognition of a disconnect between players, coaches, officials, and league directives.
• Denial of Specific Comments: Engelbert directly refuted Collier’s statements regarding Caitlin Clark’s sponsorships and the “lucky stars” comment.
• Leadership & Accountability: Engelbert was explicit about not being a “quitter,” and expressed that she wants to do better as commissioner, despite recent criticism. She cited her lengthy business and league experience, and acknowledged room for growth.
• Collective Bargaining Agreement Progress: While Kelsey Plum has characterized current CBA talks as "combative," Engelbert offered guarded optimism for an extension, stating ongoing communication with stakeholders.

Notable Quotes:

• On Officiating Alignment
  “She acknowledged that we are not aligned in how we see the game being officiated. What the players want, what the coaches want, what the referees are being told to do is not on the same page.”
  — Sabrina Merchant [02:48]

• On the Commissioner's Mindset
  “I'm not a quitter... she's going on 40 years in business, she said. And she was very proud of that.”
  — Ben Pickman [06:02]

• On the Press Conference's Magnitude
  “It was literally standing room only. Nobody wanted to leave the room... speaks to how big of a press conference this was for Kathy Engelbert in this moment.”
  — Ben Pickman [08:28]

Game 1 Breakdown: Las Vegas Aces 89, Phoenix Mercury 86

[10:27–25:45]

Game Flow & Key Moments:

• First Half: Tied 21–21 after Q1; Mercury up by 5 at halftime. Mercury led into the fourth, a period that’s been their postseason strength.
• Turning Point: Aces outscored Mercury 22–15 in the final quarter.
• Crucial Free Throws: Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix) forced a late steal but missed what would have been go-ahead free throws with under 25 seconds, sealing the win for Las Vegas.
• Crunch Time: Mercury, who’ve excelled late all postseason, faltered with technical fouls, turnovers, and missed assignments.

Analysis & Takeaways:

Bench Dominance

• Dana Evans exploded for 21 points in 26 minutes; Jewel Lloyd added 18 from the bench.
• Aces’ bench outscored Mercury’s 41–16.
• This allowed Las Vegas to win despite below-average outputs from A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young.

Player & Coach Reflections:

• On Discipline: Satu Sabally’s technical foul in Q4, defensive miscues, and missed free throws highlighted Mercury’s lack of discipline.

  • “There was just a lack of discipline by the Mercury in that fourth quarter.” – Sabrina Merchant [12:05]

• On Experience: Despite being touted as experienced, Mercury’s core (Thomas, Bonner, Whitcomb) didn’t maximize experience in clutch moments.

• On Bench Production:

  • “This game was about the bench. It was about Dana Evans, who scores 21 points... and Jewel Lloyd... a super impressive performance.”
    — Ben Pickman [13:55]

• Becky Hammon (Aces Coach): Said A’ja and Jackie looked fatigued, so Evans and Lloyd lifted the team.

Defensive Adjustments:

• Aces’ 2-3 Zone: Second half saw Las Vegas disrupt Phoenix’s rhythm with a classic, rarely-used zone defense, forcing the Mercury into a 14-of-36 night from three.
  • “Phoenix Mercury struggled to go up against a 2-3 zone... It's just the basic principles that everybody knows about how to deal with a zone just elude their minds when they see it in a professional basketball game.”
    — Sabrina Merchant [18:50]
• Mercury's Offensive Fatigue: Frequent turnovers, rushed shots, and questionable shot selection in the fourth doomed Phoenix.

Postgame Vibes and Quotes

• Dana Evans (on overcoming losing her voice):
  “God wasn't going to let her not have her voice for the final.”
  — (paraphrased) [16:03]

• A’ja Wilson (on Evans):
  “Our battery.” [15:46]

• Ben Pickman on the Aces' bench performance:
  "To get the win in the manner of which they did with the play of Evans and Lloyd, knowing you didn’t have your best stuff necessarily from A’ja and Jackie, like that counts. That means a lot." [14:35]

Mercury: Missed Opportunities and Adjustments Ahead

[20:22–25:45]

• Alyssa Thomas: Almost a triple-double (15-10-9); missed potential go-ahead free throws.

  • "This is not an unfamiliar position for the Mercury, not an unfamiliar position for Alyssa Thomas." — Sabrina Merchant [20:43]

• Bench, Rotation, and Coaching:

  • Phoenix shortened its bench quickly; Cat Westbeld played just five minutes.
  • Sabreena Merchant noted defensive mismatches, especially Dewanna Bonner struggling to contain Dana Evans.
  • Nate Tibbetts, Mercury coach, admitted postgame he should have called a timeout in the final possession.
    • “I should have called the timeout on that last possession… instead, Phoenix just throws up like a prayer from Sabally and they don’t get a good shot.” — [25:02]

• Defensive Shortcomings:

  • Phoenix forced just five turnovers; transition offense was limited.

• Team Mindset:

  • Kalia Copper on rallying after the loss:
    “Nah, we’re good, we’re good. Like that is the message for A.T.” — [21:14]
  • Ben Pickman: “If you would have told me pre-game one that [all those stats], you would have said—who wins that game? Feels like a game Phoenix wins.” [21:58]
  • Sabrina Merchant: “Nothing from game one changes my mind about [this being] a really good series.” [25:45]

Series Outlook & What’s Next

[25:45–26:32]

• Quick Turnaround: Game 2 tips at 3 p.m. Eastern / Noon Pacific. Expect another high-energy Aces crowd.
• Episode Schedule: Podcasts will drop after every finals game.
• Social & Behind-the-Scenes: Listeners are encouraged to follow @nooffseason on Instagram for extra content.

Key Timestamps

• 02:07 — Commissioner Engelbert's press conference coverage starts
• 10:27 — Game 1 breakdown begins
• 14:35 — Analysis of Aces bench impact
• 16:03 — Dana Evans’ postgame quotes
• 18:50 — Discussion of Las Vegas’s defensive adjustments
• 20:43 — Alyssa Thomas postgame reaction
• 21:14 — Kalia Copper on supporting Thomas
• 25:02 — Coaching analysis of final Mercury possession
• 25:45 — Series outlook

Tone:
Conversational, fast-paced, basketball-savvy, with an insider’s access and analytic rigor.

Notable Quotes Summary

• “She acknowledged that we are not aligned in how we see the game being officiated.” — Sabrina Merchant [02:48]
• “I'm not a quitter.” — Kathy Engelbert (via Ben Pickman) [06:02]
• "This game was about the bench." — Ben Pickman [13:55]
• “God wasn't going to let her not have her voice for the final.” — Dana Evans (paraphrased) [16:03]
• “Our battery.” — A’ja Wilson on Dana Evans [15:46]
• "I should have called the timeout..." — Nate Tibbetts (Mercury Head Coach) [25:02]
• “Nah, we’re good, we’re good. Like that is the message for A.T.” — Kalia Copper [21:14]

In Summary

The Aces secured a crucial Game 1 win, powered by their deep bench and defensive adjustments, while the Mercury face familiar adversity with confidence and the resolve to adjust. Off the court, the episode offered behind-the-scenes insight into the league’s leadership challenges, setting up a finals series as historic off the hardwood as on it.