The Regular Season Is Over | Aces Takes Down Mercury 100-82

The final buzzer sounded Thursday night in Phoenix 100-82 and the Las Vegas Aces walked off the floor at 31-13 ending the regular season on a seven-game winning streak, heading home to Michelob Ultra Arena, and entering the playoffs as the team nobody in this league wants to face right now.

They beat the Mercury 100-82. They scored 65 points in the first half the most they've scored in a half all season. A'ja Wilson had 34 points and 9 rebounds. Jewell Loyd came off the bench and hit five threes for a season-high 25 points. Stephanie Talbot was perfect from the field. Chelsea Gray recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 assists. Jackie Young dished 11 assists 7 of them in the first quarter alone, a career high for a single period.

But before I get into all of that, I want to step back. Because what A'ja Wilson did this season deserves more than a game note. It deserves a moment of recognition.

A'ja Wilson just finished one of the greatest individual seasons in the history of this league

Let me walk you through what she did in 2026.

She became the only player in WNBA history to score 1,000 points in a season twice. She finished the year at No. 11 on the all-time scoring list with 6,792 career points 11 points shy of Sue Bird's No. 10. She passed Brittney Griner and Seimone Augustus to move into No. 10 on the all-time made field goals list. She scored in double figures in 65 consecutive games the longest active streak in the league all season. She had 13 thirty-point games this season the most by any player and reached 50 career thirty-point games on Thursday, a mark that puts her in the conversation with Diana Taurasi for the most prolific scorer in league history.

She started this season ranked No. 21 on the all-time scoring list. She finished it at No. 11. In one year. She moved up ten spots on the all-time scoring list in a single season. That has never happened before at this stage of a player's career and it may never happen again.

Now let's talk about Thursday night

Wilson came out in Phoenix like the regular season hadn't ended yet and the championship was already on the line. She scored 8 of the Aces' first 14 points as Las Vegas went on a 14-0 run to open the game forcing 7 Phoenix turnovers in four minutes and holding the Mercury to 0 for 4 shooting during that stretch. By the end of the first quarter she had 17 points. By halftime the Aces led 65-36 the largest halftime lead they've had all season.

34 points. 9 rebounds. 5 assists. Her 13th thirty-point game of the season. Her 50th career thirty-point game. A dominant, complete performance to close out the regular season because of course it was.

Jewell Loyd came off the bench and reminded everybody she's dangerous

This was the Jewell Loyd that Las Vegas signed in free agency and it was beautiful to watch. Five three-pointers. Season-high 25 points. She scored all 9 Aces points to open the second quarter back to back threes that blew the game completely open and finished 4 for 5 from three in the first half alone. She has been finding her rhythm over these final weeks of the season and heading into the playoffs she looks like exactly the weapon this offense needs coming off the bench.

Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young made history together again

Here's the stat that stopped me in my tracks. Thursday night Chelsea Gray had 10 assists and Jackie Young had 11. That's the fourth time in WNBA history that two teammates have each dished out at least 10 assists in the same game. The Aces have done it three of those four times. And Gray has been involved in all four. All of them.

There is no point guard partnership in the history of this league that has done what Gray and Young do together. It is historically unique and we are watching it in real time. Gray now has 498 career steals passing Shannon Johnson to move into No. 22 all-time. She also recorded her 23rd career points-assists double-double. Young, who turned 29 on September 16, now has 207 career wins tied with Wilson for the most by any player before turning 30.

And here's the detail that made me smile when I read it four of the winningest players in league history, Gray, Loyd, Wilson, and Young, are all on the same team. All four are in the top 50 all-time in wins. That is not a coincidence. That is a dynasty.

Stephanie Talbot was perfect

6 for 6 from the field. Season-high 14 points. On the last regular season game of the year, on the road in Phoenix, Talbot went out and had one of the most efficient performances of her season. Her and-1 capped that opening 14-0 run and set the tone for everything that followed. That's a veteran who knows her role and executes it at the highest level.

The fourth quarter had a scare and Gray closed it out

Phoenix made it interesting in the third and fourth quarters cutting the lead to 9 with four minutes left and getting the crowd back into it. Then Gray stepped up and scored 6 points in an 11-2 game-ending run that shut the door for good. That's Chelsea Gray. That's what she does. Whenever this team needs a shot of calm and control with the game on the line, she provides it.

31-13. Seven-game winning streak. The playoffs start Sunday.

The Aces host the No. 6 Indiana Fever in Game 1 of the WNBA quarterfinals on Sunday, September 27, at Michelob Ultra Arena. Indiana has beaten Las Vegas twice this season. These teams know each other. Kelsey Mitchell is going to come into The House ready to compete with everything she has. This will not be easy.

But this Aces team with Wilson healthy and historic, Young and Gray making WNBA history together, Loyd finding her playoff form, and Talbot being exactly who this team needs — is built for this moment. They have been here before. They know what it takes.

And this city 68 consecutive sellouts, the loudest building in the WNBA is going to show up Sunday the way they have shown up all year long.

The Aces will play Game 1 of the WNBA quarterfinals on Sunday, Sept. 27, at Michelob ULTRA Arena against the No. 6 Indiana Fever. Tipoff and broadcast information will be released soon.