Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi lead Mercury to WNBA Finals

When we talk about the all-time greats in sports Diana Taurasi’s name should be on that list. Friday night’s win or go home game vs Las Vegas Aces was another chapter in an already legendary career. Taurasi came up big in the 4th quarter with a total of 14 points. She had a total of 24 points in the game. Aces forward Jackie Young and Taurasi exchanged words as the 3rd quarter came to an end, which sparked the Mercury guard to lead her team on a 12-0 run to open the fourth quarter.

Taurasi knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers, to help erase the Aces’ lead and flip the momentum. This game saw six lead changes and multiple big runs by both teams. The Mercury started hot and led at the end of the first quarter, and held a two-point lead at halftime. The Aces went on a 14-0 run out the locker room.

With the win, Taurasi improved to 22-8 all-time in elimination games in the WNBA Playoffs (now 10-2 on the road) and 57-9 throughout her entire basketball career in elimination games (NCAA, WNBA Playoffs and Olympics). The other hero for the Mercury was Brittney Griner she had a game-high 28 points and nine rebounds she also had the game winning play blocking A’ja Wilson’s last-second layup attempt.

After the game Taurasi was very complimentary of her teammates' huge performance "She has been incredible all year," Taurasi said. "We ask her to do everything. ... defend the best player, block, score, she is an incredible teammate and an even better basketball player."

For the Aces, Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray each scored 22 points. Plum was a spark plug off the bench. Gray, who was the spark in Game 4, had six assists and four rebounds. Wilson and Liz Cambage contributed double-doubles. Wilson had 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Cambage notched 10 points and 11 boards in her best game since returning from a bout with COVID-19.

Next up for the Mercury is the Chicago Sky in the WNBA Finals. Putting arguably the two greatest women's basketball players against each other Diana Turasi and Candace Parker. This is the Mercury’s fifth finals appearance in franchise history; the Sky will be in their second finals. The Mercury won titles in 2007, 2009 and 2014; the Sky have never won a title.