LAS VEGAS – The WNBA playoffs have been a rollercoaster, and a Finals matchup between two San Antonio natives is now on the way.
The Phoenix Mercury clinched their Finals spot Sunday, surviving the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx 86-81 in Game 4 of the semifinals, their first championship appearance since 2021.
The Aces’ win over the Indiana Fever on Tuesday night sets up a historic clash: Kiana Williams of the Mercury against NaLyssa Smith of the Aces: two Alamo City products vying for a title.
Williams, 26, starred at Wagner High School before leading Stanford to the 2021 NCAA title in San Antonio, earning Most Outstanding Player honors.
Drafted 18th overall by Seattle in 2021, the 5-foot-7 guard joined Phoenix in June, adding backcourt depth with her 3-point shooting.
Her playoff role has been limited but steady.
Smith, 25, dominated at East Central High School and later became a five-star recruit.
Baylor won the 2019 NCAA title and the 2021 Wade Trophy.
Drafted No. 2 overall by Indiana in 2022, she set Fever rebounding records before trades to Dallas and Las Vegas this year.
Under Aces coach Becky Hammon, another San Antonio icon, Smith averaged 6.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Her physicality is a potential X-factor in the Finals.
The Mercury-Aces series marks the first time two San Antonio natives are facing off for a WNBA championship, a nod to the city’s hoops legacy despite losing its WNBA team to Las Vegas in 2014.
Game 1 of the WNBA Finals is set to tip at 7 p.m. Friday and air on ESPN.
Game 2 will be at 2 p.m. Sunday and air live on KSAT 12.
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