The Las Vegas Aces can use the Commissioner's Cup final to tee themselves up for the crunch point in the WNBA season.

That is the view of A'ja Wilson, who top-scored with 33 points, adding 11 rebounds, as the Aces beat the Phoenix Mercury 86-76 to set up a showdown with the New York Liberty.

The Aces will take on the Liberty at Barclays Center on June 30.

Las Vegas and the Liberty are both aiming to become the first team to win the Commissioner's Cup twice, and Wilson feels it is the perfect way to warm up for the business end of the season.

"It's good for us to have a chance to compete for a championship midway through the season," Wilson said.

"It's not going to be easy. It's going to be tough, but I think it also sets us for October. It sets us for August when we have to really buckle in. So we'll get a taste of that.

"Obviously, New York is rocking and rolling doing what they're doing. So it should be good. It should be fun. The extra game, it just comes with it. I love that."

We love to see it!

Wilson: 33 PTS / 10 REB / 3 AST / 5 STL / 2 BLK / 55% FG
Smith: 21 PTS / 5 REB / 8-10 FG
Young: 20 PTS / 9 AST / 5 STL / 4-8 3PM / 47% FG

VOTE: https://t.co/DgKwGPqzTQ pic.twitter.com/nV5LKRmWvM

— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) June 18, 2026

This will be the second time the Aces and the Liberty have met with a title on the line, with New York having triumphed in 2023.

Las Vegas, meanwhile, are the only team to win the Commissioner's Cup and the WNBA championship in the same season (2022).

"We're still trying to form our identity out and grind out ways to win basketball games," said Aces coach Becky Hammon.

"History says that but you still have to go and do the work, so I don't look too much into that as any kind of indication for my team.

"I always want to be one of the best teams in the league wherever we're playing so our goal is always to try to get better every day. I think it's fun that it's definitely something on the line."