Akoa Makani Makes History as Mercury Fall Short in Game 1

Monique Akoa Makani didn’t need to fill the box score to make her mark Friday night just stepping onto the floor was historic. The 26-year-old guard became the first Cameroonian ever to play in a WNBA Finals game, and she did so as part of a Phoenix Mercury squad that came agonizingly close to stealing Game 1 from the Las Vegas Aces, falling 89–86.

Akoa Makani, who logged 26 minutes, finished with 1-of-3 shooting inside the arc, went 2-of-3 from deep, and was perfect on her three free throws. Though she didn’t see the floor in the final stretch, she’d already done her part earlier, spacing the floor and defending with poise in the Mercury’s best stretches of the night. Her presence alone reflected how far Phoenix’s depth  and her own journey have come this season.

Phoenix was sharp from the start, playing with composure and balance. The Mercury’s defense bothered the Aces early, forcing tough shots and keeping A’ja Wilson under pressure in the paint. On the other end, Phoenix was red-hot from three-point range, draining 14 triples the most ever in a Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. Kahleah Copper led the charge, hitting five threes in the first half, tying Diana Taurasi’s record for most in a Finals half.

Still, Las Vegas proved why they’re defending champions. After trailing for much of the night, the Aces shifted to a zone defense in the second half that slowed Copper and cut into Phoenix’s rhythm. Dana Evans came off the bench with 21 points, including a clutch three that gave the Aces a 78–77 lead with just under seven minutes left.

The game stayed tight until the final seconds. Alyssa Thomas brought Phoenix within one at 87–86 on a driving layup with 52 seconds remaining, then forced a key stop on Wilson to give her team a chance to take the lead. But two missed free throws moments later sealed the Mercury’s fate as the Aces closed it out at the line.

Despite the heartbreak, Phoenix left the floor with their heads high and plenty to build on. It’s familiar territory for the Mercury, who dropped the first game in both the first round and semifinals this postseason before rallying back. Copper’s message afterward captured that mindset:

“This is a long series… The takeaway from those other first ones was ‘back to the drawing board.’ We have the utmost confidence in our locker room and in our coaches to make the adjustments. Now it’s the same thing.”

For Akoa Makani, it’s about more than one game. Her steady presence on the court and her story from Cameroon to France to the WNBA Finals symbolize what Phoenix’s run has been all about: perseverance, opportunity, and belief.

The Mercury have shown they can win in Las Vegas; they just need a few tweaks and steadier execution in the clutch to make it happen. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series tips off Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.