WNBA FINALS: LAS VEGAS VS. PHOENIX

October 3, 2025

Kahleah Copper

Satou Sabally

Phoenix Mercury

Game 1: Postgame

Aces 89, Mercury 86

Q. I wanted to ask both of you about just the fourth quarter and the turnovers that were happening there. What did the Aces do to cause some of those from your perspective?

KAHLEAH COOPER: Well, you see they went from man to zone and then we rushed some shots. Didn't really execute our zone. We should have slowed down a little bit.

Q. You've lost the first game already in the first two series of the Playoffs. What did you learn from those games that are going to help you go forward on Sunday?

KAHLEAH COOPER: Obviously that it doesn't matter. Not that it doesn't matter, but it's okay. This is a long series.

I think the takeaway from those other first ones, the mindset 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. It's still just a little frustrating.

Q. Kah, you're a champion, you've been through this before. Do you have to tell AT anything after missing free throws like that or do you feel like the lesson is already there?

KAHLEAH COOPER: Do I have to what?

Q. Do you tell your teammate anything? Do you have to lift her up at all, do anything to encourage her after missing clutch free throws like that?

KAHLEAH COOPER: No. She good.

Q. Kahleah, in these moments having that Finals experience, how much are you leading conversations with your team, directing the conversations? And Satou, for you, how much do you guys look to Kah just given her experience in the Finals?

KAHLEAH COOPER: I think just kind of talking through possessions and through time-outs, just giving each other confidence and then just understanding that it's a game of runs.

I think we did a pretty good job understanding and handling the runs. I think just down the stretch, they made the plays. They made the plays; we didn't.

I think that this is just something to learn from. But just continuing to have those conversations with my teammates who haven't had the experience. I think that's why our veteran leadership is so good because they have experience also and they can share their experiences and then also lead, and we all complement each other.

SATOU SABALLY: Yeah, Kah is a great leader, so just continuing the communication on and off the court. But I mean, yeah, she said everything already.

Q. Satou, I'm curious, right after coming off this Game 1, what do you immediately take away from this? And what are your goals for what you want Game 2 to look like?

SATOU SABALLY: We have to play better defense. Just go back to what we do best, and then I think the results will show that we are the better team.

I'm really not too down on myself. This game is it. We'll go back, we'll practice tomorrow, we'll walk through our mistakes and find better solutions for some things, and then we'll just come back on Sunday and win this game.

Q. Satou, thinking about the next game, maybe it's too early, but what do you think you would have to do to maybe try to stay out of foul trouble? I know it appeared you looked a little frustrated when you picked up that fifth one.

SATOU SABALLY: Keep my hands up.