Michael Voepel May 9, 2026, 08:20 PM ET Close Michael Voepel is a senior writer who covers the WNBA, women's college basketball and other college sports. Voepel began covering women's basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996. LAS VEGAS -- The Las Vegas Aces got their 2025 WNBA championship rings before Saturday afternoon's season opener at T-Mobile Arena. But then the Aces' bling day turned into a blowout for the Phoenix Mercury . The Mercury, who were swept by the Aces in the WNBA Finals last year, won 99-66 , the largest margin of victory in a season opener for Phoenix. It was also the largest margin of defeat by a defending champion in its season opener in WNBA history. "I hate ceremonies like this," Aces star A'ja Wilson said. "Obviously, you want to enjoy it, but there's a whole business side of the issue to take care of. It's hard to compartmentalize that at times. I wish we could do [a ceremony] afterward.…