The Phoenix Mercury closed out their regular-season series against the Connecticut Sun with a 72-63 victory Sunday night, while celebrating several historic milestones and the return of center Natasha Mack.
The victory marked the final scheduled meeting between the Mercury and Sun as WNBA franchises before Connecticut relocates to Houston under new ownership for the 2027 season, bringing an end to one of the league’s longstanding matchups.
Phoenix looked far more composed than it did in Friday’s contest, taking control early through improved ball movement, defensive intensity and fewer costly mistakes. DeWanna Bonner and Monique Akoa Makani helped pace the Mercury offensively as Phoenix built an 18-12 lead after the opening quarter.
The Mercury extended their advantage in the second quarter by capitalizing on Connecticut’s turnovers. Phoenix forced nine first-half turnovers that led to 13 points and carried a 43-33 lead into halftime behind consistent defensive pressure.
Connecticut responded after the break, trimming the deficit to five points late in the third quarter as both teams struggled with turnovers and fouls. The Mercury, however, regained their rhythm in the fourth, tightening up defensively and converting on the Sun’s mistakes to pull away for the nine-point victory in front of a sellout crowd.
Bonner finished with a season-high 21 points while adding another milestone to her decorated career. The veteran forward passed Brittney Griner becoming Mercury’s all-time leader in rebounds, continuing to cement her place among the organization’s all-time greats.
Alyssa Thomas also made franchise history, moving into fifth place on the Mercury’s all-time assists list after surpassing Michelle Timms. Thomas reached 550 assists in just 64 games with Phoenix, the second-fastest player in franchise history to reach the mark behind Diana Taurasi, who did so in 131 games.
Saturday also marked the return of Natasha Mack, who appeared in her first game back after missing time due to injury. Mack immediately provided an interior presence on both ends of the floor, contributing with screen-setting, rebounding and defensive activity despite playing under a minutes restriction.
Head coach Nate Tibbetts said Mack’s energy was evident throughout the game and expects her return to strengthen the team’s rotation moving forward.
Her screen setting has a definite impact, along with what she does on the glass Tibbetts said. “The team feeds off her energy.”
Kahleah Copper echoed those sentiments after the game.
“She’s a rebounding machine,” Copper said. “She gets her hands on everything. What she brings and the impact she has for us is incredible. We need that.”
Tibbetts also praised Thomas’ playmaking ability, calling her “one of the best passers, if not the best passer, in the league,” while highlighting the chemistry developing between Thomas and Copper.
Bonner remained focused on the team’s success despite reaching another career milestone.
“I haven’t really had time to think about it,” Bonner said. “Right now it’s about winning. I’ll look back on those milestones when I retire.”
The Mercury also celebrated community impact throughout the afternoon. During the organization’s “Believe in Women” initiative, Mirabelle Perry was recognized after her jersey design was selected from a youth career-day competition held in partnership with Flippers and the Boys & Girls Club. Perry’s design was selected from the challenge for its creativity, coldness, and mercury spirit. For Inspiring Girls Day on Sunday night, the Mercury brought the design to life for purchase. A portion of every jersey purchased was donated to the Boys and Girls Club to help inspire the next generations of creators and leaders, per the Phoenix Mercury’s social media account on X.
The game also featured Family Day, Kids Day and Inspiring Girls Day festivities, while fans celebrated Sparky’s birthday throughout the arena.
With the victory, the Mercury moves to 9-18 in the season, gaining momentum heading into the next stretch of the WNBA season while showcasing improved chemistry, defensive execution and a healthier roster with Mack back in the lineup. ♦︎
Discover more from En Breve News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
