The Phoenix Mercury celebrated Women’s Empowerment Night on Saturday, highlighting the strength, resilience, and leadership of women while dominating the Toronto Tempo in a 101-69 victory.
The evening honored female leaders breaking barriers both on and off the court. Prior to tipoff, the first 5,000 fans received a themed night T-shirt.
During the game, the Mercury recognized Maria Mwangi, CEO of Warehouse215 and chapter president of WISE Arizona (Women in Sports and Events), as the night’s “Believe in Women” honoree.
“Growing up, there were not a lot of role models that looked like me,” Mwangi said. “It is important to me to be as visible as possible for young girls that want to see themselves as something else. I want young girls to see that they have a place, that they have representation, and that they can see themselves in us.”
The night included performances by the Women’s Hip-Hop Squad and a halftime showcase by the Dance Divas. Notable figures in attendance included the Grand Canyon University women’s basketball team and two-time Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles.
On the court, Phoenix pulled off a decisive win despite playing without Kelsey Plum and Kahleah Copper.
Sami Whitcomb sparked an early surge for the Mercury, scoring six quick points on back-to-back 3-pointers to push Phoenix to a 12-2 lead. The Mercury maintained their rhythm to close the first quarter ahead 27-17.
Phoenix built on its momentum in the second quarter, combining tight defense with efficient perimeter shooting. The Mercury shot 10 of 17 from 3-point range in the first half to take a 58-35 lead into the break.
The dominance continued in the second half, with Phoenix capitalizing on Toronto’s mistakes to score 24 points off turnovers. The Mercury extended their lead to 69-39 before ending the third quarter up 88-49.
Forward Marta Suarez returned to the floor after clearing concussion protocol prior to the game, providing a key spark on both ends of the court. Alyssa Thomas spearheaded the offense, finishing with 12 assists, six rebounds, and four points.
The Mercury return to action on the road against the Portland Fire at the Moda Center in Portland. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MST, with coverage available on Arizona’s Family 3TV and streaming on Merc+. ♦︎
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