Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (no. 2) against the Toronto Tempo on May 19. (Photo- Trippy Traveler Media)
NEW YORK — Eight games into the season, the Phoenix Mercury continue to be defined by inconsistency, showing flashes of promise before extending their losing streak to four straight games on the road at Barclays Center on Wednesday.
Only two players for the Mercury, guard Kahleah Copper (19 points) and center Natasha Mack (14 points), scored in double figures in the 84-74 loss to the New York Liberty.
Additionally, three players—forward Alyssa Thomas and guards Monique Akoa Makani and Jovana Nogic— recorded nine points apiece for Phoenix as they had balanced scoring once again, but it was not enough.
What went wrong for Mercury?
In the first half, the Mercury’s offense found its rhythm as the team attacked aggressively and took better care of the ball.
But everything unraveled in the third quarter. A stunning 23-0 run by the New York Liberty, combined with a late-game collapse by Phoenix in the final six minutes, completely shifted the momentum and sealed the Mercury’s fate.
“We just didn’t do a good job of taking care of it,” head coach Nate Tibbetts said postgame. “I didn’t help them. I should have called a timeout to get us organized. They got some momentum, we had some bad spacing, and a funky lineup on my part. Yeah, that was the telling part of the game. I gotta be better.”
The third quarter turned into a nightmare for the Mercury, as the Liberty unleashed a relentless 30-12 run and forced nine turnovers. What began as a one-point Phoenix lead at the start of the period quickly dissolved into a daunting 17-point deficit, marking one of the most lopsided quarters of the Mercury’s season.
“Collectively, we had it tonight, to be honest, and that run hurt us,” Tibbetts said postgame. “I should have called a timeout or two to get us organized. I let our group down in that situation.”
Just a year after the Mercury made an unexpected run to the WNBA Finals, the team is figuring out its new identity on both ends of the court while incorporating new players into the mix. Phoenix has seven returning players from last year’s team and has once again taken its approach to recruiting talent overseas.
Over the last four games, the Mercury’s defense from the three-point line has been the issue and main cause of the losing streak, especially after winning their season opener over the Las Vegas Aces on May 9. In the span, opponents are shooting 55-for-124 from the three-point line while Phoenix is shooting 26-for-98 from beyond the arc.
The team allowed guard Marine Johannes to drill seven three-pointers, marking a career-high, while going 77.8 percent from the three-point line and recording 21 points in New York’s win on Wednesday.
“Teams have shot it very well against us here, here of late,” Tibbetts said. “We can’t let Johannes come out and get some of those looks that she got; those are freebies for her. She saw the first two go in, and it was going to be a long night from there.”
Monique Akoa Makani Makes Her Season Debut with Mercury
A silver lining in the loss was the highly anticipated debut of guard Monique Akoa Makani, whose defensive presence had been sorely missed by the Mercury.
In just 19 minutes on the court, Makani made an immediate impact on Phoenix’s offensive flow, tallying nine points, two rebounds, and four assists as she began working her way back into the rotation.
“I was pretty excited, honestly,” Akoa Makani said. “My team really welcomed me the best way possible, and even the staff, they were like, ‘take your time, let us know how you feel, and whenever you’re ready to play.’ I feel like I can get some minutes, and I love them, so I’m very happy about them.”
Forward Natasha Mack, who is having a breakout season with the Mercury so far, and the teammates are pleased to have Akoa Makani back in the mix.
During the game, Mack recorded 14 points while shooting 6-for-7 from the field, six rebounds, and two blocks for Phoenix, which was another bright spot.
“With Mo (Akoa Makani), she’s really aggressive on the ball, so she usually doesn’t get screened, and I don’t usually have to do much. … Having Mo has helped, because she’s been here last year, so she understands it’s just the terminology, we still try and get down and get it together as a team.”
Riding Out the Storms
Mack and Akoa Makani send a message to their fanbase that, once the team figures out its rotation and chemistry, and more importantly, takes action on defense, the Mercury will be hard to beat. Phoenix’s time will come.
“We just have to stick together and continue to build on what we’re doing,” Mack said. “Now, it’s getting better each game; we see it, but we’ve got to give a little bit more.”
“Everybody knows that we have a lot of games, and we keep in mind that the season is long, maybe it’s not the best start, but we still have a long time to figure that out,” Akoa Makani added. “I don’t think we are doing so bad at this point. We’re just figuring it out, and we’re gonna be okay.”
Game Notes
According to the New York Liberty PR, “The Liberty defense held Phoenix scoreless over the final six minutes of the third quarter, the longest scoreless stretch by a Liberty opponent to end a quarter since 2016.”
According to Shane Young, digital Phoenix Mercury Reporter, on the team’s website: “Kahleah Copper moved into 10th place on the Mercury’s all-time scoring list, passing former Mercury center and current assistant coach Tangela Smith. Copper has now scored 1,370 points in only 73 games with the Mercury, becoming the second-fastest to that total in franchise history, trailing only Cappie Pondexter (71 games).”
Next Game
The Phoenix Mercury will wrap up their three-game road trip on the East Coast, facing the New York Liberty, once again, at Barclays Center on Friday, May 29, at 6:30 pm CT.
