Phoenix Mercury guard Jovana Nogic (no. 29) celebrates with her teammates on Friday. (Photo: Phoenix Mercury)
PHOENIX — What a difference three days of rest, recovery and practice can make for the Phoenix Mercury (2-2), especially following their first three games of the season.
Three days after losing to the Minnesota Lynx by four points, the Mercury snapped its two-game losing streak, winning over the Chicago Sky (2-1) at home on Friday in a thriller, 91-83. Phoenix had four players who scored in double figures (Jovana Nogic with 27, Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas with 17 points apiece and Natasha Mack with 10 points) and won the rebounding battle, 40-27, in which progress is being made.
The team also celebrated head coach Nate Tibbetts’ birthday on the same day they hosted the game, while accomplishing historical milestones and believing in each other.
Phoenix Mercury’s Mantra: Trusting the Process
When asked about the importance of having games like these to reflect on throughout the season, Tibbetts highlighted the need for strong defense in crucial moments.
Additionally, Mercury’s defense limited Sky center Kamilla Cardoso to just seven points and allowed her to get into foul trouble, which successfully worked towards their victory.
“Extremely important,” Tibbetts said postgame. “We’re trying to figure out how to win games, and I thought we played a really good first half defensively, especially, and they (Chicago Sky) battled back. We weren’t sharp, kind of relaxed a little bit, and they took the lead. We stayed together, and we kept fighting.
“Told them in the lockdown, we started with our defense in the first half, and we finished with three or four straight stops to finish the game, and we just kind of rely on that defense, and we did that tonight.”
Having led throughout most of the game, the Mercury and Sky were neck-in-neck in the fourth quarter, with four lead changes and four times the game was tied. After guard Rickea Jackson, who finished the game with 29 points and six rebounds, handed Chicago the lead, Phoenix fought back ferociously to tie the game and set the momentum in crunch time.
With 3:49 remaining in the game, Phoenix went on a 12-3 run, with forward Alyssa Thomas scoring seven of those points, and ended up winning the game over Chicago by eight points.
“That’s why coming into the season and to finish last year, she’s an MVP candidate,” Tibbetts said postgame. “She makes big plays for us, she’s the ultimate winner, and she loves those moments. We want to put the ball in her hand and have her go make plays for us, and she did that tonight on the stretch.”
As the Mercury’s team chemistry has improved from Tuesday, Tibbetts and the players look to continue developing as they patiently wait for guards Monique Akoa Makani (overseas commitment) and Sami Whitcomb (left knee arthroscopy) to return from their absences.
“It’s been a whirlwind start of the season, so for us it’s just about learning each other, learning chemistry,” Thomas said. “We still have pieces coming back with Mo (Monique Akoa Makani) and Sami (Whitcomb), so it’s a work in progress. It’s not supposed to be perfect right now. The goal is, come playoff time, and that’s what we’re building towards.”
Jovana ‘Yo-yo’ Nogic Makes Phoenix Mercury History
In the first half, rookie guard Jovana Nogic led all scorers with 16 points and sunk four three-pointers, bringing in the electricity while shooting efficiently from the field. After being re-inserted into the starting lineup, she ended up finishing the game with an impressive 27 points, five three-pointers made, and converting 10 of her 11 free-throw attempts.
Before the game, Tibbetts revealed that Nogic had to travel to Vancouver to secure her visa just before the regular season, leaving her no time to practice during training camp. Upon her return, she quickly departed Phoenix to join the Mercury for their season opener in Las Vegas, where she made an immediate impact in the team’s blowout victory over the Aces—a rematch of the 2025 WNBA Finals.
“A lot coming at her within a week. She won a Russian title, came back over here, was here for a day or two, had to go to Vancouver to get a visa, came back, threw her in three games and four nights. It was a lot,” Tibbetts said of Nogic pregame.
Nogic, an undrafted rookie from Serbia, joined elite company by becoming the first Mercury rookie since franchise legend Diana Taurasi in 2004 to record at least 25 points and five made three-pointers in a game.
She also set a record for most points in a single game by an undrafted rookie in WNBA history, according to Phoenix PR, as well as tying for most in Phoenix’s franchise history since Cappie Pondexter (2006).
“Obviously, it’s a great honor,” Nogic said when asked about making history. “Again, I keep repeating myself, but I just feel so grateful, and just so much joy, and obviously another record or accomplishment. It’s great, but getting a win is even better.”
Nogic Gives Credit to Phoenix Mercury Teammates for Building Confidence
Through the first four games of the regular season, Nogic repeatedly mentioned how she has been finding happiness while building her role and identity with the Mercury. She is seen playing on the court with relentless joy and making history in her early days in downtown Phoenix.
When being asked in the postgame, she said that she gives credit to her Phoenix teammates and enjoys playing alongside Thomas, who is known for being a triple-double machine.
“My teammates, for sure,” Nogic said. “And it’s just fun being out there with them. I try to enjoy the moment, because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. It’s not every day you get to play with players like AT (Alyssa Thomas), so I’m really happy to be on her team and share the court with her and with all the others.”
From winning back-to-back Serbian Women’s National Player of the Year awards to becoming a two-time Russian Premier League champion, Nogic has an exceptional resume from her playing career overseas.
Since taking over as general manager following the 2023 WNBA season, Nick U’Ren has focused on recruiting international talent for the Mercury—a vision that resonates with Thomas, who spent ten years with the Connecticut Sun before joining Phoenix last season.
“I’ve played against her,” Thomas said of Nogic. “I know what she’s about. I mean, she’s Serbian, so you know how they play defense. I’m very familiar with her style of play and very excited to have her here. Players like this, who get overlooked and missed, and she’s been doing amazing things overseas.
“Just super happy for her to have this opportunity. She’s more than ready, and that’s what’s great about Phoenix. They go find players that have talent that have been overlooked and bring them here, and I mean, people are surprised when we have players come and shoot the way that they do, but that’s just credit to our staff.”
Game notes: The Mercury shot 37-of-41 from the free-throw line, ranked the second-most in franchise history and the most in the WNBA since 2017. Three different players, Copper and Nogic had 10 apiece, and Thomas had 7, each recorded more than seven free throws made. Phoenix is 4-0 when shooting 90 percent from above the line in 2025.
What’s next: The Phoenix Mercury (2-2) will continue their four-game homestand, welcoming the Toronto Tempo (1-2) for the first time on Tuesday, May 19, at 7 p.m. Arizona time.
