Phoenix Mercury huddles around during a practice. (Photo: Phoenix Mercury)
PHOENIX — Through 16 games of the season, the Phoenix Mercury continue to find their new identity after learning a hard lesson against the defending WNBA champions, the Las Vegas Aces, at Mortgage Matchup Center on Wednesday.
The Mercury dropped their fourth consecutive game to the Aces, losing 86-76 and falling to 4-12 (1-6 at home) on the season, just over a month after Phoenix blew out Las Vegas on its ring night on May 9.
In the first half, Phoenix played aggressively and showed focus on both ends, making shots and defending consistently. However, they appeared flat offensively in the second half as Las Vegas adjusted defensively.
“I think we were just careless at times, to be quite honest,” head coach Nate Tibbetts said postgame. “We’ll have to take a look at it. I mean, our goal is 12. I mean, we’re not even close, right? You just can’t do that.”
Just two days after demanding accountability on the defensive end for the Mercury, forward Alyssa Thomas recorded a double-double of ten points and 11 assists, which was her fourth game recording ten or more assists of the season.
Guard Kahleah Copper picked up where she left off from her career night on Saturday, scoring 26 points, four rebounds, and three assists for the Mercury. Additionally, she made history for the team, surpassing current Chicago Sky guard Skylar Diggins for ninth all-time in field goals made in Phoenix’s franchise history.
“I think it’s important,” Copper said when being asked about finding a rhythm as a team. “It was DB (DeWanna Bonner) today, but it’s just important for everybody. We’re going to need everybody to contribute, whatever that looks like, whatever they do. We talked about that before the game.”
Aces’ Defensive Pressure Changes Trajectory
Phoenix’s 22 turnovers proved costly, as Las Vegas capitalized, scoring 28 points off those mistakes and dramatically altering the game’s momentum.
These turnovers not only stalled the Mercury’s offense but also allowed the Aces to build confidence and control the tempo, making it difficult for Phoenix to recover.
“I think obviously the turnovers hurt us,” Tibbetts said. “Against good teams, you can’t have bad three- to four-minute stretches at the end of the third. I think the last four or five minutes we really struggled to score, and that makes it tough. That puts more pressure on your defense. It’s a possession game. 22 turnovers or 28 points, whatever it was, it’s not good. You’re not going to give yourself a realistic chance to win the game.”
Two of the Aces’ big three, forward A’ja Wilson and guard Jackie Young, recorded five steals apiece as they disrupted the Mercury’s offensive rhythm, and the team recorded 18 steals and six blocks.
Additionally, they were key to Las Vegas’ bounce-back win after falling to the Dallas Wings on the road on Monday, as Wilson recorded 31 points and 11 rebounds while Young had 20 points, four three-pointers, and nine assists.
“This was a good defensive showing for us, especially in the second half, when we would kind of let people back in the game,” Wilson said when being asked about Las Vegas’ defensive pressure on Phoenix. “I think we really did a good job of containing a good Mercury team. And so, when we’re getting steals, when we’re getting deflections, that kind of means that our brains are on the defensive end. I’m glad that we were able to do that tonight and obviously, we have to keep this ball rolling.”
Mercury Bench Outscores Aces’ Bench 32-4
Phoenix Mercury guard Jovana Nogic (No. 29) against the Las Vegas Aces at home on June 17. (Photo: Phoenix Mercury)
One of the bright spots for the Mercury during the Wednesday night showdown was that their bench outscored the Aces 32-4, which was their second most this season.
Serbian rookie guard Jovana Nogic shot perfectly from the three-point line in the first half and ended up recording 12 points and four three-pointers made for Phoenix. In the postgame, she mentioned the importance of staying together while going through growing pains at the start of the season.
“You lean on each other, you lean on your teammates, that’s how you battle through it,” Nogic said Wednesday. “When things aren’t going good for you, you try to make it good for somebody else. and they give you strength as well, and that’s who I lean on.”
Additionally, Tibbetts gave playing minutes to Mercury forwards, French Olympian Valeriane Ayayi and Belgian Olympian Kyara Linskens as they continue to get more comfortable on the court.
“The next couple of games will continue to look at (Valeriane Ayayi) and Kiki (Kyara Linskens),” Tibbetts said. “I liked Valeriane (Ayayi)’s positional size. Obviously, she sped out the rotation, so it takes a minute to get back into a rhythm, but I like some of the things that she did for us defensively.”
Mercury Continue to Navigate Roster Fluctuations
During Tuesday’s shootaround, forward DeWanna Bonner offered perspective on the team’s ongoing struggles this season, noting that several new players are adjusting not only to the league but also to life in the United States for the first time.
The Mercury lost some key players from their run to the WNBA Finals this past season, and guard Sami Whitcomb, who is one of the key players with championship experience, has yet to make her season debut.
“I don’t know if you cannot worry, of course, it’s in the back of your head,” Bonner said Tuesday. “Especially if you haven’t been in this position a lot in your career, but we got a lot of new faces, we got a lot of new pieces, we got a lot of people who are first-time in the United States, let alone at the WNBA.
“They miss family, they miss friends, they miss home. Trying to get them adjusted to Phoenix, trying to get them adjusted to how the WNBA works, and how you play. It’s a process. You can’t learn that within like two or three weeks. It just got to keep chipping away at it, and hopefully, that one day it just clicks, and then we click.”
Before Mercury faced against the Aces in a 2025 WNBA Finals rematch, point guard Monique Akoa Makani made an emphasis on staying together with a positive mindset at the shootaround.
Since arriving late from overseas play, Akoa Makani has made a difference on both ends of the court and an impact on the defensive end, picking up where she left off this past season.
When asked about taking accountability on the defensive end, Bonner also added the importance of protecting the glass and rebounding.
“How hard you play on defense is on you; that’s kind of not on the coaches and not on your teammates; that’s on yourself,” Bonner said. “Just starting there, just being locked in on the game plans, what we need to do, and who we need to key in on. And also rebounding, like that’s all heart and hustle, so control what you can control, and that’s your energy.”
With 28 games to go, the Mercury will have more time to rest, recover, and practice as they look to turn their season around, continuing to keep the faith while going through early adversity.
“Trying to find your flow, trying to find your niche, trying to find where you want the ball, and it’s all new,” Bonner said. “You’ve got so many new faces, but continue to grow, and try to get in the playoffs. And once you get into the playoffs, if it clicks, it clicks. You never know who can click at the right time.”
The Phoenix Mercury will complete their three-game homestand, welcoming the Seattle Storm at home on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT. The last time these two teams met, the Mercury won over the Storm in a close game, 72-68, at Climate Pledge Arena.
Game notes, per Phoenix Mercury PR: “The Mercury recorded 22 team turnovers, conceding 28 points off of those turnovers – both season highs. The Aces had 18 steals and 6 blocks. Their 24 stocks were the most by any team this season.”
Per Shane Young, the team’s digital reporter: “Alyssa Thomas recorded her fourth game of the season with 10+ assists, now tied with Caitlin Clark for the most in the league.”
