Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (No. 25) during May 25 game against Atlanta Dream. (Photo: Phoenix Mercury)
PHOENIX — The start of the season has been less than ideal for the Phoenix Mercury (2-8) on their home court. Not only did they extend their losing streak to six, but they fell to the league-leading Minnesota Lynx (7-2) by 34 points at Mortgage Matchup Center on Monday.
When asked where accountability starts for a performance like this, and what specific defensive issues concern head coach Nate Tibbetts the most at this moment, he said, “A lot of defensive issues in that game.”
The Mercury’s defense was overwhelmed by the Lynx’s explosive backcourt, with veteran Courtney Williams erupting for 30 points and rookie Olivia Miles adding 19 as they relentlessly attacked the paint.
Phoenix’s struggles reached a historic low, allowing Minnesota to rack up 67 first-half points on an astonishing 75 percent shooting. tying the third-highest total ever conceded by a road team in a WNBA half.
“There wasn’t a lot of work in the whole night,” Tibbetts said postgame. “We were a step slow. We didn’t do a good job playing on the second side. It was a tough one.”
To add onto a rough night for the Mercury, they were outscored points in the paint (50-18) and second chance points (19-8), lost the rebounding battle (35-24), and was limited to 34.4 percent from the field.
Keeping the Faith
Just one season ago, the Mercury defied expectations with a stunning run to the 2025 WNBA Finals, toppling the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx behind the dynamic trio of Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas, and Kahleah Copper.
Although they were swept by the Las Vegas Aces in the series, Phoenix’s balanced roster and fierce defensive identity established them as a team on the rise.
Fast forward to the second year of the post-Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi era, and the Mercury are now facing significant challenges. The team is mired in a six-game losing streak, its longest since 2023, and the absence of any major free-agent signings to replace Sabally, last season’s leading scorer at 16.3 points per game, has left a noticeable void during a condensed offseason.
For Copper, this situation is a familiar one. After all, she faced similar adversity as part of the 2021 Chicago Sky championship team. Drawing from that experience, she urges the Mercury to stay resilient and keep team morale high.
Three players scored in double figures for Phoenix, as Copper led the team in scoring with 18 points, rookie guard Noemie Brochant recorded 11 points and three three-pointers made, and guard Monique Akoa Makani had ten points and five assists in the loss.
“(I) lost seven straight. I won a championship, so that’s just what’s in my mind right now,” Copper said. “I do want to come out of it. But just every day, not falling into the record and what that says and whatever. I think that we have to continue to hold this standard of what it takes to be a championship team.
“What it took for us to do that last year, it’s not easy. It just doesn’t carry over just because you did it. So for us it’s about just everybody looking in the mirror, I think. I told them this before. Everybody’s here for a reason, everybody has a job to do, and it’s like a puzzle. Everybody’s got to do what they bring to the team, whatever that is. You got to bring it every single night, so, I think that’s where we are right now.”
Lexi Held Returns to Mercury
One of the bright spots for the Mercury is bringing back a familiar face, guard Lexi Held, who was a part of the team’s Finals run this past season. She was waived by the Toronto Tempo, coached by former longtime Phoenix head coach Sandy Brondello, this past week after appearing in eight games for the team this season.
“I have a lot of respect for Coach Sandy (Brondello) and her staff, and really enjoyed the girls over there,” Held said during Monday’s shootaround. “It was a really fun environment to play in and learn… it was a good experience for me. I’m grateful that I had it and looking forward to using whatever I got there going forward.”
Since checking back in for the first time in a Mercury uniform of the season, Held received a loud standing ovation from the team’s fanbase, also known as the X-Factor. She also felt a warm welcome from the city and the organization, which she told reporters during the shootaround on Monday.
“The last 24 hours have been just a lot of support, a lot of love, encouragement from the fan base, which always feels great,” Held said. “It really does feel like home here to me, and I’m really excited to be back with everybody. We’re going through a little bit of a lull right now, but it’s a lot of the same people in that locker room last year and we’re capable of.
“So, just continuing to find a way and stick together. I’m really excited for the opportunity. I know I’m a little bit fresh on the scene, but I have a lot of faith in this group and these coaches in this organization, so to me, I’m just grateful to be here.”
The Tide Turns
The Mercury went winless in the three-game road trip in the East Coast, Thomas told reporters she is optimistic the team will get back on track after their loss to the New York Liberty on Friday.
But, it begins with taking accountability for defending aggressively and turning turnovers into points.
“I’ve been 0-7 and one game away from being in the final, so the tide turns, shots start to fall,” Thomas said Friday. “This isn’t the time to get in your head and think that the season’s over, or you’re not going to make the playoffs. At the end of the day, we’re doing some good things. Shots aren’t falling the way that we’re accustomed to, but the tide will turn, and we just got to keep getting better each and every day.”
As Phoenix heads to Seattle to begin their four-game road trip during the Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday, Tibbetts and Copper encourage the team to keep on pushing through adversity to snap a six-game losing streak.
“I think we are searching,” added Copper. “We’re on a hunt. I don’t think today (Monday) really reflects who we are and what we want to be able to represent for the organization, but we’re going to get it right. We’re going to figure it out.”
Game Notes: Alexa Philippou of ESPN
Monday’s 34-point defeat for the Mercury is their second-largest home loss in franchise history, and largest since 2012.
From the Desk of the Phoenix Mercury PR
The Lynx scored 111 points – tied with the Toronto Tempo (May 27 vs. Chicago) for the most points scored in the league this season. Minnesota shot 63.8% (44-of-69 FG) from the field, 58.8% (10-of-17) from three, and outscored Phoenix 50 to 18 in the paint.”
