Natasha Mack (No. 4) before the Phoenix Mercury faced the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on Wednesday. (Photo: Phoenix Mercury)
SEATTLE — At long last, the Phoenix Mercury snapped a six-game losing streak and secured a tough win over the Seattle Storm, 72-68, at Climate Pledge Arena to start their four-game West Coast road trip on a high note.
On Monday night, the Mercury lost to the league-leading Minnesota Lynx by 34 points at home as they continued finding their offensive rhythm and figuring out their team chemistry by incorporating new faces into the system.
Just two days later, Phoenix picked up its first win of the Commissioner’s Cup as they look to build their momentum and turn around its season.
Despite a cold shooting night from the three-point line during which the team went 3-for-22 from downtown, the Mercury took care of business on the defensive end, winning the rebounding battle (49-44) and outscoring the Storm in points in the paint (34-28).
Seattle was led by rookie center Awa Fam, who recorded a career-high 18 points in her first career start for the team, and guard Natisha Hiedeman had 15 points, four rebounds and four assists against Phoenix.
“We haven’t been playing our best basketball, but we’ve got to start somewhere,” Phoenix forward DeWanna Bonner said after the end of the game on USA Sports. “It wasn’t pretty, but you’ve got to just keep building and keep trusting the process right now.”
Maturity Comes into Mind for the Mercury
“The word that keeps coming to mind is just very mature,” Lawson told The Podium Finish. “This is a veteran group with a lot of veteran experience, i.e., Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, Kahleah Copper, and it comes across in how they approach something like this.
“Those are well within this group’s control, but in all of my conversations that I’ve had with the players, with Coach Nate Tibbetts, it’s been a very measured, like taking bigger perspective, bigger view of their season, and recognizing what it could certainly feel like the sky is falling for this team, but everyone on this group has had some version of this experience, and they recognize it’s a long season, and that they’re a team that is fully capable of turning things around.”
Tibbetts and guard Monique Akoa Makani, who finished with 12 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals, spoke to the media about how good it felt for the Mercury to snap the losing streak.
At the same time, they acknowledged that Phoenix has some more work to do in order to get back to where they were this past season.
One highlight from Wednesday’s game was the Mercury’s resilience. They stuck together and battled back each time they fell behind against the Storm. Tibbetts also demonstrated strong situational awareness, using his timeouts strategically to help Phoenix regroup and make key adjustments.
“No one wants to go through that; it wasn’t a lot of fun,” Tibbetts said postgame. “But it’s going to make us stronger, and we’re going to continue to get better because of it. I didn’t think that we were great here tonight, but when you’re searching for one, you’ll take it however you can get it. And there are some areas that we can learn from tonight, but just a very gutty win to start a road trip.
“This has been a heck of a trip. We went on the road for three (on the East Coast), home for one game, and now we’re out again for four. So, this is going to be a tough stretch, but I was really proud of our focus today at shoot around and the way we came out and played here tonight.”
“It’s just something positive,” added Makani. “It’s something we needed, and we just don’t take the little wins. I hope it’s the beginning of something, but I think we can definitely use that to keep improving ourselves and go on this road and try to get some more (wins).”
Natasha Mack’s Career Night with the Mercury
Center Natasha Mack, enjoying a breakout season with the Mercury, delivered a flawless performance with a perfect shooting night and a double-double—16 points (a new career-high), 10 rebounds and three blocks—in the win.
Since the start of the season, her presence has been a gamechanger for Phoenix, especially on the defensive end, reinforcing the team’s trademark defensive identity led by Thomas, an anchor.
“(Natasha) Mack is a very elite defensive player,” Tibbetts said. “She’s continuing to grow in her pick-and-roll defense. She’s got extremely long arms, and she’s got a knack for the ball. She does cat and mouse. She’s doing a better job of retreating but also understanding when she can step up and be aggressive. I’m just happy for her.
“She had a historic night here in the W, going seven for seven, three blocks and a double-double. It’s pretty impressive by her, and she’s just continued to work, and her attitude’s been absolutely awesome.”
When asked how challenging it is being the ball handler, Mack recognizes the importance of communicating on both sides of the ball with her Mercury teammates.
“It’s hard as hell, but first and foremost, I have to listen,” Mack said. “I have to see where my team is at. If I need to step up or get back, it’s all about communication. And gotta play two moves, somebody can help each other. You’ve got to help the helper.”
In the fourth quarter, the Mercury outscored the Storm, 20-13, to take the thrilling win in clutch time, with Makani and Lexi Held, who signed with Phoenix on Monday, making a difference defensively.
To top it off, veteran forward Bonner came in clutch with big-time contributions off the bench in the fourth quarter, recording five points to put the Mercury up for the rest of the game. Guard Copper made four free-throws to seal the deal for Phoenix and snap the six-game skid.
Bonner recorded 10 points and two steals off the bench and entered the WNBA’s all-time top five in field goals made with 2,633, surpassing Hall of Famer Tina Thompson.
“DB (Bonner) was huge in the fourth,” Tibbetts said. “She had a wonderful stretch that pushed us up ahead. Extremely proud of our group, and proud of DB for helping will us to that win. She hasn’t shot as well as she’s wanted. We have a shot as well as a team. I mean, we were 3-for-22 tonight from three, and to still come out with that victory is a credit to our defense, especially in the fourth quarter, holding (Seattle) to 10 points.”
From the Desk of the Phoenix Mercury PR
Natasha Mack became the fourth player in WNBA history and first since 2016 to record a double-double while going at least 7-7 or better. She also became the first player in WNBA history to record 15 or more points, 10 or more rebounds, and three or more blocks while going perfect from the field.
