The Phoenix Mercury will conclude their disappointing season at home Thursday against the Las Vegas Aces, their WNBA Finals counterpart from last year who are headed back to the playoffs.
The Mercury (16-27) will try to end their season on a triumphant note after beating the playoff-bound Dallas Wings 87-86 on Monday in Phoenix following the return of Kahleah Copper from an ankle injury.
Copper did not play in Phoenix’s first two games since the WNBA resumed after the FIBA World Cup, including an 87-82 loss at Dallas last week.
Copper led Phoenix with 31 points Monday, while Alyssa Thomas achieved another triple-double with 15 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds.
“Most people think we’re not playing for nothing, but we are,” Copper said. “I want to win. We’re establishing who we are. We’re a competitive group.”
Las Vegas (30-13) is on a six-game winning streak and can move from the No. 3 seed in the WNBA playoffs to No. 2 with a victory over Phoenix and a loss by the Golden State Valkyries (31-12) at the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday.
The Aces are averaging 91.3 points per game, compared with Phoenix’s 84.4.
The Mercury allowed Las Vegas to score an average of 96 points in their two losses to the Aces after beating Las Vegas 99-66 on the road in the season opener.
A’ja Wilson is averaging 26.0 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, along with 2.0 blocks and 1.4 steals.
She is coming off an 18-point, 10-rebound performance in Las Vegas’ 89-79 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks at Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon said she may decide to rest Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young with the postseason approaching.
“My players’ health is the most important,” Hammon said. “You got to be healthy and fresh as much as possible, obviously, after going through a season. So, the health and safety of players come first. Where we end up (in the standings), we end up.”
–Field Level Media
