The Phoenix Mercury halted an unsavory six-game losing streak and now look to earn consecutive wins for the first time this season when they visit the Portland Fire on Friday night.
Two days after Phoenix (3-8) was crushed 111-77 by the visiting Minnesota Lynx — the 34-point margin representing the largest in the WNBA season thus far — the Mercury dominated the Seattle Storm in the fourth quarter to post a 72-68 road victory.
Phoenix trailed by six in the final period but held Seattle to 13 points on 4-of-16 shooting in the quarter while winning the opener of a four-game road trip.
“It’s something we needed,” Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani said after the win. “I hope it’s the beginning of something. We can definitely use that to keep improving ourselves, go on this road trip and try to get some more.”
Phoenix forward Natasha Mack had a stellar game with a career-high 16 points to go with 10 rebounds. Guard Kahleah Copper also had 16 points.
The Mercury are now hoping to get on a roll and dig out of the early-season hole.
Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts views the solid win over the Storm as the first step.
“It wasn’t a lot of fun, but it’s going to make us stronger,” Tibbetts said of the skid. “We’re going to continue to get better because of it. I didn’t think we were great here. But when you’re searching for one, you’ll take it however you can get it. There are some areas we can learn from tonight, but just a very gutty win to start a road trip.”
The next stop is Portland to play the expansion Fire (6-5), who have been surprisingly good in the early portion of the season.
However, the Fire were routed 95-77 by the Golden State Valkyries on Tuesday in San Francisco.
Portland trailed by as many as 22 points and allowed the Valkyries to make 18 of 40 3-point attempts (45%).
“It all came down to defending the 3-point line,” Fire coach Alex Sarama said. “… It wasn’t enough, but we’ll be ready when we take on Phoenix.”
Megan Gustafson had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Fire. The 29-year-old center had 22 points on 8-of-8 shooting the previous game and is averaging 10.6 points, more than double her career mark.
“We all have a chip on our shoulder,” Gustafson said. “I’ve never really been respected as a basketball player until I’ve gotten here. I’m really thankful for this team, this organization. They really believe in me.”
The Friday contest is a Commissioner’s Cup game. Phoenix is 1-1 in such games, and Portland is 0-1.
–Field Level Media
