Jovana Nogic has been a revelation for Phoenix as the Mercury get ready to host the expansion Toronto Tempo on Tuesday night.
A 28-year-old from Serbia, Nogic put up 27 points in Phoenix’s 91-83 win over the Chicago Sky on Friday set a WNBA record for the most points scored by an undrafted rookie in a single game.
Nogic made 5 of 8 shots from 3-point range while her teammates went 1 of 13.
“I’ve played against her and I know what she’s about,” said teammate Alyssa Thomas, referencing her time playing against Nogic overseas. “She’s Serbian and you know how they play defense. I’m very familiar with her style of play and I’m excited to have her here.
“It’s players like this that get overlooked and missed, and I think she’s been doing amazing things overseas.”
Thomas and Kahleah Copper both had 17 points against Chicago. They combined with Nogic for the final seven points, four rebounds and two steals after the Sky cut the lead to 84-83 with 2:09 to play.
Copper averages 17.8 points per game, while Thomas is at 16.5 points, 8.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds per contest.
Phoenix (2-2) is playing the third of four straight home games, while Toronto (2-2) will play the third date of a four-game road trip. The Tempo are coming off a two-game split at Los Angeles against the Sparks.
Brittney Sykes recorded a career-high 38 points in Toronto’s 106-96 victory on Sunday. Kiki Rice logged 19 points, Marina Mabrey had 14 and Kia Nurse 10 in the Tempo’s first-ever road win.
Toronto showed an aggressive style of play, attempting 42 foul shots and making 39. Sykes was 15-for-15 at the free-throw line.
The victory came two days after Toronto lost at Los Angeles 99-95.
“I think we had a lot more urgency,” Toronto coach Sandy Brondello said of her team’s turnaround against the Sparks. “We were way more connected.”
Sykes leads Toronto with averages of 24.3 points and 4.5 assists per game.
–Field Level Media
