With their recent losing streak behind them, the Phoenix Mercury will test their newfound form when they visit the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday in the finale before the All-Star break for both teams.
The Mercury (9-18) ended a five-game skid with a defensive-minded 72-63 defeat of the Connecticut Sun on Sunday. DeWanna Bonner scored 21 points and Kahleah Copper added 18 in the home victory.
Bonner also grabbed six rebounds to become Phoenix’s all-time leader. She passed Brittney Griner, who was on the floor for the game as a member of the Sun.
After losing to Connecticut 96-83 at home on Friday, the Mercury exacted some revenge by holding the Sun to 37.9% shooting from the floor and 33.3% in the fourth quarter as they finished off the victory.
“Our defense really responded today,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said. “Connecticut has done a pretty good job the last two games, taking away our 3s, and we knew we needed to step up defensively, and I thought we did that. I was proud we took care of the basketball.”
Now, it’s the Sparks who are trying to snap a slump. Los Angeles (10-15) went on a four-game road trip after general manager Raegan Pebley was fired on July 12 and lost every game. The trip concluded with a 90-82 loss to the Dallas Wings on Sunday.
Nneka Ogwumike had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Sparks, while Dearica Hamby scored 16 and Erica Wheeler had 10 assists.
Los Angeles guard Kelsey Plum, who was named an All-Star for the fifth time, has been out for a full month because of a lower left leg injury, with the team going 2-7 in her absence.
The Sparks were competitive against the surging Wings, leading 58-57 late in the third quarter and pulling within 86-82 with 1:30 remaining in the game before fading in the closing minute.
“We’re throwing a lot of things at teams, we’re mixing things up, and we’re able to stick to it during the game,” said Ogwumike, who was pleased with the defensive effort against Dallas. “We just have to get those intangible plays that don’t really show up on the scoresheet for us to be able to turn these (games) into wins.”
–Field Level Media
