Phoenix Mercury middle Brittney Griner (42) and guard Diana Taurasi towards the Las Vegas Aces at Footprint Heart in Phoenix on September 1, 2024 within the second part of the dialog. The Phoenix Mercury will enter the WNBA playoffs because the No. 7 seed, whereas the Los Angeles Sparks, who’ve the league’s worst file, attempt to finish their season on a optimistic word when the groups play in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
The Mercury defeated the Chicago Sky 93-88 on the highway on Sunday to enhance to 18-20.
Because the sixth seed, Phoenix trails the Indiana Fever (20-19) by 1 1/2 video games with two video games remaining and the Fever with one remaining. Indiana swept Phoenix 3-0 within the season collection, profitable the tiebreaker.
Brittney Griner scored 26 factors and grabbed 10 rebounds in Phoenix’s win over Chicago, whereas Diana Taurasi added 25 factors. Natasha Crowder had 18 factors and 11 assists, whereas main scorer Kaalia Cooper (21.6 factors) missed her second straight recreation with a again damage.
Mercury head coach Nat Tibbetts mentioned guarding Griner stays a chore for the protection. Griner made 12 of 20 pictures from the sphere.
“You hope she settles down (on a nasty shot) otherwise you hope you get her pushed away early on the ball,” Tibbetts mentioned Sunday of the choices of guarding Griner. “However she shot loads of paint pictures, which was precisely what we would have liked.”
Sophie Cunningham, who simply signed a contract extension with the Mercury till subsequent season, sealed the victory with two free throws with 5.5 seconds left. Cunningham completed with 13 factors and 5 rebounds.
Cunningham is a candidate for the WNBA Sixth Man of the 12 months, averaging profession highs of 8.2 factors, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals per recreation.
The Sparks (7-31) misplaced their seventh straight recreation on the highway to the Seattle Storm on Sunday, 90-87. Dilica Hamby (17.1 factors per recreation) had 25 factors, 11 rebounds and 4 assists within the loss to Seattle.
Los Angeles will miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive yr attributable to accidents. Essentially the most important damage was a torn ACL suffered by first-round decide Cameron Brink in June. Lexie Brown (Crohn’s illness) and Layshia Clarendon (psychological well being causes) have additionally withdrawn.
“She was crucial to us and took on loads of accountability early on,” Sparks coach Curt Miller mentioned of Hamby. “She’s probably the most improved participant on this league.”
–Scene-level media
