Can Mercury push offensive woes behind them in intriguing rematch against Dream?

During an off-night as a whole for the Mercury, Diana Taurasi and Sophie Cunningham both started and scored six points combined in the loss. Taurasi didn’t score until there was 3:18 left in the game and Cunningham was just able to not be shutout, swishing a 3-pointer with 39 seconds remaining.

While it was a game that the team would like to move on from, newly acquired forward Monique Billings is confident that the Mercury can turn things around when they have another crack at the Dream.

“Just got to watch film, I think we ran out of gas,” Billings said. “I am not saying we didn’t give our best effort, but we were kind of a step off from the beginning of the game. Just some adjustments that we’ll see by watching film, get new energy, get a new pace going and I think Friday we’ll come out with a better punch.”

Kahleah Copper scored 22 points and Brittney Griner finished with 14 for Phoenix. After stealing the show at the 2024 WNBA All-Star skills competition, Dream guard Allisha Gray led her team with 21 points.

Here are the most significant stats and storylines heading into the rematch on Friday at 4:30 p.m. PT.

Game Notes

• Celeste Taylor re-signed with Phoenix to a second seven-day contract after playing two games for the Connecticut Sun in the last week. She reunited and practiced on Friday with her Mercury teammates, indicating there is a strong possibility she will be available for selection vs. the Dream.
• Charles is only nine points away from 7,500 in her career. She passed Tina Thompson (7,488) for second all-time in WNBA scoring history on Wednesday and is only behind Taurasi (10,500) for No. 1.
• Griner has 795 career blocks, just five from 800. The 6-foot-9 center has the third most blocks in league history, trailing Margo Dydek (877) and Lisa Leslie (822).
• Taurasi can pass Lindsay Whalen tonight for the fourth most assists in the WNBA ever. Whalen sits at 2,348 and Taurasi is currently at 2,343 coming into the matchup in Atlanta.
• Taurasi needs to score nine free throws to reach career number 2,500. DT is the overwhelming leader in the category, with Tamika Catchings No. 2 with 2,004.
• Billings is three blocks from 100 in her career. The former Dream forward will face her team once again as a Mercury and is coming into the matchup with one block in her first two games since signing with the team.
• If the Dream beat the Mercury, it would mark the 250th regular season win in franchise history. The team was founded in 2008.

Friday’s milestone watch according to the WNBA stat tracking website Across the Timeline on X/Twitter.