How The Mercury Survived Eastern Conference Teams In 2023

The 2023 season was a trying time for the Phoenix Mercury . They were 9-31 that season, and they missed the playoffs for the 10th time in franchise history. The Mercury had work to do, and they responded with a big move. They added Kahleah Copper, and she helped them get back into the playoffs. Until then, the Mercury struggled and they did not win a series against their Western Conference rivals. When it came to their series against Eastern Conference teams, things were slightly different. Phoenix lost to some East teams, and one example is the Atlanta Dream. The Dream beat the Mercury 2-1, and they started the series with a win. Atlanta beat Phoenix 78-65, and Megan Gustafson was the Mercury's leading scorer. She had 19 points off the bench, and there were two more players who scored in double figures. Brittney Griner had 16 points and Sophie Cunningham had 11. The Mercury picked up a win in the second game, and they beat the Dream by 20. That was an important game for the Mercury, as Diana Taurasi had 42