Mack’s perfect game helps Mercury defeat Golden State Valkyries

The Mercury were in trouble early on in the game, giving up 31 points in the first quarter and down by 12 at one point. However, as the second half came around, Phoenix relied on its entire rotation to get stops and outscore Golden State 51-32.

“It was probably our worst defensive half of the season,” Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said after the game, according to the team’s post-game recording. “… We’re gonna make or miss shots, we’re gonna try to share it, but we have to guard and we did that in the second half.”

Mack was one of the stars in the win, making all seven of her shot attempts, with seven rebounds and a career-high 14 points. She’s the first Phoenix player this season to go 100.0% in her attempts.

“I thought her minutes in the fourth quarter were extremely important,” Tibbetts said. “Just because she does such a good job in the pick and roll. Our team is feeling more comfortable finding her in her roles and around the rim.”

In terms of her growth throughout this season, Mack tries not to be too hard on herself.

“I just really have to not beat myself up over shots I miss,” she said, according to the team’s post-game recording. “And just go out there and play like I’ve been playing and work on the moves I’ve been working on. Just be confident, like I’m out there for a reason.”

With Mack’s perfect game and the team’s resilient comeback in the second half, the Mercury look to carry momentum into their last game of the road trip on Thursday.

The Phoenix Mercury will now head to Nevada to face the Las Vegas Aces on Aug. 21.