Mercury surges past Valkyries with late 18-1 run

After a game restart to begin a wild night, both teams battled in a close exchange. Phoenix started slow, with a three-pointer from Sami Whitcomb its only points for the first four minutes in the game. Lead changes every so often had the Mercury and the Valkyries on their toes. By the end of the third quarter, both teams were tied, 61-61.

Golden State took the lead three minutes into the fourth after fouls by Phoenix, 70-64. It would extend its lead to eight points a few minutes later, 76-68, with four minutes left. However, the Mercury didn’t concede.

With a combination of Whitcomb, Satou Sabally and Lexi Held, Phoenix unleashed a flurry of offense to erase the deficit. Held shot a three-pointer to keep the Mercury ahead for the rest of the game with 1:11 left to play.

Phoenix outscored Golden State 25-16 in the fourth quarter.

Veronica Burton was Golden State’s lead scorer, with 16 points and shooting 33.3% from the paint.

Phoenix head coach Nate Tibbetts acknowledges the fight the team has done all year, even through its long stretch of games.

“Just really happy for our group,” he said to the media after the game. “We looked tired. We [have] one more to go before a couple [of] days of rest. We [have] to keep battling and that’s what they did.”

The Lexi Held Game

Rookie Lexi Held was the Mercury’s offensive machine in the win. Held had a career-high of 16 points in the Mercury’s last game against the Minnesota Lynx. She scored 24 points —a new career high— shooting 46.7% from the paint, and 44.4% from beyond the arc.

Sabally told the media she trusts Held’s hard work, with its results showing on its own.

“Honestly, I would even make a case that she could make Rookie of The Year,” Sabally said, highlighting the importance of Held’s involvement with Phoenix.

“Not only on offense but on defense, putting that lock on people and defending [relentlessly] every single game. That is also something that should be highlighted.”

Keeping Momentum

The Phoenix Mercury will take a day of rest and is set to face the Seattle Storm on Saturday, June 7 at 7 p.m.