Phoenix Mercury rallies from down 18 to defeat the Los Angeles Sparks

The first half consisted of missed shots by the Mercury, with the team shooting 29.4% from the field after the first quarter. It would get worse in the second quarter.

The Sparks opened an 18-point lead and were shooting 55.2% with a little over six minutes left in the half. Phoenix shot 26.3% as a team in the second quarter. Los Angeles’ Odyssey Sims was dominant with 17 points before the end of the half.

Los Angeles took the lead into halftime, 50-37.

Overcoming Deficits

Phoenix went on an offensive run of its own at the start of the second half.  Satou Sabally and Monique Akoa-Makani quickly cut the deficit from what was once 18 in half, 51-42.

Kathryn Westbeld’s three-pointer gave the Mercury the lead for the first time since the first quarter, 58-57. The Mercury kept the Sparks at only nine points in the third quarter and took a 61-59 lead.

The fourth was a battle, with both teams exchanging leads. Sabally and Akoa-Makani kept pushing on offense with a few three-point shots to take an 80-74 lead with less than three minutes to play.

Mercury’s defense played a crucial role in keeping the Sparks at bay. Kitija Laksa and Westbeld each scored two free throws in the final seconds of the quarter.

Tale of Two Halves

Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts spoke to the media after the game and said he was proud of how the team is competing on the defensive end. Although Phoenix struggled in the first half, he credits the toughness and grit the players have to keep going.

“That first half was not us and we responded,” he said. “We really stepped up and held [Los Angeles] to nine in the third.”

With Mercury’s shooting percentage in the first half and its last game, Tibbetts tells his player to keep shooting at any opportunity presented. He has confidence in his players and how they help each other get points on the board.

“If you’re open, shoot it,” Tibbetts said in regards to what he tells his team. “And we can help each other with the way we drive and kick.”

Another on the Road

The Phoenix Mercury will take a rest day on Monday and head to the other side of the country to face off against the Minnesota Lynx on June 3 at 5 p.m.