Sami Whitcomb’s career high in points helps end the Mercury’s two-game skid

The Mercury put pressure on the Wings the entire first half, forcing 13 turnovers. Phoenix’s Sami Whitcomb scored 19 points in the first quarter, making her first three shot attempts from beyond the arc to start the game.

Whitcomb continued her shooting dominance into the second quarter, ending the first half with 29 points — the most points in a half by a WNBA player this season.

Phoenix opened the third quarter with a 19-3 run and shot efficiently behind Whitcomb’s performance. The Wings went on a 7-3 run of their own to open the fourth quarter. However, the Mercury kept pace with Dallas and scored triple digits for the third time this season.

Whitcomb had a career high of points in a single game with 36, shooting 63.2% from the field and 63.6% from three.

Alyssa Thomas recorded her first triple-double in a Phoenix Mercury uniform.

Keeping It Simple

This was the third meeting between the conference rivals, with the Mercury taking two out of three games. Phoenix’s last game against Dallas ended in a 98-89 loss — a result the team hoped to move past by focusing on defense and rebounding.

The Mercury went without their top scorers in the win. Head coach Nate Tibbetts said he was proud of the team for stepping up without them when asked by Aya Abdeen from Ball Is Life.

“I didn’t think that we were up to the challenge that night,” he said, referring to their last loss to the Wings. “That was probably the first time all year. So, I’m really proud of our group for responding the way they did without [Satou Sabally] and [Kahleah Copper].”

When asked by Tia Reid from The Next Hoops about the win being a statement, Thomas compared the back-to-back games to a “playoff setting” and the win as a bounceback.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a statement to the league,” said Thomas. “I think, for us, we’re going to continue to do what we do, despite whoever is out. It’s next person up, and we’re just going to continue to play like a team.”

One More At Home

The Mercury will face the Minnesota Lynx next on Wednesday, July 9 at 12:30 p.m.