Retired WNBA star unveils WNBA All-Star court in Indianapolis International Airport
Watch Tamika Catchings unveil WNBA All-Star court Thursday, June 26, 2025, inside the Indianapolis International Airport.
The Phoenix Mercury lost to the Las Vegas Aces at PHX Arena Sunday, June 29, 84-81, to snap their winning streak at six games.
“That was a playoff basketball game, obviously early in the year,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said after the game. “I don’t think we would change anything that we did. We’re gonna compete and be physical.”
Starting the second half tied at 40, A’ja Wilson and the Aces (8-8) turned up the heat and later in the third quarter built a game-high nine-point lead on the strength of a 14-4 run.
Trailing 59-50 entering the fourth quarter, the Mercury put together a 17-3 run to take a 67-62 lead. The Aces battled back and took a 79-78 lead on a pair of Wilson free throws, but the Mercury’s Kahleah Copper hit a 3-pointer with 1:25 remaining in the fourth.
A layup by Jackie Young (15 points, six assists, two steals) tied the game, and, after the Mercury’s Satou Sabally missed a long 3-point attempt, Wilson hit a driving layup for an 83-81 Las Vegas lead.
Phoenix’s Sami Whitcomb (14 points) missed a 3, and the Aces’ Aaliyah Nye (16 points, 5-of-7 from deep) hit one of two free throws.
Whitcomb’s last-second 3-point try missed, and the Mercury fell for the first time in seven games.
“They’re probably the hottest team in the league right now,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said about the Mercury. “They put a hurting on New York the other night, but holding that team to basically 21 (points) and under for three quarters is really hard to do.
“So, the attention to detail was there, the necessary physicality was there. And really it was that third quarter.”
Alyssa Thomas led the way for the Mercury, scoring 16 points on 50% shooting, dishing a team-high eight assists and grabbing seven rebounds. Copper contributed 15 points and six boards, and Sabally had 10 points and nine rebounds.
“It’s hard to make an MVP candidate discombobulated in that situation,” Wilson said of Thomas, “but we try to throw different looks at her, because one thing about AT, she can just slice and dice your defense, her vision is crazy.”
The WNBA’s reigning MVP, Wilson had game-highs 26 points (10-of-11 FT) and 18 rebounds and added seven assists for the Aces (8-8).
“Great players are gonna have big nights,” Tibbetts said. “She’s one of the best in our league and (we were) trying to make it tough on her. Obviously, the free throws helped to get her going, see that ball go in a little bit. Yeah, we need to do a better job collectively against her.”
The Mercury (12-5) maintained their hold on second place in the WNBA standings. The third-place New York Liberty (11-5) lost in Atlanta to the Dream earlier in the day.
The Mercury play next at the WNBA’s 12th-place Dallas Wings (5-13) on July 3 at 5 p.m.
