NFL
By: Kristina Ratliff
The Phoenix Mercury are looking like a team that’s starting to figure things out. After taking care of the Dallas Wings, 93-80, on June 11, the squad is heading to Las Vegas tomorrow with a chance to make a statement against the Aces.
Let’s start with that Wings game. If you watched it, you saw Paige Bueckers go off. The rookie dropped 35 points and was hitting everything early on. 22 of those came in the first half alone but the Mercury did what good teams do, they adjusted.
Phoenix started sending doubles at Bueckers, switching up coverages, and forcing the rest of the Wings to try and beat them. The rest of Dallas shot just 33% from the field, and they couldn’t buy a three-pointer shooting 0-for-13 from deep in the first half.
On the flip side, the Mercury’s offense was rolling. Satou Sabally led with 20 points and hit four three-pointers, while Kitija Laksa, Lexi Held, and the rest of the team chipped in from the perimeter. As a team, Phoenix hit 15 threes at nearly 43%, which is exactly the kind of shooting you want heading into a tough matchup like Vegas.
Phoenix’s bench outscored Dallas’s bench 34-11, which really helped keep the energy up and the pressure on.
And let’s not forget the drama that went down after the game. As soon as the final buzzer sounded in that 93-80 win over Dallas, things got a little heated between Satou Sabally and Dijonai Carrington. Carrington came over to Sabally courtside, and they started exchanging words. Sabally tried to wave it off, but Carrington kept coming, and for a second, it looked like it might turn into something more. Luckily, Alyssa Thomas stepped in and helped defuse the situation before it got out of hand. The whole thing caught everyone by surprise — even the broadcast team was wondering where security was at that moment.
Right after that tense Sabally‑Carrington moment, Kahleah Copper didn’t hold back either, this time taking aim at the WNBA. Copper was visibly frustrated when the league’s X (Twitter) “morning recap” focused solely on Paige Bueckers’ 35 points, completely ignoring Phoenix’s 93-80 win. Copper fired off a blunt message: “Do better @WNBA,” calling out the league for snubbing the Mercury’s team effort. It was a reminder that
Phoenix isn’t just playing hard on the court. They’re holding everyone, even the league, to the same standard.
Do better @WNBA https://t.co/CosN2dVG0x
— Kahleah Copper (@kahleahcopper) June 12, 2025
Next game, the Mercury head to Las Vegas to take on the defending champs. The Aces haven’t been as dominant as we’re used to seeing as they’re sitting at 5-4, while the Mercury are 7-4 after that win over Dallas.
The Aces may not have A’ja Wilson due to concussion protocol, who’s putting up MVP-type numbers: 20.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks a game. Also, let’s not forget Jackie Young and Jewell Loyd, who can both get it going offensively
The key for Phoenix to win their next game:
- Keep that hot shooting going and try to stretch the Aces’ defense.
- Win the rebounding battle — Vegas averages a few more boards per game, but Phoenix has been strong on the glass.
- And most of all, they’ll need another big night from Sabally, Thomas, and the bench.
This one’s got all the makings of a close, high-energy game. Predictions online are saying they see Vegas winning by a point or two, but if Phoenix can keep their pace and knock down their shots, don’t be surprised if they steal one in Sin City.
The Mercury are playing confident, smart basketball right now. Sunday’s game could be a real turning point in showing where they stand against the league’s best.
