The WNBA’s longest active postseason streak came to an end on Sunday evening when the Phoenix Mercury were eliminated from the playoffs for the first time since 2012 with a 77-74 defeat to the Dallas Wings. It happened in unbelievable and, for non-Mercury fans, hilarious fashion.
After leading by double digits early on, the Mercury faded in the second half and found themselves playing catch-up in the closing minutes. When Arike Ogunbowale hit two free throws with 7.2 seconds to play to push the Wings’ advantage to four, it seemed the game was over. But Michaela Onyenwere drew a foul with 3.7 seconds left and made the first to cut the deficit to three. At that point the Mercury had a chance, but needed a miracle.
It was almost delivered when Onyenwere missed the second free throw on purpose, got her own rebound and kicked it out to Sug Sutton, who swung the ball to a wide open Moriah Jefferson. She got off a potential game-tying 3-pointer that could have kept the Mercury’s season alive, but saw it nestle in between the rim and backboard for a wedgie.
Heartbreak city for anyone in Phoenix, laughter and awe for everyone else.
With the defeat, their fifth in a row, the last-place Mercury sunk…
