After losing five of six games, the Phoenix Mercury (6-6) have responded with two-straight wins, squeaking out a last-second win over the Minnesota Lynx and a double-overtime victory over the Dallas Wings.
It’s no coincidence that Phoenix escaped their rut and reached .500 when—finally—able to sport their intended starting lineup, as Brittney Griner made her season debut after being sidelined by a foot injury since training camp and Rebecca Allen returned to the court after missing five games while in concussion protocol.
Thursday night, the Mercury play their final Commissioner’s Cup game, hosting the Las Vegas Aces (10 p.m. ET, Prime Video). If Phoenix wins and the Seattle Storm lose their game in Dallas, the Mercury will represent the Western Conference in the Commissioner’s Cup Championship, meeting the New York Liberty in Brooklyn on June 25.
Let’s take a look at Phoenix’s three American Olympians for some reasons for purple-and-orange optimism.
BG’s back!
In her season debut against Minnesota, Griner played just 21 minutes, scoring 11 points and grabbing four boards. Still, Griner was a plus-13 in the one-point win, an indication of the positive power of her presence. That presence proved more powerful and productive when Phoenix downed Dallas in…
