Mercury experience five-game streak into conflict with Liberty

On a season-best five-game successful streak, the Phoenix Mercury will probably be out to proceed their revival once they play host to the defending champion New York Liberty on Friday.

Essentially the most prestigious victory of their streak got here June 19 at New York when Monique Akoa Makani scored a team-high 21 factors and Alyssa Thomas delivered 18 factors with 15 rebounds.

The Mercury (11-4) shot simply 41.7 % from the ground within the victory, however received with their protection that turned 20 New York turnovers into 19 factors.

Phoenix’s most up-to-date victory got here Saturday when the offense grabbed the eye in a 107-86 street win over the Chicago Sky. That topped the Mercury’s earlier season-high of 94 factors in a house victory over the Sky on Might 27.

Sami Whitcomb scored a team-high 17 factors off the bench for Phoenix on Saturday and has three of her 5 double-digit scoring video games within the final three contests.

“The assumption is one hundred pc there,” Whitcomb stated of the crew’s spectacular begin after ending beneath .500 in every of the previous three seasons. “We’re attempting to chip away each single day. We’re attempting to deal with us and not likely worrying about the rest.”

Since lacking 5 consecutive video games when the calendar flipped from Might to June, Thomas has averaged 13.6 factors with 9.8 assists and 6.8 rebounds over the previous 5 video games.

The Liberty (11-3) arrive after incomes an 81-78 street victory over the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday, however they’ve misplaced three of 5 following a 9-0 begin.

Breanna Stewart scored 23 factors with 10 rebounds in opposition to the Valkyries and Kennedy Burke had 20 factors off the bench. Sabrina Ionescu scored 11 factors, however was simply 1 of seven from 3-point vary in her Bay Space homecoming.

“We’re resilient,” Stewart stated. “There’s a whole lot of issues which can be taking place on our crew and we proceed to struggle by way of it regardless of who’s on the ground.”

Ionescu was simply 1 of 10 from lengthy distance in final week’s residence loss to Phoenix, which makes her 2 of 17 (11.8 %) on 3-point makes an attempt prior to now two video games whereas taking part in by way of a neck damage. She is capturing a career-low 31.8 % from distance.

Jonquel Jones (12.1 factors, 9.6 rebounds per sport) has missed the previous two video games for New York with a proper ankle sprain and is anticipated to overlook one other month.

–Area Stage Media