NBA

Phoenix Mercury at Los Angeles Sparks

· Women's National Basketball Association
11-10, 4-6 Away
Final
78 - 84

5-16, 4-6 Home

Cloud scores career-high 31, Copper adds 25 and 10 rebounds as Mercury beat Sparks 84-78

Natasha Cloud sets career high with 31 points

Dearica Hamby hit a step-back 3-pointer that made it 70-67 with 5:39 to play and gave the Sparks their first lead since 10-9. Brittney Griner answered with two free throws before Copper added a driving layup.

The teams traded leads until Griner drew a double team on the block and kicked it out to Mikiah Herbert Harrigan — who made her first career start — for a wide-open 3-pointer gave Phoenix a 78-76 lead with 1:10 remaining.

Rickea Jackson's putback made it 78-apiece with 41.1 seconds to go.

Cloud knifed into the lane and made a finger roll about 7 seconds later and, after McDonald missed from 3-point range, Cloud grabbed her career-best ninth rebound and was fouled. She hit both free throws to make it 82-78 with 23 seconds left.

Copper capped the scoring when she hit two free throws with 13 second remaining.

Phoenix (11-10) won back-to-back road games for the first time this season.

Hamby scored 25 points on 10-of-19 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds and Rickea Jackson added a career-high 22 points for Los Angeles (5-16). Stevens made her season debut after missing 20 games due to an arm injury she suffered while playing overseas in China during the offseason and finished with 10 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block.

Diana Taurasi (leg) did not play for Phoenix.

Regular Season Series

PHX wins series 4-0

Recent Plays

4th 0.0 End of Game 84 - 78
4th 0.0 End of the 4th Quarter 84 - 78
4th 1.1 Kahleah Copper defensive rebound 84 - 78
4th 1.1 Aari McDonald misses 25-foot three point jumper 84 - 78
4th 3.0 Azura Stevens offensive rebound 84 - 78

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/wnba/500/phx.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originPHX https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/wnba/500/la.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originLA
27-59 FG 29-75
45.8 Field Goal % 38.7
7-21 3PT 5-24
33.3 Three Point % 20.8
23-28 FT 15-19
82.1 Free Throw % 78.9
38 Rebounds 29
7 Offensive Rebounds 10
31 Defensive Rebounds 19
16 Assists 25
3 Steals 6
5 Blocks 2
16 Turnovers 9
0 Team Turnovers 1
16 Total Turnovers 10
0 Technical Fouls 0
0 Total Technical Fouls 0
0 Flagrant Fouls 0
17 Points Conceded Off Turnovers 15
4 Fast Break Points 2
30 Points in Paint 44
23 Fouls 24
10 Largest Lead 3

Game Information

crypto.com Arena

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Attendance: 11,618 · Capacity:

2023-24 Western Conference Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
Minnesota - 10 L1 0.75 30
Las Vegas 3 13 W5 0.675 27
Seattle 5 15 W1 0.625 25
Phoenix 11 21 L1 0.475 19
Dallas 21 31 L9 0.225 9
Los Angeles 22 32 W1 0.2 8
Full Standings

WNBA News

How Chelsea Gray, Angel Reese powered the Rose to Unrivaled playoffs

How Chelsea Gray, Angel Reese powered the Rose to Unrivaled playoffs

Chelsea Gray and Angel Reese have positioned the Rose to make a run at Unrivaled's inaugural title.

Sources: Liberty's Breanna Stewart has minor knee surgery

Sources: Liberty's Breanna Stewart has minor knee surgery

Two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart successfully underwent a minor scope on her right meniscus Thursday, New York Liberty sources told ESPN.

Mercury great Diana Taurasi admits being 'sad' over retirement

Mercury great Diana Taurasi admits being 'sad' over retirement

Diana Taurasi, who will have her No. 3 jersey retired by the Mercury in 2026, admits feeling "sad" over her decision to retire after 20 seasons in the WNBA.

Collier, Gray, McBride make up Unrivaled's inaugural first team

Collier, Gray, McBride make up Unrivaled's inaugural first team

Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Gray and Kayla McBride make up Unrivaled's inaugural first team, the 3-on-3 league announced Thursday.

WNBA draft scheduled for April 14 in New York City

WNBA draft scheduled for April 14 in New York City

The 2025 WNBA draft will be held April 14 in New York City.