Atlanta Dream at Phoenix Mercury
· Women's National Basketball AssociationKahleah Copper scores 28 points, Mercury clinch playoff berth with 74-66 win over Dream
The Mercury also needed Chicago's loss to Las Vegas at the same time, which clinched a playoff spot for Caitlin Clark and the idle Indiana Fever.
Atlanta, which trailed by as many as 16, was within 60-57 early in the fourth quarter when Taurasi hit a 3-pointer. It was a four-point game with four minutes to go when Griner knocked down a 3 from the top of the key to make it 69-62.
Griner finished with 16 points and Taurasi had 13 for the Mercury (17-17). The Mercury were without Natasha Cloud, who had to sit out after picking up her seventh technical foul of the season in her last game.
Rhyne Howard scored 31 points for the Dream (11-22), who remain tied with Chicago for the final playoff spot, a game ahead of Washington, with seven games left. Tina Charles added 12 points and 12 rebounds.
In the final 4:08 of the second quarter, Phoenix stretched a three-point lead to 40-25. In the 14-3 run, Copper had the first five points and Natasha Mack and Sophie Cunningham had 3-pointers.
Atlanta only had eight field goals in the first half, half of them 3-pointers.
The Dream, who made 9 of 15 shots in the third quarter, cut a 16-point deficit to five before the Mercury took a 56-49 lead into the fourth quarter.
Regular Season Series
PHX wins series 3-1
Recent Plays
4th 0.0 | End of Game | 66 - 74 | |
4th 0.0 | End of the 4th Quarter | 66 - 74 | |
4th 0.1 | shot clock turnover | 66 - 74 | |
4th 22.2 | Brittney Griner defensive rebound | 66 - 74 | |
4th 26.1 | Rhyne Howard misses 24-foot three point jumper | 66 - 74 |
Statistics
ATL | PHX | |
---|---|---|
24-68 | FG | 23-55 |
35.3 | Field Goal % | 41.8 |
7-25 | 3PT | 6-25 |
28.0 | Three Point % | 24.0 |
11-14 | FT | 22-26 |
78.6 | Free Throw % | 84.6 |
29 | Rebounds | 33 |
7 | Offensive Rebounds | 7 |
22 | Defensive Rebounds | 26 |
15 | Assists | 18 |
7 | Steals | 7 |
4 | Blocks | 4 |
13 | Turnovers | 17 |
1 | Team Turnovers | 2 |
14 | Total Turnovers | 19 |
1 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
1 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
8 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 20 |
8 | Fast Break Points | 8 |
26 | Points in Paint | 18 |
19 | Fouls | 15 |
0 | Largest Lead | 16 |
Game Information
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Attendance: 7,639 · Capacity:
2023-24 Eastern Conference Standings
TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York | - | 8 | L1 | 0.8 | 32 |
Connecticut | 4 | 12 | W1 | 0.7 | 28 |
Indiana | 12 | 20 | L1 | 0.5 | 20 |
Atlanta | 17 | 25 | W3 | 0.375 | 15 |
Washington | 18 | 26 | W1 | 0.35 | 14 |
Chicago | 19 | 27 | L5 | 0.325 | 13 |
WNBA News
The 10 biggest questions for the WNBA offseason and 2025
With four open head-coaching positions, an expansion draft and the draft lottery, the WNBA will undergo plenty of change before next season.
WNBA players opt out of CBA: Salaries, long-term benefits among focus
On the heels of a landmark season, WNBA players are expected to focus on salaries and long-term benefits such as pensions in their negotiations.
Sources: Nike reaches a 12-year extension with NBA, WNBA
Nike has reached a 12-year contract extension agreement with the NBA and WNBA to continue to be the official global outfitter for the professional basketball leagues, sources told ESPN on Monday, a pact that includes a marketing and content partnership.
Could the WNBA be headed toward a work stoppage?
Chiney Ogwumike outlines the key issues at the center of the WNBPA's decision to opt out of the current CBA.
WNBA players opt out of CBA, face potential work stoppage
WNBA players have opted out of their current collective bargaining agreement and face the prospect of a work stoppage if they don't negotiate a new deal with the league by the end of the 2025 season.