In an exhilarating encounter at Los Angeles, Satou Sabally spearheaded the Phoenix Mercury with 24 points, nine rebounds, and four steals, as they triumphed over the Los Angeles Sparks, 85-80. Both Kathryn Westbeld and Kitija Laksa played pivotal roles, contributing 15 points each. The Mercury showed grit and determination, clawing their way back from an 18-point deficit in the first half.
A crucial moment came when Westbeld sank a three-pointer from the top of the arc with just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter, securing Phoenix their first lead at 58-57 since early in the game when the score was 14-13. Sabally then extended the advantage with a pair of free throws, culminating in a remarkable 23-7 run for the Mercury.
With 1:06 remaining in the final quarter, Los Angeles’ Kelsey Plum managed to force a jump ball, resulting in the possession going to the Sparks. Despite three opportunities to close the gap, the Sparks fell short as Plum missed a three-pointer and a jumper, followed by losing the ball during a drive.
In the critical closing moments, Laksa calmly secured two free throws for Phoenix with less than 19 seconds on the clock, and Westbeld followed suit with two more at 9.9 seconds, consolidating the lead at 84-80. Sami Whitcomb provided a significant boost with three successful three-pointers, finishing with 11 points, and Monique Akoa Makani contributed 10 points and six assists for the Mercury, who now stand at 5-2 for the season.
The Sparks were led by Odyssey Sims, who delivered an impressive performance with 32 points on 10-of-14 shooting. While Kelsey Plum struggled with her shots, going 4 of 19 from the floor and ending with 15 points, Dearica Hamby showed resilience with 15 points and eight rebounds. Despite initially holding a 47-29 lead close to halftime, Los Angeles’s shooting faltered as they missed all 15 of their three-point attempts in the second half.
Looking ahead, Phoenix will continue their road games with a matchup against Minnesota on Tuesday. Los Angeles, now at 2-6, will regroup before facing Dallas on Friday.