After recording a career-high 38 points on Saturday, Kahleah Copper was just one shy of breaking her record yet again as she scored 37 points, leading the Phoenix Mercury to a 98-88 win over the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Sug Sutton added 12 points off the bench and Natasha Cloud notched 11 for the Mercury (2-1). Phoenix shot 38-for-78 (47.4%) from the field and 16-for-33 (48.5%) from three.
Kelsey Plum led the Aces (2-1) with 27 points, Jackie Young finished with 23 and A’ja Wilson had 21 in the defeat.
Despite Injury Scare, Copper’s Domination Continues
Following her dominant display against the Atlanta Dream over the weekend, Copper’s encore performance in Vegas got off to a lightning-quick start, scoring 16 points for the Mercury as they led 25-20. Trailing 22-12, Young did have 10 points to help the Aces battle back with an 8-3 run to finish the first quarter.
The Aces beat the Mercury 89-80 last Tuesday, and Copper instilled the belief that they could come back to Vegas and get the result her team wanted.
“I think I was just put in perfect positions,” Copper said. “I am a competitor. We came in here last week and we didn’t leave the court hanging our heads. We went about it like we are going to get right back out there. Shoutout to my teammates, shoutout to my coaches for believing in me. We go into those huddles and draw up plays, I am just put in a position to make a play and that is what I just try to do.”
The Aces would then go on a 19-10 run to open up the second quarter before the Mercury were dealt a significant scare.
As she was about to drive towards the basket, Copper collided knee-on-knee with Kelsey Plum and immediately fell on the court. Visibly in pain, it took her about a minute before Copper was able to stand up and be helped to the bench by her teammates.
Things would quickly become heated when Young and Sophie Cunningham both fought for a rebound. Not liking the exchange, Young jawed at Cunningham before they had to be separated.
Jackie Young and Sophie Cunningham???? pic.twitter.com/ZJPRDxznFE
— Tyler DeLuca (@TylerDeLuca) May 22, 2024
Continuing to match Copper’s dynamic impact, Young netted seven more points before halftime as Las Vegas led 47-46. The Aces outscored the Mercury 27-19 in the second quarter, but Phoenix avoided an injury scare once Copper returned in the third.
Seeing their lead disappear, the dogfight swung back in the Mercury’s favor when they did not hesitate shooting threes, a key to how Tibbetts wants his offense to be run. Through the first three quarters, Phoenix was on fire from deep, 15-for-27 (51.7%).
Aces Push Back Late, Mercury Withstand Pressure
Locking down on defense, the Mercury allowed just seven points at the midway point of the fourth. Led by Copper and Diana Taurasi with two steals each, Phoenix caused seven turnovers by Las Vegas and only gave up six.
“We can lessen their possessions by taking care of the ball, that was a huge focus for us today,” Cloud said. “It was really important for us to limit those turnovers, limit their extra possessions because they [Aces] are brave, they can hurt you on those turnovers.”
But whatever was said during a timeout by Aces head coach Becky Hammond, something clicked as Vegas got within two with a 14-4 run.
Putting a stamp on the game and beating the back-to-back WNBA champions, however, Copper swished a mid-range shot for 37 points.
“I am just thankful she’s in a Mercury jersey and I get to see her play live every night,” Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said about Copper. “I think the team feels it, she’s a hot player right now. She is getting downhill, she’s being extremely aggressive.”
Both teams ended the game tied in rebounds with 39 apiece. Vegas did lead in fastbreak points 14-9 and points in the paint 34-32, but the Mercury’s shooting as a team helped them prevail.
“We’ve been in some battles already this season,” Tibbetts said. “We’ve been down and fought back, you wouldn’t expect anything less from the champs. They were down and we were up 10 or 11 [points] with two or three [minutes] to go. We just stayed together which is what we have done all year.”
Next Games
Mercury: Home vs. Washington Mystics (0-3) | May 23 | 7 p.m. PT
Aces: Home vs. Indiana Fever (0-4) | May 25 | 6 p.m. PT
Nate Tibbetts speaks on the competitiveness of Natasha Cloud, Phoenix Mercury
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Alec Cipollini covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
