PHOENIX – Karlie Samuelson had a video game-like performance by not missing a single shot she took to help the Washington Mystics storm into Phoenix and grab a gigantic 90-77 win over the Mercury Thursday night.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Scoring 19 points to lead all players, Samuelson was a perfect 5-for-5 from three and 6-for-6 from the field. Brittney Sykes had 14 points and Julie Vanloo stashed 13 for the Mystics (11-23), who are in a three-team race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the WNBA.
Brittney Griner notched 15 points and Natasha Cloud added 13 for the Mercury (17-18). Phoenix clinched a playoff spot on Tuesday with a win over the Atlanta Dream but has now lost four of its past five games.
Mystics’ playoff push alive after huge win
Fighting for their playoff lives, the Mystics got off to just the start they needed. Samuelson scored seven points to give Washington a 24-15 lead in the first quarter. The Mystics were one win behind the Dream and Chicago Sky for the No. 8 seed, with Washington 10-23 and the other two teams 11-22 before the game and are now all tied.
With eight turnovers and multiple sloppy instances on offense, the Mercury were discombobulated when they had the ball in their possession during the first half. Poor passing, giving away the ball easily, sloppy shot selection and watching the Mystics turn the other way to score set up a recipe for a tough result.
“I think we could have done a better job,” Mercury rookie Celeste Taylor said. “I think we can control our effort, control our energy all the way through the line, myself included. I try as much as I can but there is always different ways that I can continue to impact that side of things. I think that we could have done a better job and we will be doing a better job.”
After she missed Phoenix’s postseason-clinching win over the Dream due to a one-game suspension, Cloud came back and faced her former team. Being one of the Mystics’ biggest stars alongside WNBA legend Elena Delle Donne, Cloud spent eight seasons (2015-19, 2021-23) in the United States capital and helped them win its first WNBA championship in franchise history in 2019.
Like Cloud, Sug Sutton returned to Footprint Center on Thursday but not as a member of the Mercury. In Phoenix for almost two years, Sutton was dealt to the Mystics before the WNBA Trade Deadline. Greeted by multiple Mercury fans pregame and others cheering her on, she ended with three rebounds and two assists in the win.
“I am happy with Sug getting quality minutes tonight,” Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said. “The one thing that they’ve [Washington] done with this young team is they’ve rotated players in and out. Sug was great in the time that I had her [as a player]. Very professional. Came to work every day. Great teammate.”
“Very professional. Came to work everyday. Great teammate.”
After Sug Sutton (@sugsutton) returned to Phoenix for the 1st time since being traded to the Mystics, @eliavgabay asked Mercury HC Nate Tibbetts about him coaching against her.#ValleyTogether #WNBA #BallOnOurTerms pic.twitter.com/PVi1jrhzIY
— Burn City Mercury (@BurnCityMercury) September 6, 2024
Demonstrating why they are one of the top teams in the WNBA from behind the arch this season, Washington shot a highly efficient 8-for-17 (47.1%) from three in the first two quarters and were 14-of-28 (50%) overall. The Mystics were second in the league in 3-point percentage (36.4%) and third in 3-pointers made (316) coming into the Valley.
“Our goal was to hold them under 25 threes, they got to 28,” Tibbetts said. “Obviously making 14 out of 28 is not ideal. I thought the second half we did a better job [defending them], the first half they got 17 threes up. They just got comfortable. It’s a young team, now all of a sudden they are in a playoff hunt playing with house money… They’re really sharing it [the ball], moving it. Give their team and their staff a lot of credit because starting 0-12, there would have been a lot of teams who give in but they are continuing to fight and continuing to get better.”
“They are in the playoff hunt playing with house money.”
From starting the season 0-12 to in the hunt for the No. 8 seed, Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts told @AlecCipollini about how good the Mystics have been lately.#ValleyTogether #WNBA #BallOnOurTerms pic.twitter.com/9g5iICiPGx
— Burn City Mercury (@BurnCityMercury) September 6, 2024
The frustration levels started to rise for the Mercury as the game wore on. As Washington was able to widen the gap more and more, Phoenix ran into difficulties in how to stop them and players were left shaking their heads.
The Mystics were nearly automatic when shooting, making it seem as if everything that could have gone right for them went right.
For only the fourth time this season, Samuelson came off the bench and didn’t start. Even though she had a change in her role, the former Mercury made her presence felt throughout the night as her teammates found her open and she didn’t make a mistake.
While her team couldn’t get anything to go their way for most of the loss, Monique Billings was a defensive force with three blocks and two steals. Billings scored 10 points and notched seven rebounds as a sub for Phoenix.
“She flies around,” Tibbetts said about Billings. “I love what she has brought to us: professionalism, toughness and athleticism. She’s a pleasure to be around every day. I am happy for her that she had a good game.”
Just hours after Amy Atwell signed a seven-day contract with the Mercury, she made her debut at 4:21 of the fourth quarter and scored a mid-range shot. This was the Australian’s first WNBA regular-season appearance since 2022 when she was with the Los Angeles Sparks.
From down 25, the Mercury did show some pushback late in the game to claw within 13 points but the Mystics picked up a crucial win if they want any shot to make the playoffs.
“It’s hard to claw back down 25,” Billings said. “We wanted to chip away possession by possession. We cleared the bench out. By that point, I told the young guys that’s film for them. ‘Go get you some film, get some good plays, the game’s not over.’ I am proud of how we fought to the end, even though it is frustrating [with a] big deficit. We’ll continue to get better, watch film and learn from it.”
“I am proud of how we fought to the end even though it is frustrating.”@AlecCipollini asked Phoenix Mercury forward Monique Billings (@moniquebillings) about how her team clawed within 13 after being down by as much as 25.#ValleyTogether #WNBA #BallOnOurTerms pic.twitter.com/k4QMUhLWxi
— Burn City Mercury (@BurnCityMercury) September 6, 2024
Next Games
Mercury: Away at Seattle Storm (20-14) | Sept. 7 | 6 p.m. PT
Mystics: Home vs. Minnesota Lynx (28-9) | Sept. 8 | 12 p.m. PT
Mercury bring back Amy Atwell on short-term contract after being waived
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers ASU Athletics, the Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
