PHOENIX – For most of Wednesday night, the Phoenix Mercury looked like the team capable of challenging the WNBA’s best. Then reality arrived in the form of the Las Vegas Aces.
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Phoenix Mercury forward Valeriane Ayayi (11) grabs a rebound over Las Vegas Aces forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (32) at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on June 17, 2026.© Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The final score tells the story of another heartbreaking loss, but it doesn’t explain why this game matters far beyond one night in June. The Mercury showed they possess the talent, defensive intensity, and offensive firepower to compete with a championship roster. They also exposed the one flaw that continues separating good teams from great ones, which is finishing, and eliminating turnovers. Phoenix had a total of 21 turnovers on Wednesday night, and conceded 28 points off them.
Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts yells out to his team as they play the Las Vegas Aces at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on June 17, 2026. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Kahleah Copper set the tone immediately, scoring Phoenix’s first eight points and attacking relentlessly. DeWanna Bonner changed the game off the bench with timely three-pointers, while Jovana Nogic helped stretch the floor in the second quarter as the Mercury frustrated an Aces offense loaded with stars like A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, and Chelsea Gray. Phoenix answered every run. Every time Las Vegas surged, the Mercury found another response.
Phoenix Mercury guard Jovana Nogic (29) celebrates her 3-pointer against the Las Vegas Aces at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on June 17, 2026. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Late turnovers erased momentum, possessions became rushed, and every opportunity to reclaim control was answered by the poise of a championship-tested opponent. Even after Alyssa Thomas absorbed a frightening hit to the face while battling for a rebound and returned visibly shaken, Phoenix continued fighting until the final minutes. That’s what makes this defeat sting.
Top-tier WNBA teams rarely beat themselves against elite competition, and the Mercury did just enough of that on Wednesday. The encouraging takeaway is that Phoenix doesn’t have a talent problem; it just has to figure out that it has an execution problem. Those are two very different conversations. If the Mercury can turn late-game mistakes into late-game composure, losses like this become wins. When that happens, Phoenix won’t simply be capable of hanging with contenders; it can become one.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, Phoenix Suns, and Phoenix Mercury for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
