PORTLAND — On a night without two of their offensive forces, the Phoenix Mercury needed to dig deep against the Portland Fire in their third Commissioner’s Cup game — and they did.
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Jun 5, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Phoenix Mercury guard Jovana Nogic (29) gestures during the first half against the Portland Fire at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
Playing without Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper, the Mercury showed the value of a roster learning to trust one another. Without their facilitator and leading scorer, Phoenix could have been left shorthanded, but instead, it forced the team to lean deeper into its identity.
That identity, while still taking shape, was evident in one of the club’s most cohesive victories of the season.
DeWanna Bonner led the way with 19 points, going 6-for-15 from the field while adding five rebounds. Jovana Nogic stepped into more of a facilitator role, finishing with nine points and six assists. Natasha Mack added 16 points, matching the career high she set Wednesday against the Seattle Storm.
Jun 5, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Phoenix Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani (8) lays up a shot against Portland Fire forward Bridget Carleton (6) during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
Overall, contributions came from across the team. Whether it was scoring, rebounding, playmaking or defense, every player seemed to leave a fingerprint on the game. Even with Portland erasing the deficit late and briefly taking the lead, the Mercury’s composure set the tone the rest of the way, forcing key turnovers that led to points and making critical shots when they mattered most.
“We didn’t hang our head,” head coach Nate Tibbetts said postgame about the team’s trust in one another. “We didn’t play a bad three-minute stretch that cost us games early in the year. We were very consistent; we were intentional with how we wanted to play against this team. I think the group trusted what we were trying to get done, and that’s growth and that’s what it takes in this league.”
Jun 5, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Phoenix Mercury guard Jovana Nogic (29) dribbles against Portland Fire guard Sarah Ashlee Barker (3) during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
While losing two of its top players made the task more difficult, Phoenix proved that when one player goes down, another can step up and fill the void. After enduring a six-game skid and now winning back-to-back road games, the Mercury’s identity appears to be slowly but surely coming into focus and was on full display when it was needed most.
It’s not just trust in the numbers or the system, but trust in the players standing beside them — perhaps the most meaningful development of all as the season continues.
Jun 5, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Phoenix Mercury forward-guard DeWanna Bonner (24) dribbles against Portland Fire forward Frieda Buhner (20) during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
Phoenix continues its road trip Tuesday against the Golden State Valkyries at 7 p.m.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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