With the Phoenix Mercury sitting at 10-10 and heading into the second half of the season with about a month-long break for the Olympics, how has the team done and what direction is the team going in?
Griner’s injury, team’s inconsistent play sums up season so far
These questions pop up because of the way the team is playing and still holding on to a playoff spot despite inconsistencies haunting them.
With Brittney Griner out, the vibes were high in Phoenix early on as they started 3-1. Once the opposition figured out how to exploit the lack of size the Mercury had without Griner, however, they fell to 1-5 in the next six games, raising concerns that something wasn’t clicking.
Griner would come back after missing the first quarter of the season, and went 4-1 in her first five games back, including huge wins over WNBA powerhouses like the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty.
In the last five games Phoenix has played, the Mercury went 2-3 and are now .500 on the year after taking care of business against the two worst teams in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Sparks (4-15) and Dallas Wings (4-16).
When adversity hit in their last three losses, they couldn’t respond and power through. Phoenix’s stellar defense against the Lynx on Jun. 22 was outweighed by their poor offensive display, they led by nine at halftime and were dominated in the second half by the Indiana Fever in an 88-82 loss and the Connecticut Sun took advantage of both Diana Taurasi and Rebecca Allen being out injured in the Mercury’s second half of a back-to-back.
Mercury have pieces to contend, be darkhorse
Phoenix did already pass last season’s win total of nine, which means they won’t be replicating the horrid 9-31 record they got a year ago.
They have brought in players like Kahleah Copper and Natasha Cloud who have already changed how the team operates. New head coach Nate Tibbetts has come in and the players have countlessly praised how much they believe in him and have bought into his ideologies. Diana Taurasi is still playing like vintage Diana Taurasi in her 20th season. Griner is back up and running. Rebecca Allen has been one of the most versatile players the team has on the roster.
The team has the pieces to compete against the best of the best in the WNBA, and the chemistry surrounding the team is growing every time they practice or when they play games. Players are smiling and having a good time with each other and the staff, signifying that there is no discourse or problems between them.
In the past week, they have had four games in six days and three games in four days, causing fatigue and tear on the players’ bodies and minds. The heavy workload every team has had to endure because of the WNBA implementing – give or take – a month off of games to let its players play in the Olympics has been taxing on everybody involved.
The amount of injuries is higher than normal and, as a result, players are expressing their complaints about the schedule not being extended and being congested instead.
Natasha Cloud (@T_Cloud4) discussed the WNBA’s jam packed schedule due to the Olympic break. Cloud brought up the idea of expanding the season in future Olympic years:
“When we have an Olympic year, I think we need to talk about just expanding the season for a few weeks.”
The… pic.twitter.com/yu7cGez2xK
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) June 25, 2024
While the Mercury are dealing with multiple injuries lately, every team is going through their own separate issues.
If Griner and everyone can remain healthy from now to at least their final game on July 16 vs. the Washington Mystics before the All-Star and Olympic breaks, they can take advantage of the easier strength of schedule and fly up the standings.
Besides their game on July 14 against the Sun, four out of Phoenix’s next five games are against teams with losing records.
Mercury’s Schedule Before Olympic Break
- at Los Angeles Sparks (4-15)
- vs. Dallas Wings (4-16)
- at Indiana Fever (8-13)
- at Connecticut Sun (15-4)
- at Washington Mystics (5-15)
Winning at least three of the upcoming games will be crucial heading into the break as they will know what their fate is and how they will attack the remaining part of the schedule.
The odds are in their favor, on paper, to finish the first portion of the season on a high note, they just have to take advantage and take one game at a time.
Brittney Griner passes Mercury legend Michele Timms for 4th most assists in franchise history
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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
