UNEXPECTED BLOWOUT
Griner leads short-handed Mercury past Mystics
Sandy Brondello said the injury-ravaged Phoenix Mercury would not concede to the Washington Mystics, whom she considers to be the best team in the WNBA.
Not even she could expect that it would be the Mystics largely conceding the fourth quarter Sunday in what will go down as one of the most unexpected routs in the Mercury’s 23-year history. The Mercury, with just eighth healthy players including one signed Sunday, put up 60 points in the first half for just the fifth time to lead by 17 at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Washington never got closer than 15 in the second half, losing 103-82 for an abrupt end to a five-game win streak.
“It almost felt like we weren’t out there (at) times,” Mystics star Elena Delle Donne said. “They were just finding the right people, passing
on the double teams and crushed us.”
It was the kind of performance from center Brittney Griner, who fell short of a triple-double, and her supporting cast that reminds the league how dangerous the Mercury can be even with five players (four starting-caliber) out.
“We know it, but then we see it,” Griner said. “It don’t matter if everybody else sees it or not. Everybody else can say we’re the worst team in the league. We see it, and we know what we can do. This win definitely helps validate that.”
Griner had 17 first-quarter points as the Mercury showed early on that the Mystics were in for a fight. Five days before in Washington, the Mystics lost all but three points of a 23-point, second-half lead before holding on 99-93.
Phoenix was down three players (Diana Taurasi, Sancho Lyttle, Essence Carson) Tuesday and two more (Briann January, Alanna Smith) in the rematch. The Mercury re-signed Arica Carter, a third-round draft pick who was waived June 1, under a hardship exemption to make sure they could get through an entire game with five on the court.
“Washington might have thought seven players,” would be easy pickings, Brondello said. “But we fought hard.”
The Mercury never trailed after a 12-0 run late in the first quarter to go up 28-21. Griner at half already had 23 points on her way to a final line of 26, nine rebounds, eight assists and four blocks.
“BG is as dominant as I’ve ever seen her,” Brondello said. “She’s getting so much attention, but she’s making those tough shots. Her decision-making out of the trap is fantastic.”
Griner made the second 3-pointer of her seven-year WNBA career early in the third quarter after passing on an open 3-point look in the first half. “That was crazy,” she said. “I just caught up and I was like screw it, step back and light it up and it went in. I was super happy about that.”
All five Mercury starters scored in double figures while playing 31-plus minutes.
Leilani Mitchell had 23 – two off her career high set Tuesday – including 5-of-10 from 3-point.
Yvonne Turner, back in the starting lineup at shooting guard, scored 22 and had seven assists of the Mercury’s 28.
Rookie forward Brianna Turner made her first WNBA start, scoring a season-high 12 points including on an alley-oop off a Mitchell inbounds pass early in the fourth quarter.
“Brianna Turner, how good was she?” Brondello said. “Even though (Elena) Delle Donne had 18 points, she had to work for those. It’s great to see her development.”
Griner moved back into the WNBA scoring lead (19.3 ppg) ahead of teammate DeWanna Bonner, who scored 10 points playing primarily at small forward and also had eight rebounds. Bonner now is averaging 18.7.
The Mercury improved to 11-10, breaking a twogame losing streak, and won the season series over Washington (14-7).
“They beat us every way possible,” Mystics coach Mike Thibault said. “Brittney Griner is playing the best I’ve seen her play and obviously Bonner and Mitchell have been making shots. That’s why they’re a good team and they’re going to be good come playoff time. I’m glad we’re done playing them.”
Mitchell record setter
Mitchell threw up an air ball on her first 3-point attempt after the WNBA All-Star break and was just 1of-4 from long range in the first half Tuesday at Washington.
“We didn’t play well in the first half (trailing 48-38), went into the locker room and just sort of regrouped,” Mitchell said. “I knew I needed to come out and be aggressive. We weren’t scoring in the first half, and I’m looked to as a scorer.”
In the second half, the 34-year-old guard scored like never before in her 11-year WNBA career. She went 7of-8 from 3-point range, tying league records for most 3s in a half and most in a game (eight). Her 28 points was a career record, three more than her previous high.
The only other making eight 3-pointers in WNBA history are the Mercury’s Diana Taurasi three times (most recently 2017), Renee Montgomery, Shekirra Stricklen and Riquna Williams.
“It feels good,” Mitchell said of joining that group. “Shooting is something that doesn’t come naturally. It’s something you have to spend a lot of hours on so to be able to tie a record it’s exciting, it’s fun but at the same time it doesn’t really mean anything when we still lose the game (99-93).”
Mercury coach Sandy Brondello described Mitchell’s second half as an unbelievable 20 minutes. “She was on fire. She’s always been a great 3-point shooter. I was disappointed she didn’t get to nine. It would have been great for her to get that record. I was trying hard to get her as many 3s as I could.
“She’s been fantastic for us all season long. She’s a class act and a great player and a great teammate. She’s got skills that can really help us. She’s a great passer too.”
On Sunday, Mitchell became the 20th WNBA player with 400 career 3-pointers.
Up next
The Mercury get a three-day break before playing at Los Angeles on Thursday. The Sparks are 13-8 after an 83-75 win over Seattle on Sunday.