WNBA: Mercury look to deal Aces out of semifinal series

Date:

Share post:


The Phoenix Mercury had a dominant offensive performance in Game 2 and a dominant defensive performance in Game 3.

That versatility produced consecutive victories and a 2-1 lead over the Las Vegas Aces in a best-of-five WNBA semifinal playoff series.

The fifth-seeded Mercury can advance to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2014 by beating the second-seeded Aces on Wednesday night in Phoenix. Las Vegas would host Game 5 on Friday with a win in Game 4.

Brianna Turner scored a career-high 23 points in addition to grabbing 17 of her team’s WNBA playoff-record 58 rebounds and helped hold the Aces 29 points below their average in an 87-60 home victory Sunday.

“That’s a pretty perfect game for her,” Mercury coach Sandy Brondello said.

Turner was a key factor in limiting Las Vegas forward A’Ja Wilson, the 2020 WNBA MVP, to eight points on 2-of-14 shooting.

“I was more impressed with her defensive job on Wilson and her rebounding (than her scoring),” Brondello said.

Phoenix has not trailed in either of its wins. It set a WNBA playoff record for points in regulation in its 117-91 victory in Game 2.

“We’re lacking,” said Aces center Liz Cambage, who had a team-high 13 points in her first start since returning from COVID. “I don’t feel like this is our team right now. We’re a team that plays a lot better with pressure on us.”

Las Vegas can draw on the experience of recovering from a 2-1 deficit against Connecticut in last year’s semifinals before winning Games 4 and 5.

“We knew we just had to reset and get back to playing Aces basketball,” wing Jackie Young said. “That’s what we have to do right now.”

Las Vegas coach Bill Laimbeer said he expects his team to play its best game of the series Wednesday.

“It’s a 200-minute series,” he said. “We told them that at the start, and I continue to believe that.”

–Field Level Media

spot_img

Related articles

WNCAAB: Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors resigns after 8 seasons

Arkansas women's basketball coach Mike Neighbors resigned Wednesday after eight seasons. The 55-year-old Arkansas native was 148-114 with the...

WNBA: Report: Dream move home opener vs. Fever amid arena search

Amid a broader search for more seating capacity, the Atlanta Dream will at least offer more access for...

WNBA: Report: Eminem joins potential WNBA ownership group in Detroit

Count rapper Eminem as part of a group with deep Detroit ties attempting to bring a WNBA franchise...

NCAAB: Report: Murray State to hire Creighton assistant Ryan Miller as coach

Murray State plans to hire Creighton assistant Ryan Miller as the school's new head coach, multiple outlets reported...

FREE

Get the most important breaking news and analyses for Free.

Thank you for subscribing

Something went wrong.