Full Breakdown
Phoenix Mercury Snap Losing Streak, Defeat Los Angeles Sparks Without Kelsey Plum
8/12/2026, 11:45:10 AM
Game Summary
On Tuesday night the Phoenix Mercury rallied to beat the Los Angeles Sparks 94-87, ending a three-game skid. The Mercury erased a 3-point deficit with a 16-6 run in the final minutes, highlighted by rookie Noémie Brochant’s season-high 24 points and five steals. The Sparks’ rally fell short despite 19-point contributions from Dearica Hamby and Rae Burrell.
Background & Context
Five-time All-Star guard Kelsey Plum was traded from the Sparks to the Mercury in early August. She missed the first meeting with her former club after aggravating a lower-left-leg injury that first sidelined her on June 21. The injury limited her to 14 minutes in a loss to Washington the previous Sunday, prompting Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts to say the team “wanted to be safe” and would reassess her status in the coming days.
The Sparks entered the game 12-20, sitting tenth in the league and one spot ahead of the Mercury (13-22) with fewer than a dozen games remaining. Both clubs are fighting for the final playoff spots.
Data & Statistics
- Final score: Phoenix 94, Los Angeles 87.
- Mercury shooting: 52% from the field; 9-of-25 from three-point range.
- Sparks shooting: 22% from three-point range (1-of-15).
- Turnovers: Phoenix 22, Sparks 24.
- Leading scorers: Noémie Brochant, Alyssa Thomas, Kahleah Copper for Phoenix; Dearica Hamby, Rae Burrell, Nneka Ogwumike for the Sparks.
Official Statements & Responses
Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts reiterated the precautionary approach to Plum’s calf issue, noting the team will monitor her condition over the next few days. Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts emphasized the difficulty of “zone defense” and indicated the team will likely employ the same scheme in the upcoming Thursday matchup in New York.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There are no gimme games in this league for anybody, whether you are in first or last — every game is hard,” — Lynne Roberts, Sparks coach.
- “It was kind of those one-on-one on the inside before they went zone,” — Dearica Hamby, Sparks forward.
- “I feel like the second half was every time I went to my move, they were right there and on time with the turnovers.” — Lynne Roberts, Sparks coach.
- “The ball did not move. We were trying to throw dimes when you need to make the easy play,” — Lynne Roberts, Sparks coach.
Playoff Implications
The victory moved Phoenix to 13-22, still 7.5 games behind the eighth-place cutoff with ten games left. Los Angeles remains tenth at 12-20, one spot ahead of Phoenix but also outside the eight-team playoff field. The loss keeps the Sparks’ playoff hopes precarious while the Mercury gain momentum heading into the final stretch.
What’s Next
The Sparks travel to New York Thursday to face the Liberty. The Mercury return home for a five-game homestand beginning Sunday, with their next opponent the Portland Fire. Both teams will assess Plum’s health before the season’s concluding weeks and the upcoming 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, for which Plum is named to the U.S. national team roster.
