Full Breakdown
Phoenix Mercury End Three-Game Slide with 94-87 Victory Over Los Angeles Sparks
8/13/2026, 8:14:08 AM
Core Event: Late-Game Surge Secures Win
On Tuesday, the Phoenix Mercury rallied from a 81-78 deficit with 4:56 remaining to close on a 16-6 run and defeat the Los Angeles Sparks 94-87. Rookie forward Noémie Brochant scored a career-high 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-6 from three-point range, and added five steals. Alyssa Thomas contributed 16 points, nine of which came in the fourth quarter, and delivered the go-ahead layup with 49.6 seconds left to give Phoenix an 88-84 lead before sealing the win with two free throws. DeWanna Bonner finished the game by sinking four consecutive free throws in the final seconds.
Background & Context: Mercury’s Struggles and Roster Changes
Phoenix entered the game at 12-22, having dropped three straight contests. The team was without All-Star guard Kelsey Plum, who was sidelined by left-calf tightness and had been traded a little over a week earlier. The Mercury’s five-game road trip concluded with the win, snapping the losing streak and improving the record to 13-22.
Key Performances & Statistics
- Noémie Brochant – 24 points (career high), five steals, three rebounds, three assists; 10-of-13 field goals (52% shooting). According to a post on X, she became the first rookie in Phoenix Mercury history to record 20+ points and 5+ steals in a game; the previous rookie to achieve those numbers was Caitlin Clark on July 10, 2024.
- Alyssa Thomas – 16 points (nine in the fourth quarter), seven rebounds, nine assists; pivotal layup and free throws in the final minute.
- Kahleah Copper – 18 points for Phoenix.
- DeWanna Bonner – 11 points, four decisive free throws.
- Natasha Mack – Perfect 4-of-4 shooting off the bench, contributing nine points.
For Los Angeles: Dearica Hamby and Rae Burrell each posted 19 points, though Burrell shot only 6-of-21. Nneka Ogwumike added 18 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. The Sparks forced 24 turnovers but converted only 24 points off those takeaways, while Phoenix turned 17 turnovers into 22 points. Los Angeles shot 7-of-32 from beyond the arc, with the perimeter duo of Burrell and Erica Wheeler combining for 1-of-15.
Phoenix shot 52% from the field and finished the game with a balanced scoring effort, as four players reached double figures.
Impact and Next Steps
The victory halted Phoenix’s slide and gave the Mercury momentum heading into the final game of their road stretch. The team will travel to Portland on Sunday for its next matchup. The Sparks, now 12-20, are slated to face New York on Thursday.
