Lexi Held scored a career-high 24 factors, Satou Sabally had 19 factors and 7 rebounds, and the host Phoenix Mercury rallied to beat the Golden State Valkyries 86-77 on Thursday.
The Mercury completed on an 18-1 run and improved to 6-3, their greatest begin since 2018 once they misplaced to eventual WNBA champion Seattle within the Western Convention semifinals. They’re 2-1 in Commissioner’s Cup video games.
Held had 9 factors within the fourth quarter and Sebally had seven whereas taking part in via foul hassle. The Mercury overcame an eight-point deficit within the closing 4 minutes in a sport that featured 11 lead modifications and 10 ties.
Veronica Burton had 16 factors and Temi Fagbenle had 12 factors for the enlargement Valkyries, who misplaced their fourth straight and fell to 0-2 within the Commissioner’s Cup. Kayla Thornton, Cecilia Zandalasini and Julie Vanloo had 10 factors apiece.
Burton gave the Valkyries a 76-68 lead with 4:04 remaining, however their solely different level got here when she made a free throw to tie the sport at 77-77 with 56.1 seconds remaining.
Sabally adopted her personal miss with a basket and transformed a free throw to interrupt the tie for an 80-77 lead with 33.3 seconds left.
After Burton missed a layup on the following possession. the Valkyries have been pressured to foul. Sabally, Held and Monique Akoa Makani made two free throws apiece within the closing 17 seconds.
Held made 4 3-pointers and the Mercury have been 11 of 25 from distance after going 5-for-30 in a loss to Minnesota on Tuesday.
The Mercury are 5-1 at dwelling, tied for the very best dwelling begin in franchise historical past, finished seven occasions, most lately in 2015.
The Mercury made 5 of 8 3-pointers within the first quarter, 4 within the closing 3 1/2 minutes, throughout a 13-3 run for a 21-16 lead after the primary quarter. Held made two treys within the first quarter and one other on the primary possession of the second quarter.
Fagbenle had eight factors within the second quarter when the Valkyrie pushed the ball and scored eight factors off Mercury turnovers for a 38-37 halftime lead.
–Discipline Stage Media