On her 31st birthday, Kahleah Copper lit it up—dropping 28 points to lead the Phoenix Mercury to an 83–79 escape in Chicago. Natasha Mack delivered her first career double-double (10 pts, 12 boards), and Satou Sabally’s clutch free throws sealed the deal with six seconds left, extending Phoenix’s win streak on the road to three straight (five of six).
What Sparked the Finish
- 17 steals and 11 blocks became the aces up the Mercury’s sleeve, with defense fueling the fourth-quarter surge.
- With the game neck-and-neck, Mack grabbed two critical offensive boards, Thomas hit a key bucket, then Sabally iced it from the line.
- Angel Reese delivered 15 points and a game-high 20 rebounds, giving the Sky every chance—but it wasn’t to be.
Why This Matters
- Phoenix enters NYC playoffs territory: tied for third place, with six games left to polish the seeding.
- Chicago showed fight—especially on the glass and from downtown—but 20 turnovers sabotaged chances, turning offense into fast break points for Mercury.
Clutch Crunch Take
On paper, this was a tight back-and-forth. But in reality? It was a waltz of defense meeting composure. Copper’s birthday burst ignited it. Mack’s board work owned the interior. And Sabally’s ice-in-her-veins finish closed it out. Sky fought hard, but this was Phoenix’s night to steal.