The Phoenix Mercury and Toronto Tempo, two teams grappling with challenging seasons in the Women's National Basketball Association, are preparing for a crucial encounter. This Saturday's game represents their last opportunity to secure a victory and build momentum before the league observes a 17-day pause for the FIBA World Cup.
The Mercury, with a current record of 13 wins and 26 losses, will host the expansion team Tempo, who stand at 11 wins and 28 losses. Both teams are eager to snap their respective losing streaks. Phoenix recently suffered an 80-73 home defeat to Washington, marking their fourth consecutive loss and seventh in eight games, largely due to a dominant fourth-quarter performance by the Mystics.
Meanwhile, the injury-plagued Tempo faced a 93-73 loss against the Aces in Las Vegas, playing without their leading scorer Marina Mabrey. This marked their fifteenth loss in sixteen games, and they will be playing on consecutive nights. Despite the difficulties, Tempo coach Sandy Brondello expressed pride in her team's resilience amidst adversity.
The Mercury's home performance has been subpar, holding a league-worst 5-14 record, while the Tempo's road record is 4-15. Phoenix's star player, Kahleah Copper, who averages 21.3 points per game, delivered an outstanding 35-point performance against the Mystics, scoring the first ten points of that game. Copper is also a member of Team USA's World Cup roster.
Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts, who will serve as an assistant coach for Team USA, praised Copper's effort and tone-setting leadership. Copper recorded her sixth 30-point game of the season, but she and teammate Alyssa Thomas (averaging 14.5 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.7 rebounds) have received limited support from other players. Kelsey Plum, another Team USA member, was absent from Thursday's game due to a leg injury and is not expected to play on Saturday.
Copper emphasized her approach to the game, stating her intention to play with heightened energy and treat it with utmost seriousness, focusing solely on the present match. The Mercury and Tempo have split their previous two matchups this season, with each team securing a victory on the road. In their recent game against the Aces, the Tempo saw five players reach double-digit scoring, led by Isabelle Harrison's 15 points and seven rebounds, and Laura Juskaite's 14 points and eight rebounds.
Rookie guard Kiki Rice, averaging 12.5 points, has emerged as a promising player for the Tempo, contributing 10 points and four assists against the Aces. Her recent strong performances come after a two-month absence due to a left ankle sprain sustained in early June. Rice highlighted her strength in attacking the basket. She achieved a season-high 24 points against the Seattle Storm and tied her season high with three 3-pointers against Washington earlier in August. Coach Brondello lauded Rice as a "franchise player" after her performance against Washington.
As the WNBA season pauses for the FIBA World Cup, this game offers both the Mercury and Tempo a critical opportunity to conclude the first part of their season on a positive note. For these struggling teams, a victory would provide a much-needed morale boost and a foundation to build upon when league play resumes.
