YULANDA GILLIAM | PBY Media Sports Blog | August 16, 2019

What a great WIN the Phoenix Mercury had over the Atlanta Dream on Friday, August 16th at Talking Stick Arena. Despite the team having scarce bench strength due to injuries (currently Diana Taurasi, Essence Carson, Sancho Lyttle, and Alanna Smith) and Brittney Griner who is currently serving a 3 game suspension from the scuffle on August 10 with rookie Kristine Anigwe of Dallas Wings. The Phoenix Mercury continued to fight to the end.  DeWanna Bonner had a hell of a game Friday night with a double-double as she finished with 27 points and 14 rebounds. This was exceptionally a huge feat as she didn't have her two bigs with her on the court - Griner and Taurasi.  Bonner came just shy with four points away from her season scoring high against the Atlanta Dream. 

Up until the fourth quarter, the game was looking kind of sketchy for the Phoenix Mercury.  But as we all know, with the backing of the best fans in the WNBA: X-Factor and the teams will to fight for Brittney came that extra power the ladies needed.  The Phoenix Mercury has a 25-10 edge over the Dream in the 4th quarter which ended the Mercury's three game losing streak.  Currently the Mercury (12-13) is standing in eight place and just a half game behind the Minnesota Lynx (13-13) and one game behind the Seattle Storm (14-13).  

Bonner being the player of the game said in her post game interview "We needed that win bad, just for confidence, standings, and for BG more than anything." With this win with Griner out and a possible win against NY on Sunday, Mercury is holding on to playoffs and should have some healthy bodies back.  

We can not forget about the strength, will, and tenacity the other ladies had in this game. You saw the FIRE in their eyes and heart. Briann January, Leilani Mitchell, Yvonne Turner, Camille Little, and rookie Brianna Turner ALL came with one purpose and that was to WIN.

Coach Sandy Brondello said in her post game interview, "we limited their open threes and had a better congestion." During this game match, she started January for the first time in four games (she missed two games due to her foot injury), put Little and Turner in together to move Bonner to small forward.  These changes along with the points from January (16 pts), Mitchell (15 pts, 5 reb), Y. Turner (11 pts, 4 reb), and B. Turner (4 pts, 9 rebounds) and Little (4 pts, 6 reb) made a difference. 

Come out and support the Mercury during their last home games (purchase tickets: Aaron Hall at [email protected])

8/18 vs NY Liberty @ 3pm

8/25 vs Chicago Sky @ 3pm

9/3 vs Seattle Storm @ 7pm

9/6 vs Minnesota Lynx @ 7pm

9/8 vs Las Vegas Aces @ 1pm

Mighty Mercury!!!