The Phoenix Mercury eliminated the Minnesota Lynx to punch their ticket to the WNBA Finals, and because I apparently like misery (but also like to acknowledge game), I wrote the team an apology letter.
I’m so sorry, Phoenix Mercury. I was not familiar with your game.
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Well, maybe familiar is not the correct word. I clearly put forward Alyssa Thomas second in my MVP rankings on my end-of-season awards ballot, and I had guard Kahleah Copper as an X-factor in the WNBA playoffs. So, I absolutely knew what Phoenix could be, but I underestimated just how far they would go. (If you need evidence, just look at my WNBA postseason predictions. There’s some real shameful stuff in there.) I’m big enough to admit the error of my ways.
Taking down the defending champion New York Liberty and the runner-up from last year en route to the WNBA Finals is super impressive. I had my doubts about you, Phoenix. The defense was super shaky at times during the regular season. Thomas, Copper and forward Satou Sabally seemingly struggled to figure out how to play together, and if the production wasn’t coming from them, I worried where it would come from. However, this is the playoffs. The playing field resets once you get there. Phoenix has this weird thing going on where they drop the first game of the series and then win out ― and it works.
Obviously, I’m being dramatic, and there’s a lot more that goes into it than that, like Sabally having four 20-point games at the right time, for instance. There’s also guard Sami Whitcomb and forward DeWanna Bonner’s very timely 3-point shooting that helped slam the door shut on Minnesota. Furthermore, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the 92.2 defensive rating that the Mercury have held during the playoffs.
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That’s some insanely good basketball when the team needs it most. I have to give credit to Phoenix and head coach Nate Tibbetts for the adjustments they’ve made on the fly to get to the most coveted stage in sports. Top dog. Underdog. Puppy dog ― the Mercury don’t care. There’s still dawgs.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Sorry, Phoenix Mercury. I wasn’t really familiar with your game
