Mercury receive big boost ahead of WNBA Finals Game 3 vs. Aces originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Phoenix Mercury ended Game 2 of the WNBA Finals with mounting problems. The elite defense they had flashed in the first two rounds of the playoffs had been decimated by A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young; their reliable bench scoring had disappeared; and the Las Vegas Aces, after rallying to win Game 1, built a 2-0 lead after winning 91-78 on Sunday afternoon.
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The Mercury fostered further concern over All-Star forward Satou Sabally, who had to leave late on Game 2 after stepping on Wilson’s foot. But fortunately for Phoenix, Sabally has dismissed concerns over a possible right ankle injury; she worked out normally on Tuesday, with no brace, as the Mercury prepare to host their first WNBA Finals game in four years on Wednesday night.
MORE: The Mercury need this star to step up against the Aces in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals
Sabally scored 22 points in the Game 2 loss, including 10 in the fourth quarter. The Mercury hope that hot final frame translates to Game 3 at Mortgage Matchup Center, which last hosted a WNBA Finals game on Oct. 13, 2021.
So far, the Aces have had all the answers for the Mercury’s physical defense, the tone of which is set by the team’s All-Star point forward Alyssa Thomas. Las Vegas’ zone defense slowed down Phoenix dramatically after a strong start to Game 1, and the Mercury shot only 38 percent in the first half of Game 2 while bench contributors DeWanna Bonner (four points in Game 2) and Sami Whitcomb (zero points) struggled to find their rhythm.
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The Mercury are 3-1 at home this postseason; the Aces are just 1-2 on the road. That trend will have to continue if Phoenix is to get back into this series — and a healthy Sabally will be vital to that effort.
