Phoenix Mercury at San Antonio Stars
· Women's National Basketball Association
Jia Perkins hits late 3, Stars beat Mercury for 1st win
Perkins scored nine of her 13 points in the fourth quarter as San Antonio (1-6) put an end to its worst start in franchise history.
Sophia Young-Malcolm led San Antonio with 21 points in her second consecutive start. Danielle Robinson had 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, and rookie Dearica Hamby grabbed 14 rebounds.
San Antonio took an 11-1 lead as Phoenix missed its first 10 shots. The Stars led 17-9 after one, holding the Mercury to 18 percent shooting. Stars coach Dan Hughes was called for two technical fouls with 6:58 left in the second quarter after arguing with officials and was ejected.
DeWanna Bonner had 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists for Phoenix (3-4) in its final game of Brittney Griner's seven-game suspension. The 2014 Defensive Player of the Year is set to return Saturday in Minnesota.
The Mercury started the third quarter on a 9-2 run, capped by Bonner's 3-pointer, to take its first lead since it was 1-0. Phoenix scored 27 points in the third quarter after trailing 32-27 at halftime, and held a 54-48 lead.
Regular Season Series
PHX wins series 3-1
Recent Plays
| 4th 0.0 |  |
End of Game | 71 - 76 |
| 4th 0.0 | |
End of the 4th Quarter | 71 - 76 |
| 4th 7.0 |  |
Jia Perkins defensive rebound | 71 - 76 |
| 4th 8.0 |  |
Leilani Mitchell misses 23-foot | 71 - 76 |
| 4th 14.0 | |
Noelle Quinn enters the game for Cayla Francis | 71 - 76 |
Statistics
 PHX |
 SA |
|
|---|---|---|
| 27-74 | FG | 27-63 |
| 36 | Field Goal % | 43 |
| 4-11 | 3PT | 4-13 |
| 36 | Three Point % | 31 |
| 13-18 | FT | 18-21 |
| 72 | Free Throw % | 86 |
| 30 | Rebounds | 48 |
| 8 | Offensive Rebounds | 12 |
| 22 | Defensive Rebounds | 36 |
| 16 | Assists | 18 |
| 12 | Steals | 6 |
| 8 | Blocks | 4 |
| 10 | Turnovers | 19 |
| 0 | Team Turnovers | 0 |
| 10 | Total Turnovers | 19 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 2 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 2 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 12 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 18 |
| 8 | Fast Break Points | 11 |
| 24 | Points in Paint | 34 |
| 19 | Fouls | 20 |
Game Information
Location: San Antonio, TX
Attendance: 1,738 · Capacity:
2025-26 Western Conference Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Minnesota |
- | 9 | L2 | 0.775 | 31 |
 Golden State |
2 | 11 | W4 | 0.725 | 29 |
 Las Vegas |
4 | 13 | W3 | 0.675 | 27 |
 Dallas |
7 | 16 | W4 | 0.6 | 24 |
 Portland |
15 | 24 | L1 | 0.4 | 16 |
 Los Angeles |
16 | 25 | W2 | 0.375 | 15 |
 Phoenix |
17 | 26 | W1 | 0.35 | 14 |
 Seattle |
23 | 32 | L1 | 0.2 | 8 |
WNBA News
Germany beats South Korea, rolls into World Cup quarterfinals
Host Germany advanced to the quarterfinals of the women's FIBA World Cup with a morale-boosting 94-56 rout of South Korea on Tuesday, and the United States learned its next opponent.
Potential WNBA commissioner candidates to succeed Cathy Engelbert
Executives from the WNBA, NBA and Nike are among potential candidates to succeed Cathy Engelbert when she retires.
Arena for 76ers, Flyers to open in 2030, marks 'new era'
The 76ers and Flyers have unveiled renderings of their new fully privately funded arena in South Philadelphia, which is targeted to open before the WNBA season in 2030.
U.S. closes pool play with 105-64 rout of Czechia
The United States routed Czechia 105-64 to close out pool play at the FIBA World Cup and rebound from a tough performance against Italy.
Belgium's Julie Allemand breaks World Cup assist record in win
Julie Allemand broke Spain's Laia Palau's mark of 108 assists in the first half of Belgium's 80-68 win over Australia that clinched a spot in the quarterfinals. She now has 111 in her World Cup career.