Connecticut Sun at Phoenix Mercury
· Women's National Basketball AssociationThomas scores 18 points, Sun defeat Mercury 78-71
After the Mercury, playing without the league's leading scorer Brittney Griner, pulled within 69-66 midway through the fourth quarter, Thomas sandwiched a pair of layups around a basket by Jonquel Jones to stop the rally.
Shekinna Stricklin followed up a pair of baskets by Courtney Williams with a 3-pointer that pushed the Connecticut lead to 58-38 at the 6:50 mark of the third quarter. Phoenix then rallied without Griner, who was serving the first game of a three-game suspension because of a fight in a game on Saturday. The Sun missed 17 of 20 shots beginning late in the third quarter and the Mercury turned a 10-0 run into a 15-1 surge to make it a game.
Jones finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Courtney Williams had 12 points and Bria Holmes and Alyssa Thomas had 11 each for Connecticut.
The Sun (17-8) remain in second place after ending a two-game losing streak while Phoenix (11-13) has lost three straight and five of six while holding down the eighth and final playoff spot.
DeWanna Bonner led the Mercury with 17 points and Yvonne Turner had 15.
Regular Season Series
CON wins series 3-0
Recent Plays
| 4th 0.0 |  |
End of Game | 78 - 71 |
| 4th 0.0 | |
End of the 4th Quarter | 78 - 71 |
| 4th 12.7 |  |
Yvonne Turner makes free throw 2 of 2 | 78 - 71 |
| 4th 12.7 | |
Yvonne Turner makes free throw 1 of 2 | 78 - 70 |
| 4th 12.7 |  |
Theresa Plaisance shooting foul | 78 - 69 |
Statistics
 CON |
 PHX |
|
|---|---|---|
| 30-67 | FG | 22-57 |
| 45 | Field Goal % | 39 |
| 7-24 | 3PT | 1-15 |
| 29 | Three Point % | 7 |
| 11-23 | FT | 26-32 |
| 48 | Free Throw % | 81 |
| 35 | Rebounds | 32 |
| 13 | Offensive Rebounds | 9 |
| 22 | Defensive Rebounds | 23 |
| 17 | Assists | 12 |
| 6 | Steals | 7 |
| 5 | Blocks | 0 |
| 15 | Turnovers | 19 |
| 1 | Team Turnovers | 1 |
| 16 | Total Turnovers | 20 |
| 1 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 1 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 16 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 21 |
| 8 | Fast Break Points | 6 |
| 38 | Points in Paint | 38 |
| 25 | Fouls | 23 |
| 20 | Largest Lead | 0 |
Game Information
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Attendance: 8,734 · Capacity:
2025-26 Eastern Conference Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Indiana |
- | 10 | W4 | 0.64285713 | 18 |
 Atlanta |
0.5 | 10 | W4 | 0.6296296 | 17 |
 Washington |
2.5 | 12 | W3 | 0.5555556 | 15 |
 New York |
2.5 | 13 | L1 | 0.55172414 | 16 |
 Toronto |
8 | 18 | L5 | 0.35714287 | 10 |
 Chicago |
8 | 18 | W1 | 0.35714287 | 10 |
 Connecticut |
11.5 | 22 | L4 | 0.2413793 | 7 |
2025-26 Western Conference Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Minnesota |
- | 6 | W9 | 0.8 | 24 |
 Las Vegas |
3 | 8 | W2 | 0.71428573 | 20 |
 Golden State |
4 | 9 | L2 | 0.6785714 | 19 |
 Dallas |
5 | 10 | L1 | 0.64285713 | 18 |
 Portland |
12 | 17 | L3 | 0.39285713 | 11 |
 Phoenix |
12.5 | 18 | W3 | 0.37931034 | 11 |
 Los Angeles |
12.5 | 17 | L6 | 0.37037036 | 10 |
 Seattle |
18 | 24 | L7 | 0.2 | 6 |
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