The Phoenix Mercury are officially out of playoff contention. They dropped a tough one, 97-87, to the Atlanta Dream on Saturday, Aug. 22, at Mortgage Matchup Center, sealing their fate. It’s a brutal end to what’s been a frustrating season, even with Kahleah Copper going absolutely off for 38 points and Alyssa Thomas snagging her third triple-double of the year with 11 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists.
The Fight That Couldn’t Turn The Tide
The game itself was a battle, especially in the second half. The Mercury were down by as many as 16 points in the third quarter, but they didn’t just roll over. They actually outscored the Dream by 10 points in that stretch, shooting a blazing 59.1% (13-of-22) from the field. Copper was on fire, hitting all but two of her nine shots and racking up 18 of the team’s 33 points during that push. Coach Nate Tibbetts acknowledged the effort, saying, “Right now, we’re playing for pride, and I think all of us are disappointed with how the year has gone.” He added that the second half showed the kind of passion and standard the team should be playing with.
What Went Wrong for Phoenix
Despite the late-game fight, the loss was a stark reminder of Phoenix’s struggles all season long. After making it all the way to the WNBA Finals just last year, this 2026 Mercury squad, now sitting at a disappointing 13-24 record, seriously underwhelmed. Tibbetts pointed to a few key factors that derailed their season early: a rash of injuries, consistent defensive struggles, and a glaring lack of 3-point shooting. It’s a tough pill to swallow when you know what this team is capable of.
This team now has to play out the string for pride alone. The focus immediately shifts to next season, and how they fix those defensive woes and find some shooters to get back to playing at a Finals level.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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