The Seattle Storm won their first three games against reigning WNBA champion Phoenix this season, but if they hope to take the last one, they'll have to do it without one of their best players.

Still without Lauren Jackson, the Storm will be trying for their first-ever season sweep of the last-place Mercury when they visit Phoenix on Friday.

Seattle (16-8) has won the last three season series against Phoenix (11-14), but has not pulled off a sweep in the eight years the teams have faced one another. Pulling off the fourth win of the season against the Mercury won't be easy - though they lead the all-time series 19-11, the Storm are just 7-8 in Arizona.

Making the task even more daunting, Seattle will be without Jackson, who led the team with an average of 25.0 points in the first three meetings. Jackson, third in the league with 20.2 points per game, has already joined the Australian national team in preparation for the Beijing Olympics next month, missing the Storm's last three games.

Seattle has held Phoenix to just 79.3 points per game - more than 10 points under the club's league-leading season average. The Mercury's Diana Taurasi, who leads the WNBA with 23.5 points per game, has averaged 25.3 against the Storm.

The Storm are a half-game behind San Antonio for first place in the Western Conference.

Seattle has won eight of its last nine, including Tuesday's 76-73 win over Minnesota. Sue Bird scored 22 points for the Storm, who bounced back from an 89-57 defeat at Washington two days earlier that ended their seven-game winning streak.

"Maybe a blessing in disguise," Bird said of the loss.

The Storm, who are limiting opponents to 70.0 points per game, were able to hold Minnesota's top scorers, Seimone Augustus and rookie Candice Wiggins, in check for most of the game. Augustus shot 3-for-16 from the floor and Wiggins went 3-for-11.

Seattle also won despite being without veteran forward Yolanda Griffith, who was nursing a migraine. Sheryl Swoopes played less than 12 minutes due to a hamstring injury that sidelined her for the second half.

"I'm just really proud of our team today," coach Brian Agler said. "It obviously gives us a great deal of confidence."

The Mercury lost for the fifth time in seven games Thursday, falling 83-74 to Sacramento. Cappie Pondexter, who ranks second in the league with 22.8 points per game, scored 23, and Taurasi chipped in 17.

"We played well in stretches, but not well enough to win the game," Taurasi said. "We gave it a good effort and just came up short."