KEY STAT

• The Phoenix Mercury held Connecticut’s offense in check all night, holding the Sun to season-low marks for points in a quarter (six in the second quarter), points in a half (21 in the first half), field goals in a quarter (3 in second quarter) and field goals in a half (10 in first half). The Mercury took the lead into halftime and never looked back, extending its record to 8-0 this season when leading at the half.

HIGHLIGHTS

• With the win the Mercury match the franchise’s best start thru 12 games tying the 9-3 mark set in 1998 and 2014. The win also moves the Mercury into sole possession of the number two spot in the league standings trailing Los Angeles(7-2) by half a game.
• The Trio of Brittney Griner (12), DeWanna Bonner (15) and Diana Taurasi (19) all scored 12-plus points for the ninth time on the year. The Mercury is a perfect 9-0 on the season when the feat occurs.
• The Sun, who entered the game ranked third in the league in assists at 20.5 per game, were held to a season-low 12 assists by the Mercury, who entered the game allowing the fewest assists in the league.
• The Mercury outrebound the Sun 36-to-30 in the contest. This moves the Mercury’s record to 4-0 on the season when it outrebounds its opponent.
• The Mercury scored a season-high 17 second chance points on nine offensive rebounds, surpassing the team’s previous high of 11 set against Chicago June 8th. The team shot 7-for-12 (.583) on second chance attempts in the contest.
• Diana Taurasi scored 19 points on 5-of-11 from the field including 4-for-7 from three-point range, also adding four assists. Her four assists gave her 1,711 for her career, as she moved past Becky Hammond (1,708) for fourth on the WNBA’s all-time assists list.
• Phoenix, who entered the night leading the league in assists at 20.7 per game, had 23 dimes on the night. This was the seventh time in eight games the team has recorded 20-plus assists, and the eighth time on the season.
• Briann January racked up a season-high eight assists on the night, seven of which came in the first half of tonight’s game.
• Sancho Lyttle narrowly missed her second double-double of the season, putting up 14 points and nine rebounds going a perfect 6-for-6 from the field in just 18 minutes of action for the Mercury.

• The Mercury received 26 points from its bench this evening, the most points scored by the Phoenix bench this season.

• Connecticut’s Morgan Tuck scored a season-high 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field, including 3-of-5 from deep in her first career start. Her previous high on the season was nine points which she posted against Chicago June 1st.

• Connecticut’s Brionna Jones scored a career-high 17 points on 6-for-11 shooting from the field. She surpassed her previous career high of 13 set on September 1, 2017 against the Mercury.

Mercury Head Coach SANDY BRONDELLO

(On Sancho Lyttle and Camille Little…)

“I thought both of them were very good. Sancho’s pick and roll game with Bri was fantastic, making those open shots. Her defense, her rebounding, everything that we talked about at the start of the season that she would bring to the team, that’s exactly what you are seeing. She can score on any given night, that is just an added bonus and she did not miss one tonight. Camille too, they worked well together. You saw they both played together at some stage, and they had really good chemistry. It is critical for us. That is what we need. We needed better rebounding and defense, and they are giving us the scoring too.”

(On Defense…)

“It’s team defense. We executed the scout, and we thought we had a good game plan going in. It’s more about being at the point of the screen, pushing into the screens, making sure there is pressure behind the ball, and finishing play. They did get eight offensive rebounds in that first half, but they only scored five points out of it. Those things are critical for us. Our activity is getting better and better, it helped that we had a few days off before we played and we had a little fresher legs. But for one stretch they had two points in the last four minutes of that second quarter so I was really happy with our defensive effort.

Mercury guard Diana Taurasi 19 points | 4 assists

(On ball movement…)

“It is the best feeling when you’re on the basketball shot and you know the next person is going to turn down a good shot for a better shot, and you know you will do the same thing for the next person. If we play with that type of trust and confidence in each other, we can do some pretty good things this year.”

(On veteran experience…)

“We have a willingness to trust each other, and know that the only way we are going to be successful is by helping each other. An extra pass or a hockey assist. It is a ripple effect, and we have been doing a pretty good job of that.”

Mercury center Brittney Griner 12 points | 7 Rebounds

(On Pride Night fans…)

“They packed out the house tonight, and they are the best fans. Everybody knows when they come into Phoenix that the X factor is going to be on them the whole time.”

 (On beating a top team…)

“We were just on it. Knocking down the shots they were giving us coming off screens. They wanted to double me and bring the trap before I even got the ball. It’s amazing how we have weapons all over the floor. Sancho started off hot, D hitting big shots, it was just a really good team effort.”

Sun Head Coach Curt miller

(On the game…)

“I’m proud of our players. Third game in four days, three different cities, tough back to back, two of our superstars out tonight. We just couldn’t make shots in the first half, credit to them. It got away from us in the first half, really disappointing second quarter but I’m proud that we didn’t hang our heads.

(On adjusting to finish off road trip…)

“We finally get two days off so we’re going to take a couple days off and then get back on the road. We don’t even play a home game for a month. It is what it is. If we can survive until mid-July and keep our head above water, then we are going to be rewarded with a lot of home games coming down the stretch.

(On Brionna Jones having a career night…)

“She was tremendous and scored around the rim. She gave us a big presence inside. I’m really proud of Brionna. With Chiney out, JJ (Jonquel Jones)’s more of a finesse post player that goes in and out, Bri (Brionna Jones) really gives us a space eater around the rim and had a really nice night for us.”

Sun Forward Morgan Tuck 20 points |5 REBOUNDS

(On missing three point shots)

“I think we got a lot of good looks we just weren’t making them. It was just one of those nights.”

(On having a game plan for DB, DT, and BG…)

“A lot of it’s just containing. Especially with Diana and Brittney averaging 20 a game and DeWanna not far behind. It’s just really containing and just trying to make some of the other players take shots.”

Sun Center Brionna Jones 17 points | 4 rebounds

(On getting a career high…)

“It’s great, but it’s just trying to stay ready whenever my number’s called. I think tonight we showed that we’re a really deep team and we just have to step up when we have players out.”

(On mindset with absence of Chiney Ogwumike and Alyssa Thomas…)

“It’s different. We have to do everything with a pack mentality I think. We did that anyway but I think we have to emphasize that more now that they’re out. But I think it’s like Tuck said, we just have to have a better start and going from there.”