game-recap-sun-vs-mercury-8-5-25

Game Recap: Sun vs. Mercury (8/5/25)

With the WNBA trade deadline on Thursday, August 7 at 3 p.m. ET, now is the time for contending teams to bolster their rosters for the stretch run.
The deadline coincides with the season reaching 70% completion, meaning there will be less than a third of the schedule remaining for teams to secure their playoff position and ready their playoff rotations.
The league-leading Lynx were the first team to make a move on Sunday, acquiring guard/forward DiJonai Carrington – the 2024 Most Improved Player and All-Defensive First Team selection – from Dallas for former No. 2 overall pick Diamond Miller, an injured Karlie Samuelson and a 2027 second-round pick.
The Lynx already own the league’s top defense in terms of opponent points allowed (75.4 ppg), defensive rating (95.1) and opponent effective field goal percentage (46.8%). Now, they add a strong on-ball defender to the mix as they eye the top seed in the playoffs (they currently hold a 5.5-game lead) and pursue a record fifth WNBA title.
With Minnesota setting the tone, how will fellow contenders respond before Thursday’s deadline? We’ll dive into that next week. For now, here’s how the field stacks up this week.
&nbsp;
<h2>1. Minnesota Lynx (24-5) ↔️</h2>
Last Week: 1 
This Week: Tue. at SEA, Fri. vs. WAS, Sun. at NYL
While the Lynx are coming off a historic 111-58 win in Las Vegas on Saturday – the 53-point margin of victory is the largest for any road team, the second-largest for any game in WNBA history, a franchise record 17 triples, including eight in the 1st half from Kayla McBride – all eyes are focused on the right ankle of Napheesa Collier. The league’s leading scorer and MVP frontrunner suffered the injury late in the 3rd quarter against the Aces and did not return. No timetable has been set for her return.
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<h2>2. Atlanta Dream (18-11) ⬆️</h2>
Last Week: 3 
This Week: Thur. at CHI, Sun. at PHX
After falling to Golden State in the closing seconds on Tuesday, the Dream won three straight to close the week and have won five of their last six games overall. Allisha Gray leads the WNBA in 3-pointers made (73) and ranks 12th in 3-point percentage (40.8%) for the season. Over the past six games, she’s been on fire, hitting 50% of her triples (17-of-34), while leading five Dream players averaging 12+ points with 19.2 ppg.
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<h2>3. New York Liberty (18-10) ⬇️</h2>
Last Week: 2 
This Week: Tue. vs. DAL, Fri. at DAL, Sun. vs. MIN
Sunday’s win over Connecticut helped the Liberty snap a four-game losing streak – New York’s longest skid since July 2022. With Breanna Stewart diagnosed with a right knee bone bruise and no timetable for a return, the Liberty added another former Finals MVP to their frontline with 2019 winner Emma Meesseman joining Jonquel Jones (2024) and Stewart (2018, 2020). The defending champs open the week with a home-and-home set with Dallas before hosting the Lynx in the second of four 2024 Finals rematches in the span of three weeks (July 30-Aug. 19).
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<h2>4. Indiana Fever (17-12) ⬆️</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-201377" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227107833-1-scaled.jpg" alt="Aari McDonald #2 of the Indiana Fever " width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227107833-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227107833-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227107833-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227107833-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227107833-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227107833-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Last Week: 6 
This Week: Tue. at LAS, Thur. at PHX, Sat. vs. CHI
The title of “hottest team in the league” entering this week belongs to the Fever, who have won five straight games and eight of their last 10. Tomorrow in L.A., the Fever will look to match their longest win streak in a decade as they visit the Sparks seeking a sixth straight W. This streak has come while Caitlin Clark remains sidelined (groin) as Indiana is now 9-7 without the reigning Rookie of the Year this season.
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<h2>5. Phoenix Mercury (17-11) ⬇️</h2>
Last Week: 4 
This Week: Tue. vs. CON, Thur. vs. IND, Sun. vs. ATL
Behind 25 points from Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas’ league-record 13th career regular season triple-double (10 pts, 10 reb, 10 ast), the Mercury defeated the Sky on Sunday to avoid an 0-3 week. However, Phoenix is just 2-5 of its last seven games following a 9-2 run that had the Mercury in second place in the league at 15-6 in mid-July. Phoenix opens a four-game homestand on Tuesday, looking to build on a 9-4 home record this season compared to 8-7 on the road.
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<h2>6. Seattle Storm (16-13) ⬇️</h2>
Last Week: 5 
This Week: Tue. vs. MIN, Fri. at LVA, Sun. at LAS
The Storm are just 2-4 since the All-Star break and are coming off back-to-back close losses – a two-point loss to L.A. in a double-overtime thriller despite a season-high 37 points from Nneka Ogwumike, and a four-point loss to red-hot Indiana. Seattle sits in the middle of a crowded pack from No. 2 New York to No. 10 Los Angeles in the standings – the No. 6 Storm are 2.5 games back of the Liberty and 3.0 games up on the Sparks.
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<h2>7. Las Vegas Aces (15-14) ↔️</h2>
Last Week: 7 ↔️
This Week: Wed. at GSV, Fri. vs. SEA, Sun. vs. CON
The Aces had a rollercoaster week. They began with a 15-point win over L.A., snapping the Sparks’ five-game win streak behind Jackie Young’s first triple-double and A’ja Wilson’s 34 points. They followed that with the second-largest loss in league history (-53) to Minnesota. Then, they rebounded with a 24-point win over Golden State to close the week 2-1 despite a minus-14 point differential. Despite the up-and-down week, they maintain their hold on the No. 7 spot in the power rankings.
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<h2>8. Golden State Valkyries (14-14) ⬆️</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-201375" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227474424-scaled.jpg" alt="Tiffany Hayes #15 of the Golden State Valkyries" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227474424-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227474424-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227474424-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227474424-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227474424-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227474424-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Last Week: 10 
This Week: Wed. vs. LVA, Sat. vs. LAS
Sunday’s loss to the Aces snapped a three-game win streak for the Valkyries and was the only thing that kept them from leaping Las Vegas in these rankings. After a 3-1 week, the Valkyries are 14-14 on the season – putting them in contention for the best inaugural season by a WNBA expansion team ever. Only three teams have won more than 14 games – the 1999 Lynx and Miracle each went 15-17, while the 1998 Shock went 17-13. That Shock team is the only expansion team to finish above .500, which is in play for the Valkyries.
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<h2>9. Los Angeles Sparks (12-15) ⬇️</h2>
Last Week: 8 
This Week: Tue. vs. IND, Thur. vs. CON, Sat. at GSV, Sun. vs. SEA
The Sparks had their five-game win streak snapped by Las Vegas, but bounced back with a double-overtime win over the Storm in one of the top games of the season. Dearica Hamby hit the game-winning layup with 4.3 seconds left, but it was L.A.’s balance with four 20+ point scorers that shined in the win. Leading the way with 27 points was Rickea Jackson, who has had four 20+ point games during L.A.’s current hot streak. After going 6-14 in their first 20 games, the Sparks are 6-1 in their last seven.
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<h2>10. Washington Mystics (13-15) ⬇️</h2>
Last Week: 9 
This Week: Tue. at CHI, Fri. at MIN, Sun. at DAL
After a 6-2 stretch lifted the Mystics over .500 prior to All-Star, Washington has gone 2-5 in its last seven games and – at No. 9 in the standings – is currently the first team on the outside looking in on the playoff picture. Something to watch down the stretch is how the Mystics fare in close games. They have played in a league-high seven games decided by three points or less, and are 3-4 in those games so far.
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<h2>11. Dallas Wings (8-21) ⬆️</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-201378" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227938248-scaled.jpg" alt="Paige Bueckers #5 of the Dallas Wings" width="960" height="595" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227938248-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227938248-300x186.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227938248-1024x635.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227938248-768x476.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227938248-1536x952.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227938248-2048x1270.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Last Week: 12 
This Week: Tue. at NYL, Fri. vs. NYL, Sun. vs. WAS
The Wings have the frontrunner in the Rookie of the Year race in No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers – who not only leads all rookies but ranks in the top 10 in the entire league in points (18.5 ppg, 7th), assists (5.5 apg, 9th) and steals (1.8 spg, 3rd). Now, they add another lottery pick to the roster in 2023 No. 2 pick Diamond Miller from Minnesota in the trade for DiJonai Carrington. Will an expanded role in Dallas help Miller showcase her full potential?
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<h2>12. Chicago Sky (7-21) ⬇️</h2>
Last Week: 11 
This Week: Tue. vs. WAS, Thur. vs. ATL, Sat. at IND
The Sky have dropped eight straight games – their longest losing streak since dropping nine straight in 2012. Angel Reese (back) has missed five of Chicago’s last seven games as the Sky are now 0-5 without her on the season and 1-10 without her for her career. Chicago will look to end the slide this week with home games against the Mystics and Dream before heading to Indiana on Saturday to face the Fever.
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<h2>13. Connecticut Sun (5-22) ↔️</h2>
Last Week: 13 
This Week: Tue. at PHX, Thur. at LAS, Sun. at LVA
Since Marina Mabrey returned to the lineup following the All-Star break, the Sun have gone 2-3 with home wins over the Valkyries and Liberty. Now, the Sun hit the road for four straight games and will look to improve on their 1-11 mark away from Mohegan Sun this season.
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Longtime WNBA reporter Brian Martin writes articles on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.

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Latest

Marina Mabrey

CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
<ul>
<li>2019: Selected No. 19 overall in the WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.</li>
<li>2020: Traded to the Dallas Wings prior to the 2020 season.</li>
<li>2023: Traded to the Chicago Sky prior to the 2023 season.</li>
<li>2024: Traded to the Connecticut Sun on July 17, 2024.</li>
</ul>
2024 SEASON WITH CHICAGO AND CONNECTICUT:
<ul>
<li>Appeared and started in 24 games for the Chicago Sky prior to being traded to the Connecticut Sun on July 17, 2024.</li>
<li>Appeared in 16 regular season games for the Sun, starting in three.</li>
<li>Averaged 14.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.</li>
<li>Tallied a season-high 26 points against Los Angeles on September 10 (Connecticut).</li>
<li>Grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds against New York on July 13 (Chicago).</li>
<li>Recorded a career-high three blocks against Connecticut (Chicago).</li>
<li>Tied her career-high with six three-point field goals on two occasions (May 30 vs. Los Angeles- with Chicago, September 10 vs. Los Angeles- with Connecticut).</li>
<li>Led the Sun in scoring on five occasions during the regular season.</li>
<li>Represented the Sun in the Starry 3-pt contest and the Kia Skills Challenge at the 2024 WNBA All-Star Weekend.</li>
<li>Eclipsed 2,000 career-point against the Dallas Wings on June 20 (with Chicago).</li>
<li>Appeared in seven playoff contests for the Sun, starting in four.</li>
<li>Averaged 15.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 0.9 blocks per game.</li>
<li>Notched a postseason career-high 27 points and five three-point field goals against Indiana on September 22.</li>
<li>Dished out a postseason career-high six assists against Indiana on September 25.</li>
<li>Finished in the WNBA Semifinals (lost to Minnesota, 3-2).</li>
</ul>
2023 SEASON WITH CHICAGO:
<ul>
<li>Appeared and started in 39 regular season games for the Chicago Sky.</li>
<li>Averaged a career-high 15.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game.</li>
<li>Eclipsed 1,500 career-points against the Seattle Storm on July 22.</li>
<li>Recorded a career-high 36 points against Indiana on June 15.</li>
<li>Tied her career-high with three offensive rebounds on two occasions (July 22 vs. Seattle and August 22 vs. Seattle).</li>
<li>Finished with a career-high 13 free throws made against Dallas on August 6.</li>
<li>Appeared and started in two playoff contests for the Sky.</li>
<li>Averaged 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game.</li>
<li>Finished in the First Round of the WNBA Playoffs (lost to Las Vegas, 2-0).</li>
</ul>
2022 SEASON WITH DALLAS:
<ul>
<li>Appeared in 34 regular season games for Dallas, starting in 32.</li>
<li>Averaged 13.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 0.8 steals per game.</li>
<li>Eclipsed 1,000 career points against Seattle on July 12.</li>
<li>Recorded a season-high 31 points on August 8 against New York.</li>
<li>Dished out a season-high 10 assists on May 19 at Phoenix.</li>
<li>Grabbed a season-high three steals on three occasions (June 3 vs. Seattle, July 28 vs. Washington and August 2 vs. Chicago).</li>
<li>Appeared and started in three playoff contests for the Wings.</li>
<li>Averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.7 steals per game.</li>
<li>Recorded a postseason high 20 points against Connecticut on August 24.</li>
<li>Finished in the First Round of the WNBA Playoffs (lost to Connecticut, 2-1).</li>
</ul>
2021 SEASON WITH DALLAS:
<ul>
<li>Appeared in 32 regular season games for Dallas, starting in eight.</li>
<li>Averaged 13.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game.</li>
<li>Logged eight 20+ point performances and 20 10+ point performances.</li>
<li>Recorded a season-high 28 points on two occasions (June 19 vs. Minnesota and July 2 vs. Chicago).</li>
<li>Appeared in one playoff contest for the Wings.</li>
<li>Finished in the First Round of the WNBA Playoffs (lost to Chicago, 1-0).</li>
</ul>
2020 SEASON WITH DALLAS:
<ul>
<li>Appeared in 18 regular season games for Dallas, starting in 12.</li>
<li>Averaged 10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game.</li>
<li>Logged a season-high 24 points against New York on September 13.</li>
<li>Finished in double-figure scoring in 12 contests.</li>
</ul>
2019 SEASON WITH LOS ANGELES:
<ul>
<li>Appeared in 31 regular season games for Los Angeles during her rookie season.</li>
<li>Averaged 4.0 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.</li>
<li>Recorded her first career points against Las Vegas on May 26 (six points).</li>
<li>Tallied a season-high 14 points against Connecticut on June 6.</li>
<li>Appeared in three playoff contests for the Sparks.</li>
<li>Finished in the WNBA Semifinals (lost to Connecticut, 2-0).</li>
</ul>

Marina Mabrey signed a Contract Amendment - Time-Off Bonus with the Connecticut Sun.