WNBA: Copper, Cloud and Griner stand out for surging Mercury

Recent off a rollicking victory over the Dallas Wings, 100-84, the Phoenix Mercury (12-10) have three extra video games earlier than the All-Star/Olympic break, starting with a street take a look at in opposition to the Indiana Fever on Friday, July 12 (7:30 p.m. ET, ION).

On the final day of June, the veteran Mercury failed to shut out the upstart Fever, permitting Indiana to flee Phoenix with a 88-82 victory. The Mercury certainly hope to avenge that loss earlier than then reversing one other current consequence in opposition to the Connecticut Solar. Connecticut bested Phoenix 83-72 on the primary day of July. The rematch is Sunday, July 14 at Mohegan Solar Area (1 p.m. ET, ABC). The Mercury then end off the primary half(ish) of the season in DC, taking over the Washington Mystics in a matinee matchup on Tuesday, July 16 (11:30 a.m. ET, League Move).

A 3-game street journey definitely is just not an excellent pre-break schedule. Nevertheless, if the group can construct on their three-straight wins and reel off three extra victories, there shall be nothing however good emotions round Phoenix. For a group that entered the seasons with questions on how a lot new additions might solidify and strengthen an present infrastructure that had greater than wobbled in current seasons, a 15-10 file would current a resoundingly constructive evaluation.

As is, there’s loads of causes for optimism in Phoenix. Listed below are three of the most important ones:

Price each penny

Picture by Cooper Neill/Getty Photographs

Whereas pennies are manufactured from copper, Kahleah Copper supplies a lot (a lot, a lot) extra worth than one cent for the Mercury. Throughout the offseason, Phoenix swung a stunning blockbuster commerce for the 2021 Finals MVP, sacrificing the draft choose that turned Kamilla Cardoso, a future first-round choose and high quality function gamers, however she has been price it—after which some.

She notched her seventh recreation scoring 30 or extra factors on Wednesday, dropping 32 factors to guide the Mercury previous the Wings. All through the season, she has scored at a career-best tempo, averaging 23.0 factors per recreation, the second-best scoring mark within the league.

Copper can additional improve her worth to the Mercury by making use of her benefits extra constantly on the defensive finish. Final time Phoenix performed Indiana, she eagerly took on the Caitlin Clark task, aggressively hounding and harassing the rookie. That sort of effort shall be required once more on Friday night time, in addition to all through the second half of the season.

Cloud management

Picture by Kate Frese/NBAE through Getty Photographs

For a group that skilled its fair proportion of turbulence in current seasons, Natasha Cloud, the Mercury’s different key offseason addition, has ensured that the skies have remained fairly clear within the Valley. Whereas Copper and her explosive scoring performances could steal the headlines, Cloud has supplied extra thankless, but no much less important, play for the Mercury.

She ably controls the offense, averaging a career-high 7.2 assists per recreation as she units up the likes of Copper, Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner in favorable scoring conditions. She’s additionally posting profession greatest numbers in rebounds (4.4), steals (1.7) and blocks (0.6) per recreation, exerting the additional effort whilst she usually is tasked with guarding opponents’ energy forwards.

Cloud is also providing a number of the best scoring of her profession. Though her 3-point shot has been shaky, she constantly has cashed in contained in the arc, ending significantly successfully on the basket and from the deep midrange. She had all of it working in Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Sparks, when she completed with a career-high 31 factors, together with 9 boards, 5 assists and pair of steals and blocks.

BG is one of the best

Picture by Barry Gossage/NBAE through Getty Photographs

An enormous motive why each Copper and Cloud are compiling profession seasons: They’re enjoying alongside Brittney Griner.

As she is in her age 33 season, it was honest to marvel if Griner would start to point out indicators of decline. Griner lacking the primary 10 video games with a foot harm solely raised additional concern about her potential to constantly be at her greatest. Properly, Griner has assuaged any anxieties; she stays one of many biggest forces within the recreation.

Within the 12 video games she has performed, Phoenix is 8-4. When she’s on the courtroom, the Mercury outscore their opponents by a team-best seven factors per recreation. General, the group is a plus-84 in her 374 minutes of courtroom time. Unsurprisingly, Griner’s presence considerably improves the group’s offense and protection. The Phoenix assault hums to a tune of a 110.6 offensive score with BG, whereas the defensive score is a strong 99.7 along with her on the courtroom.

When it comes to custom stats, she’s averaging 19.7 factors and 6.7 boards per recreation, together with 1.4 blocks. And, she’s already tied her profession excessive with 9 3-points makes an attempt, making 4 of them. Two of these got here in Wednesday’s win over Dallas. Whereas she’s definitely not but one of many Mercury’s 3-point slinging sharpshooters, her proficiency from behind the arc is not not fascinating.