Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the WNBA daily as we try to heal from this pandemic.
Skylar Diggins-Smith led the Mercury to a losing streak stoppage.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Meg Oliphant/Getty Images.)
The Phoenix Mercury went to the beloved city of Angels and won against the Los Angeles Sparks to stop their four-game losing slide.
The Merc got off to an 11-3 start before the Sparks made a comeback to tie the game at the end of the first.
From there, the Mercury slowly separated themselves. Skylar Diggins-Smith scored 9 of her 21 points in the second quarter. Phoenix would lead by 8 at the half.
The Sparks closed in to get it down to four late in the third but playoff heroine Shey Peddy made a huge four-point play to double the lead. A technical free throw would be shot by Peddy later before it was followed by a huge three by Kia Nurse. The Sparks never got closer than 9 points and even then, they were buried with a 9-0 run to make sure they wouldn’t get back in the game again.
The Mercury would get revenge from their previous loss against L.A. last Wednesday. And as mentioned, the Merc stopped a four-game losing streak. They’re still without Diana Taurasi at this time but she’s supposed to return next Sunday, the 27th, when they face the Sparks for the third straight game.
WNBA Scoreboard
June 18, 2021
Watch This Play
As mentioned, Shey Peddy had a huge four-point play that gave the Mercury some distance.
PEDDY. STEP-BACK 3. AND-1. 😤
📺 @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/5H58sxN9n0
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 19, 2021
The Sparks and Mercury will go at it again next week.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the WNBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.
R.I.P. Nala.