The Mercury’s Bold Season: A Deep Dive into Phoenix’s Path to the Finals and a Series Sweep
The Phoenix Mercury came astonishingly close to lifting the trophy in 2021, advancing to the WNBA Finals for the fifth time in franchise history. They finished the regular season with a 19-13 record and surged through the playoffs, making a memorable late-season push that carried them to the championship round.
In the Finals, Phoenix faced the Chicago Sky and were edged 3-1 in the series opener. Still, the Mercury produced a standout season overall, picking up several impressive wins in the process. Notably, they swept the Sky in the regular season, notching a 3-0 series win over Chicago, a testament to their ability to seize momentum when it mattered most.
Phoenix also built meaningful momentum against other Eastern Conference opponents. One highlight came against the Atlanta Dream, beginning with a home victory. In mid-August, the Mercury defeated Atlanta 92-81, with Skylar Diggins delivering a standout performance to spark the win. Diggins posted 19 points, seven assists, and three rebounds, while Diana Taurasi contributed 18 points, six assists, five rebounds, and a block. Sophie Cunningham added 17 points along with a steal and a block, and Brittney Griner notched a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, complemented by Brianna Turner’s 10 points.
A week later, Phoenix carried that success on the road in Atlanta, grabbing an 84-69 victory. Diggins again led the charge with 25 points, seven assists, six rebounds, two steals, and a block. Taurasi totaled 18 points, Turner 15, and Griner 13, as the Mercury starters delivered a strong collective showing. Although Atlanta’s bench contributed 30 points, it wasn’t enough to overcome Phoenix’s starting unit.
The Mercury and the Dream faced off one more time, this time in a tighter contest in Atlanta. Phoenix emerged with a 76-75 win, thanks in large part to Shey Peddy’s 18-point breakout performance, which included three rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block. Diggins added 13 points, five assists, three rebounds, three steals, and a block, while Cunningham chipped in 10 points, three rebounds, and an assist.
Ultimately, Phoenix didn’t just win the series against Atlanta—they swept the set, underscoring the Mercury’s dominance within the conference and their capacity to control a matchup from start to finish.
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