Mercury opens preseason with win over Sparks

By Scott Mammoser and Marta De Leon

PHOENIX – Appearing at Talking Stick Resort Arena for the first time in eight months, the Phoenix Mercury topped the Los Angeles Sparks, 82-75, in preseason play on Saturday night.

The Mercury came to play in the first quarter of this preseason game with Brittney Griner tipping the ball to start. It was up by as much seven points at the midpoint. DeWanna Bonner led that effort coming up with six points in the first quarter, trying to hold on to the lead.

Los Angeles came back to lead most of the second quarter. Four turnovers resulting in seven points for the Sparks expanded their lead. Nneka Ogwumike came back into the game halfway through the second quarter and managed to score six points in just five minutes. Phoenix returned in the second half to claim the pace and took a 21-12 fourth quarter edge to the win.

Phoenix selected three players in the April 10 draft: Alanna Smith, (eighth overall from Stanford), Sophie Cunningham (13^th from Missouri), and Arica Carter (32^nd from Louisville). In addition, the team acquired Brianna Turner, from NCAA finalist Notre Dame, in a draft day trade with Atlanta for center Marie Gulich.

“I liked their sense of urgency,” Mercury coach Sandy Brondello said. “Particularly in that second half, we had too many breakdowns. We can’t be individual defenders instead of team defenders, and our strength is all of us together. Someone has your back there. I think that helped us. The rookies, they just competed. I told them to just go out there and play hard, and that’s what happened. They shared the ball around, and we’ll learn a lot from it.”

Cunningham, the former All-SEC performer, was second on the Mercury with 10 points, behind DeWanna Bonner’s 20.

“I think going out there first, you’re a little nervous and shaky, but I think the stars did a good job of setting the tone,” Cunningham said. “We stopped the three-point shooting, and in the fourth quarter, we did a good job too. I’m really happy to get the first win of my professional career. You don’t know what to expect when you’re coming in as a rookie, but we have a lot of good people showing us the ropes. This team right here is doing a great job of helping us, and it’s nice to have that.”

Smith scored five points, with seven rebounds and five assists in 25 minutes, and Carter was 2-of-2 from downtown for six points in 12 minutes.

“I’m excited I had the opportunity to play,” Carter said. “My teammates are encouraging me and supporting me every day.” “It helps to play my game and get the ball to my teammates.”

Emese Hof, a rookie free agent signee from the Miami Hurricanes, entered at the beginning of the fourth quarter and recorded two points.

On the other side, the Sparks possessed two draft picks, and both of those players faced off in the NCAA championship game in Tampa Bay one month ago. Kalani Brown of champion Baylor did not see action on Saturday, and Marina Mabrey of Notre Dame scored 11 points in 17 minutes. Ashley Walker, 32, who has appeared in 22 WNBA games and none since 2013, led the team with 16 points.

The Mercury has one more preseason game, at Seattle on May 15, before the regular season begins on May 25, also in Seattle – the defending champions. The home opener is at 7 p.m. on May 31 against Las Vegas. The Sparks’ second preseason game will be hosting the Storm on May 17.