Mercury vs. Sun Preview: Cooper Questionable as Sun Aims for Third Straight Win and Second Place in League

On September 14 at 10 AM, the WNBA regular season continues with the Phoenix Mercury hosting the Connecticut Sun.

The Phoenix Mercury’s performance this season has not been great, currently holding a record of 17 wins and 19 losses, placing them seventh in the league. They have secured a playoff spot, but advancing further seems challenging. Recently, the Mercury have been struggling, losing their last game on the road against the Seattle Storm 66-90. Only two players scored in double digits for the team, with veteran Taurasi scoring 18 points, and Cooper shooting 4 out of 16 for just 11 points. This two-game losing streak has also dashed hopes of improving their ranking, making it unlikely to catch up with the sixth-placed Fever.

The Mercury’s roster is quite strong, boasting three members of the U.S. women’s national basketball team: Cooper, Taurasi, and Griner. Such a trio is highly competitive, but unfortunately, they have not shown better results this season. The Mercury’s defense is particularly poor, conceding an average of 84.6 points per game, ranking near the bottom of the league, mainly due to an aging squad. Additionally, for this matchup against the Sun, core player Cooper’s participation is questionable, and if she cannot play, the Mercury’s chances of pulling off an upset are slim. Cooper averages 21.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game this season.

The Connecticut Sun’s performance this season has been outstanding, with numerous scorers contributing to their 26 wins and 10 losses, placing them third in the league. The Sun’s recent form has also been good, defeating the Sparks 86-66 in their last game, securing a second straight win. Mulberry scored 26 points, Jones added 19 points and 8 rebounds, and Thomas contributed 7 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists. The Sun’s next goal is to challenge for second place in the league, trailing the Lynx by only one win, with a direct clash between the two teams still ahead, presenting an opportunity.

The Sun’s defense this season has been formidable, conceding an average of 73.9 points per game, making them the best defensive team in the league. This is key to maintaining third place despite averaging only 80.1 points per game. Additionally, Mulberry, acquired mid-season, has integrated well into the team, scoring 26 points in the last game. The Sun does not have a superstar scorer, but six players average double-digit points per game, with Bonner leading the way at 15.6 points per game, while veteran Thomas contributes 10.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 7.8 assists.

This is the fourth meeting between the two teams this season, with the Sun winning all three previous matchups by double-digit margins, highlighting the disparity. It appears that the Mercury have shifted their focus to the playoffs, likely entering as the seventh seed, facing either the Sun or the Lynx. Despite having three All-Stars, they might still hold some advantage in the playoff race.

>>”>More predictions for this game can be found here>>>