Mercury Surge During Homestand Positions team for Playoff success
PHOENIX – A recent six-game winning streak at home has propelled the Phoenix Mercury into a more favorable position as the WNBA regular season nears its conclusion. The Mercury’s improved consistency, particularly with a solidified starting lineup, comes at a crucial time as they vie for playoff contention.
The Mercury navigated a turbulent start to the season marked by frequent lineup changes, having utilized five different starting combinations.Though, a consistent group of Brittney griner, Diana Taurasi, Natasha Mack, Satou Sabally, and rookie Movie Caner Shol has emerged, leading the team to victory in their last six games.This core five has started 14 games together, while other players including Sophie Cunningham, Kayla Bonner, Kitty Laksa, and Kathryn Westbeld have also seen starting roles throughout the season.
“Playoffs,” Taurasi said.
Veteran Kayla Bonner emphasized the importance of experience heading into the postseason. “I think we have the right pieces,” Bonner said. ”We have a lot of vets on this team who’ve been in the playoffs,and playoffs are a different beast. The morning of the playoffs, you can feel the energy. The atmosphere is different.So you gotta know how to handle that. You guys gotta know how to just stay calm, stay level-headed, not get too high, can’t get too low. So I think we got great peopel, great pieces.”
The Mercury will look to maintain their momentum as they continue to fight for playoff seeding in the final stretch of the regular season. The team’s ability to navigate the pressures of postseason play will be key to their success.
