Sun Rookie’s Late Surge Derails Mercury Playoff Seeding in 87-84 Victory
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – A remarkable late-game performance by rookie Leila Lacan propelled the Connecticut Sun to an 87-84 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday, substantially impacting Phoenix’s playoff seeding aspirations. Lacan scored six crucial points in the final 30 seconds, securing the win for Connecticut and halting Phoenix’s six-game winning streak.
The outcome leaves the Mercury (27-15) vulnerable in the race for the second seed in next week’s WNBA playoffs. Currently trailing Atlanta, which holds the tiebreaker, by one game with only two contests remaining, Phoenix faces an uphill battle to avoid a first-round matchup with a potentially tougher opponent. The Sun, concluding their season with 11-31 record, played spoiler while showcasing promising young talent.
Lacan’s decisive scoring began with a driving layup with 27.8 seconds left, giving the Sun an 83-81 advantage. She then converted a pair of free throws with 9.7 seconds remaining, and after a Satou Sabally three-pointer, sealed the victory with two more free throws at the 3.7-second mark.The rookie finished with 14 points.
Connecticut’s victory was a team effort, led by Marina Mabrey’s 23 points and a strong performance from veteran Tina Charles, who contributed 22 points and 10 rebounds. Charles was honored pre-game for her life-saving charity work. Rookie Aneesah Morrow added nine points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
Despite the loss,Phoenix guard Kahleah Copper led her team with 18 points,while Alyssa Thomas recorded 14 points,10 rebounds,and eight assists.The game featured a back-and-forth battle with 18 lead changes and no team establishing a double-digit lead.notably, Thomas also reclaimed the single-season assist record during the contest.
The Sun will conclude their season with a home-and-home series against Atlanta, beginning Monday in Atlanta. Phoenix will host las Vegas on Tuesday, needing a win to maintain their playoff positioning.
