PHOENIX (AP) — Sato Sabally left the game with a concussion, and Alyssa Thomas essentially played with one hand.
Regardless, the feisty Phoenix Mercury still have one more shot left in this WNBA Finals.
Kalia Copper helped trim a 14-point deficit to six in the fourth quarter before the Las Vegas A's pulled away, but the Mercury felt they had nothing to be ashamed of even though they fell 97-86 on Friday in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, winning the best-of-seven series.
“I’m very proud of the group,” Copper said. “We've struggled with everything throughout the year, from the beginning until now, without Sato. After the game, I wanted us to feel that, hear the celebration, feel that moment and feel the pain. Let that fuel us for the future.”
“But I'm proud of the way we responded to adversity all year. I wouldn't want to do that to any other group.”
Copper led the Mercury with 30 points on 12 of 22 shooting. Thomas had a triple-double with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
Thomas' performance was especially impressive considering she could barely shoot in the second half. Late in the first half, she injured her right shoulder after a hard screen from Aces defender Jewell Loyd and had to leave the game, but returned in the second half to show her usual toughness and performance.
Sabally missed Game 4 with a concussion late in Game 3.
“I know when I look to my left, we're going to war,” Copper said, sitting next to Thomas at the postgame press conference. “I know it's about winning. It's only about winning. She fell and I was like, “Are you okay?” She walked back and I told everyone, “Don't worry, she's coming back.”
It was the end of an impressive career for the Mercury, who had not been considered title contenders before the start of the season. The core of Sabally, Thomas and Copper made the playoffs and knocked out the defending champion New York Liberty in the first round before beating the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals.
Mercury was unable to replicate the same success against the talented and experienced Aces. They nearly won the first game and made big comebacks in games three and four, but faded late, unable to break through and make the series longer.
But there's a lot to like about Mercury's future. Second-year coach Nate Tibbetts is optimistic.
“I think we’re creating something cool and special here,” Tibbetts said. “I'm grateful for this opportunity.”
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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
