Phoenix Mercury Finish Strong to Beat Los Angeles Sparks

The Phoenix Mercury needed someone to step up.

Noémie Brochant answered the call.

The Mercury rookie delivered one of the best performances of her young WNBA career Tuesday night, exploding for 24 points as Phoenix defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 94-87 on August 11 at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.

It wasn't simply that Brochant scored a career-high 24 points. It was how she did it.

Brochant shot an incredible 10-of-13 from the field, connected on three 3-pointers and added five steals, three rebounds and three assists while helping Phoenix survive a game that featured 12 ties and 16 lead changes.

Then, when the Mercury needed to close the deal, veteran star Alyssa Thomas took over.

Phoenix finished the game on a 16-6 run after trailing 81-78 with 4:56 remaining, turning what looked like another frustrating road loss into a massive 94-87 victory.

The win snapped Phoenix's three-game losing streak, improved the Mercury to 13-22 and gave a team fighting through a difficult stretch one of its most impressive closing performances of the season.

Noémie Brochant Delivers a Breakout Performance

It didn't take long to realize Brochant was feeling it.

The rookie knocked down Phoenix's opening 3-pointer and quickly became the centerpiece of the Mercury offense, scoring 10 points in less than five minutes and finishing the opening quarter with 12.

Los Angeles simply couldn't slow her down.

Brochant attacked from multiple levels, knocked down perimeter shots and repeatedly punished the Sparks when opportunities opened in the defense.

By the end of the night, she had produced 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.

That is 76.9 percent shooting from the field.

But focusing only on her scoring would miss half the story.

Brochant also recorded five steals.

Those defensive plays became especially important late in the fourth quarter when Phoenix finally wrestled control away from Los Angeles.

With the Mercury trying to protect their late advantage, Brochant intercepted a Rae Burrell pass that eventually resulted in a Thomas transition basket, extending Phoenix's lead to 86-81.

That sequence perfectly captured Brochant's night.

Score.

Defend.

Create opportunities.

Make winning plays.

For a Phoenix Mercury team searching for momentum late in the 2026 WNBA season, Brochant provided all of it.

Alyssa Thomas Takes Control in the Fourth Quarter

Brochant may have been the breakout star, but Alyssa Thomas reminded everyone why veteran leadership becomes so important when games get tight.

Thomas finished with 16 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double while controlling significant portions of the Mercury offense.

Her biggest contribution came when Phoenix needed her most.

Thomas scored nine points during the fourth quarter.

With Los Angeles leading 81-78 with 4:56 remaining, Phoenix faced a critical moment. The Sparks had an opportunity to push the advantage and potentially send the Mercury to a fourth consecutive loss.

Instead, Phoenix flipped the game.

Thomas attacked the basket, Brochant created defensive pressure and the Mercury started winning possession after possession.

Thomas' transition basket following Brochant's steal gave Phoenix an 86-81 advantage.

Los Angeles continued fighting, but Thomas delivered again.

With 49.6 seconds remaining, she converted another crucial layup to give Phoenix an 88-84 lead.

Thomas then stepped to the free-throw line on Phoenix's next possession and buried two more, extending the Mercury advantage to six.

From there, DeWanna Bonner handled the rest.

DeWanna Bonner Slams the Door

Bonner finished with 11 points and seven rebounds, but her impact stretched far beyond the scoring column.

She recorded three steals and three blocked shots, giving Phoenix another veteran defensive presence during a game in which every possession mattered.

Then came the free throws.

With Los Angeles desperately trying to extend the game, Bonner converted four consecutive free throws down the stretch to eliminate any realistic chance of a Sparks comeback.

It wasn't the flashiest performance on the stat sheet, but it was exactly the kind of veteran contribution Phoenix needed.

Brochant delivered the breakout.

Thomas engineered the finish.

Bonner locked the door.

Kahleah Copper Gives Phoenix Another Scoring Weapon

Phoenix didn't have to rely exclusively on Brochant and Thomas.

Kahleah Copper provided another strong offensive performance with 18 points while shooting 6-of-12 from the field.

That gave Phoenix three players with at least 16 points.

Brochant led the Mercury with 24.

Copper added 18.

Thomas scored 16.

Bonner contributed 11.

Natasha Mack added nine points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting performance.

Sami Whitcomb chipped in seven.

That balance became even more important because Phoenix was playing without Kelsey Plum.

Kelsey Plum Misses Her Return Against the Sparks

One of the biggest storylines entering the game involved Kelsey Plum and her potential matchup against her former team.

That reunion will have to wait.

Plum did not play because of left calf tightness after recently being traded from Los Angeles to Phoenix.

The Sparks still honored Plum with a pregame tribute, and the former Los Angeles guard received a warm reception from the crowd.

Her absence created an obvious challenge for Phoenix.

It also made what happened next even more impressive.

Without Plum, the Mercury still scored 94 points.

Phoenix shot 51.7 percent from the field.

Phoenix had five players score at least nine points.

And Phoenix found a new offensive difference-maker in Brochant.

That's a significant development for a Mercury team that needs as many reliable scoring options as possible.

Mercury Overcome 24 Turnovers

Here's the number that should make Phoenix coaches both relieved and frustrated.

Twenty-four turnovers.

Phoenix turned the basketball over 24 times against Los Angeles.

On most nights, especially on the road, that's how you lose a basketball game.

The Sparks converted Phoenix's mistakes into 24 points off turnovers, while the Mercury scored 22 points off 17 Los Angeles turnovers.

Phoenix survived because its offensive efficiency was outstanding.

The Mercury shot 31-of-60 from the field for 51.7 percent.

They connected on 9-of-25 attempts from 3-point range for 36 percent.

They also went 23-of-30 from the free-throw line.

Los Angeles couldn't match that efficiency.

The Sparks shot 32-of-74 overall for 43.2 percent and struggled badly from beyond the arc, making just 7-of-32 attempts.

That's 21.9 percent from three.

That difference mattered.

Phoenix made nine 3-pointers on 25 attempts.

Los Angeles made seven despite attempting 32.

The Mercury were more efficient, and when the game entered its decisive final five minutes, Phoenix was also the better team.

Sparks Stars Keep Los Angeles in the Fight

Los Angeles didn't go quietly.

Dearica Hamby and Rae Burrell each scored 19 points, while Nneka Ogwumike nearly recorded a triple-double with 18 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Hamby was particularly efficient, making all eight of her field-goal attempts.

Burrell had a much more difficult shooting night.

Although she finished with 19 points, Burrell went 0-of-8 from 3-point range and needed 21 field-goal attempts.
Those missed perimeter opportunities became increasingly costly as the game progressed.

Los Angeles had plenty of chances.

The Sparks just couldn't capitalize when Phoenix finally turned up the pressure late.

Mercury and Sparks Trade Punches From the Opening Tip

This game was competitive from beginning to end.

Phoenix and Los Angeles finished the first quarter tied 23-23 after Brochant's explosive start gave the Mercury an early offensive spark.

The Sparks responded in the second quarter and briefly built a seven-point advantage before Phoenix battled back.

Los Angeles entered halftime leading 47-44.

Phoenix responded after the break.

The Mercury outscored the Sparks 24-20 in the third quarter, transforming their three-point halftime deficit into a 68-67 advantage entering the fourth.

Then the game became a fight.

Lead changes.

Ties.

Turnovers.

Big shots.

Defensive stops.

Neither team could create meaningful separation.

Los Angeles finally appeared to grab momentum when it took an 81-78 advantage with less than five minutes remaining.

That's when Phoenix played its best basketball of the night.

Phoenix Closes the Game on a 16-6 Run

Great teams and great players are often defined by what happens when a game reaches winning time.

Phoenix owned winning time Tuesday night.

Trailing 81-78 with 4:56 remaining, the Mercury outscored Los Angeles 16-6 the rest of the way.

Think about that.

After spending nearly the entire night trading punches with the Sparks, Phoenix suddenly found another gear.

The defense created turnovers.

Brochant continued making plays.

Thomas attacked.

Bonner converted free throws.

Los Angeles couldn't answer.

Phoenix went from trailing by three to winning by seven in less than five minutes.

For a team riding a three-game losing streak, that's the kind of finish that can change the energy inside a locker room.

What the Mercury Win Means

Phoenix improved to 13-22 with the victory and snapped its three-game losing streak.

The Mercury also finished their four-game regular-season series against Los Angeles tied 2-2.

At this stage of the season, Phoenix has little margin for error. Every win matters, and every opportunity to build momentum becomes increasingly important.

But there may be an even bigger takeaway from Tuesday night.

Noémie Brochant looks ready for a larger role.

A 24-point performance is impressive.

Twenty-four points on 10-of-13 shooting with five steals is different.

Doing it on the road while helping your team close a tight fourth-quarter game makes it even more significant.

Phoenix knows what Thomas can do.

The Mercury know what Copper and Bonner bring.

They know Plum can provide another dangerous scoring option when healthy.

If Brochant can become another legitimate offensive and defensive weapon, Phoenix suddenly becomes much more difficult to prepare for.

Sports Media X Final Take

Don't look at the 94-87 final score and assume this was simply another game on the WNBA schedule.

Phoenix needed this one.

The Mercury had lost three straight games. Kelsey Plum wasn't available. Phoenix committed 24 turnovers. Los Angeles led with less than five minutes remaining.

There were plenty of reasons for Phoenix to lose.

Instead, the Mercury found a way to win.

And a rookie helped lead them there.

Noémie Brochant's 24 points, five steals and incredible 10-of-13 shooting performance should be the headline, but the bigger story was how Phoenix responded when the pressure increased.

The Mercury didn't panic.

They attacked.

They defended.

They executed.

They finished.

Alyssa Thomas played like the veteran leader Phoenix needed, scoring nine fourth-quarter points and controlling the closing minutes. Bonner made the free throws. Copper supplied another 18 points. Brochant provided the breakout performance.

Phoenix scored 16 of the game's final 22 points and walked out of Los Angeles with a 94-87 victory.

That's winning time.

​And on August 11, winning time belonged to the Phoenix Mercury.

Past Mercury Coverage:
Phoenix Mercury Fall 95-75 to Washington Mystics as Losing Streak Continues 
Phoenix Mercury Blow 16-Point Lead in 75-72 Loss to Connecticut Sun 

Mercury Coverage Home 

Phoenix Mercury Website