The Phoenix Mercury entered Wednesday afternoon desperately needing momentum heading into the WNBA All-Star break. After enduring one of their toughest stretches of the season, they found exactly what they were looking for thanks to another historic performance from Alyssa Thomas and timely scoring from Kahleah Copper.

Phoenix defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 86-82 at Crypto.com Arena on July 22, closing the first half of the season with back-to-back victories and renewed confidence. While the Mercury improved to 10-18, the Sparks dropped to 10-16 after suffering their fifth consecutive loss.

The victory wasn't just another win in the standings. It became another chapter in Alyssa Thomas' Hall of Fame career.

Alyssa Thomas Continues Making WNBA History
Whenever the Mercury needed a big play, Alyssa Thomas delivered.

Thomas finished with an incredible stat line of 19 points, 11 rebounds and 15 assists while recording her 20th career regular-season triple-double. Including the postseason, it marked her 26th career triple-double, further cementing her status as one of the greatest all-around players the WNBA has ever seen.

What made the performance even more impressive wasn't simply the numbers—it was when they happened.

The game remained tied entering the fourth quarter after Rae Burrell buried a three-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer to knot the score at 60-60. Instead of allowing the momentum to swing toward Los Angeles, Thomas completely took control of the contest.

Over the final ten minutes, she orchestrated nearly every meaningful possession for Phoenix. Seven of the Mercury's final eight field goals either came directly from one of her assists or were created because of her ability to collapse the Sparks' defense.

Her final assist came with just 14 seconds remaining when she found Monique Akoa Makani cutting to the basket for a layup that extended the lead and effectively put the game away.

Great players accumulate statistics.

Superstars control winning basketball.

On Wednesday afternoon, Alyssa Thomas did both.

Kahleah Copper Sets the Offensive Tone
While Thomas served as Phoenix's floor general, Kahleah Copper remained the Mercury's most aggressive offensive weapon.

Copper poured in a game-high 21 points, relentlessly attacking the rim throughout the afternoon. Every time Los Angeles threatened to seize momentum, Copper answered with another aggressive drive or timely basket.

Her ability to create offense in transition and attack mismatches helped Phoenix score 54 points in the paint, an area where they consistently imposed their physical style.

Copper's veteran leadership continues to be one of the Mercury's biggest strengths heading into the second half of the season.

Monique Akoa Makani Delivers in Crunch Time
Winning basketball often comes down to role players making championship-level plays.

Monique Akoa Makani did exactly that.

She finished with 14 points, but none were bigger than the layup off Thomas' pass with 14 seconds remaining.

The basket pushed Phoenix's lead beyond one possession and forced Los Angeles into desperation mode.

Natasha Mack also contributed 10 valuable points while providing interior defense that helped limit second-chance opportunities during critical stretches.

Mercury Ball Movement Creates Winning Formula
One statistic perfectly illustrates why Phoenix walked away victorious.

The Mercury recorded 28 assists on 35 made field goals.

Rather than relying on isolation basketball, Phoenix consistently moved the ball until the defense broke down.
Thomas served as the catalyst, but every player embraced the extra pass.

That unselfish approach became especially evident during the fourth quarter when Phoenix shot 12-for-18 from the floor while scoring 26 points and dishing out 10 assists.

The Mercury didn't simply make shots.

They generated quality shots.

Against any defense, that's a winning formula.

Sparks Continue Fighting Despite Losing Streak
Los Angeles certainly didn't make things easy.

Rae Burrell led the Sparks with 20 points and provided one of the game's biggest moments when she knocked down a buzzer-beating three-pointer to tie the game entering the fourth quarter.

Dearica Hamby finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, nearly helping force overtime before missing a contested layup with just 19 seconds left.

Veteran forward Nneka Ogwumike added another double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds while also moving into second place in Sparks franchise history in career rebounds, passing Candace Parker.

Despite their recent struggles, the Sparks demonstrated why they're capable of competing with anyone when their offense is clicking.

Fourth Quarter Execution Makes the Difference
The contest featured eight lead changes and ten ties.

Neither team led by more than a handful of possessions for most of the afternoon.

Everything changed during the final four minutes.

Phoenix executed nearly flawlessly down the stretch.

The Mercury turned defensive stops into transition opportunities, consistently found the open shooter and protected the basketball during winning time.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, struggled to generate clean offensive looks against Phoenix's disciplined defensive rotations.

When the game mattered most, the Mercury simply made fewer mistakes.

Championship-caliber teams often separate themselves during the final five minutes.

Phoenix provided a glimpse of that potential on Wednesday.

Mercury Head Into All-Star Break with Momentum
Although the Mercury remain below .500, consecutive victories provide an important confidence boost entering the league's midseason break.

Phoenix has dealt with injuries, roster adjustments and stretches of inconsistent play throughout the first half of the season.

However, performances like Wednesday's remind everyone exactly why this team remains dangerous.

With Alyssa Thomas directing the offense, Kahleah Copper providing elite scoring, and quality role players stepping into bigger moments, the Mercury possess enough talent to climb the standings during the second half.

If Phoenix continues sharing the basketball the way it did against Los Angeles, this team could become one of the more difficult matchups in the WNBA playoff race.

The All-Star break arrives at exactly the right time.

The Mercury finally have positive momentum.

Now they'll look to carry it into the second half of the 2026 season.

Final Score
Phoenix Mercury 86, Los Angeles Sparks 82

Phoenix Leaders

Kahleah Copper: 21 points
Alyssa Thomas: 19 points, 11 rebounds, 15 assists (20th career regular-season triple-double)
Monique Akoa Makani: 14 points
Natasha Mack: 10 points

Los Angeles Leaders

Rae Burrell: 20 points
Dearica Hamby: 18 points, 10 rebounds
Ariel Atkins: 15 points
Nneka Ogwumike: 13 points, 13 rebounds

The Phoenix Mercury didn't just earn an important road victory—they showcased the style of basketball capable of carrying them through the second half of the WNBA season. Alyssa Thomas once again reminded the basketball world why she is one of the league's most complete players, while Kahleah Copper and the supporting cast delivered in the biggest moments. Heading into the All-Star break, Phoenix finally has something it has been searching for during much of the season: momentum.

Sports Media X Take
​Championship teams don't always reveal themselves through blowout wins. Sometimes they reveal themselves in close games where execution, leadership and composure determine the outcome. That's exactly what happened in Los Angeles. Alyssa Thomas controlled every meaningful possession late, Kahleah Copper attacked without hesitation, and the Mercury played their best basketball when the pressure reached its highest point. If Phoenix can bottle this performance, don't be surprised if they become a team nobody wants to face down the stretch.
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​Past Mercury Articles:
​Phoenix Mercury Snap Five-Game Skid with Gritty Defensive Victory Over Connecticut Sun 
Phoenix Mercury Fall to Connecticut Sun 96-83 as Turnovers and Defensive Breakdowns Continue to Haunt Second Half Push 

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