Overview
- A 99-89 defeat to the Atlanta Dream on Saturday night dropped Phoenix to 13-24 and officially ended the Mercury’s 2026 postseason hopes.
- Alyssa Thomas posted a triple-double with 11 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists while Kahleah Copper scored 38 for Phoenix and Angel Reese had a career-high 31 points and 14 rebounds for Atlanta.
- Coach Nate Tibbetts said the club will focus on playing to a standard, getting injured players healthy and giving minutes to young players with Kelsey Plum’s availability a priority.
- The win moved Atlanta to 24-13 and clinched a playoff berth for the Dream, and bookmakers adjusted seeding scenarios and championship odds after Phoenix’s exit.
- Missing the playoffs is a major deviation for a franchise that reached the 2025 WNBA Finals and had made the postseason in 19 seasons through 2025, leaving questions about roster health and next steps ahead of 2027.