Kahleah Copper scored 24 points, Marina Mabrey tacked on 23 and the Chicago Sky snapped their five-game home losing streak by routing the Phoenix Mercury 104-85 on Sunday.
The Sky (10-15) used an active defense to spring to an early lead that they sustained with efficient shooting en route to their first home win since an 86-78 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on June 30.
Chicago made a season-high 39 field goals and shot 52.7 percent from the field, including 57.1 from 3-point range. The Sky converted 18 Phoenix turnovers into 32 points to eclipse the 100-point plateau for the second time this season. They also dished out 27 assists against just seven turnovers.
Copper and Mabrey each made nine field goals, as did Courtney Williams, who finished with 19 points and a game-high nine assists.
Robyn Parks added a season-high 14 points on 4-of-5 3-point shooting. Alanna Smith scored 10.
The Mercury (6-18) played without All-Star center and leading scorer Brittney Griner, whom the team announced Saturday would miss the next two games to focus on her mental health.
Diana Taurasi scored 24 points for Phoenix in her return to the lineup after missing the last three games (quad/toe). The 19-year veteran and WNBA’s all-time leading scorer is 47 points away from reaching 10,000 career points.
Michaela Onyenwere produced 18 points off the bench for the Mercury, who shot 30-for-63 (47.6 percent) and matched Chicago with 12 3-pointers. Megan Gustafson added 17 points and eight rebounds.
Chicago made six straight shots to begin the second half and seized its largest lead of the game on Elizabeth Williams’ jumper that made it 74-55 at the 6:33 mark in the third quarter.
Phoenix never pulled closer than 13 points the rest of the way and fell to a WNBA-worst 1-12 on the road this season. The Mercury have lost nine straight road games since defeating the Indiana Fever 85-82 in Indianapolis on June 11.
The Sky forced five Phoenix turnovers in the game’s first five minutes, which helped Chicago spring to a 20-8 lead on Copper’s transition 3-pointer at the 4:47 mark in the first quarter.
Copper finished the quarter with 10 points to parry 13 from Taurasi as the Sky led 32-24 entering the second quarter.
The Mercury hit six triples and shot 17-for-34 from the field in the first half, but Chicago was just as efficient behind Copper and Mabrey, who combined for 32 points as the Sky carried a 57-48 lead into halftime.
–Field Level Media
