Connecticut Sun Edges Phoenix Mercury in Close Contest
Friday, August 7, 2026, 7:30 PM ET · Mohegan Sun Arena
Connecticut Sun 75, Phoenix Mercury 72, final. Our WNBA picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Phoenix Mercury vs Connecticut Sun?
Connecticut Sun beat Phoenix Mercury 75-72 at Mohegan Sun Arena on August 7, 2026.
Who was favored in Phoenix Mercury vs Connecticut Sun?
Phoenix Mercury were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -218 (about 69% implied). The underdog won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Connecticut Sun triumphed over the Phoenix Mercury with a final score of 75-72 at Mohegan Sun Arena. This victory marked the Sun's third win over the Mercury in their last four meetings, solidifying their dominance in the series, which now stands at 2-1 in favor of Connecticut this season.
The Sun entered this game with a record of 8-23, while the Mercury held a slightly better standing at 12-21. However, Connecticut's recent form had been troubling, with a record of 3-7 over their last ten games, including a five-game losing streak leading up to this match. They averaged 80.6 points scored per game during this stretch but allowed an average of 88.8 points, highlighting defensive struggles. In contrast, Phoenix's recent record was 4-6, with an average of 85.9 points scored and 92.3 points allowed, indicating a similarly challenging defensive performance.
The home team had a home record of 1-2 in their last three games, while their away record stood at 2-5. The Mercury, on the other hand, had a balanced away record of 2-3 in their recent outings. The two teams had faced each other multiple times in the past weeks, with the Mercury winning the last matchup on July 19, 2026, by a score of 72-63. However, the Sun had previously defeated Phoenix just a day earlier, on July 18, 2026, with a score of 96-83.
In terms of injuries, both teams faced significant challenges. The Sun were missing Rayah Marshall, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Brittney Griner, Kennedy Burke, and Leila Lacan, while the Mercury were without Kelsey Plum, Kahleah Copper, Valeriane Ayayi, Kyara Linskens, and Jovana Nogic. These absences undoubtedly impacted the dynamics of the game, with both teams needing to rely on their remaining players to step up.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had the Mercury favored by 5.5 points, with a total set at 174.5. This reflected the expectation that the game would be competitive, but the Sun's performance defied those odds. The game conditions were typical for a summer evening in Connecticut, with fans filling the arena to support their home team.
As the game unfolded, the fourth quarter proved to be the most thrilling. Aaliyah Edwards opened the scoring in the final period with a layup, giving the Sun a 69-65 lead. Kelsey Plum responded for the Mercury with a three-pointer, narrowing the gap to one point. The back-and-forth continued, with both teams exchanging leads. Kennedy Burke's three-pointer extended the Sun's lead to 72-68, but the Mercury fought back, with Kahleah Copper making a layup to bring the score to 72-70.
Leila Lacan's free throws in the closing moments solidified the Sun's lead, ultimately securing the 75-72 victory. The game showcased intense competition, with both teams demonstrating resilience despite their injury woes. The Sun's ability to close out the game under pressure will be a point of pride as they look to build on this success moving forward.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | PHX -5.5 | 174.5 o -110 / u -110 | Phoenix Mercury -218 · Connecticut Sun +180 |
Injury report
- Rayah MarshallOutCoach's DecisionConnecticut Sun
- Olivia Nelson-OdodaOutKneeConnecticut Sun
- Brittney GrinerOutKneeConnecticut Sun
- Kennedy BurkeOutNot Injury RelatedConnecticut Sun
- Leila LacanOutNot Injury RelatedConnecticut Sun
- Kelsey PlumOutLower LegPhoenix Mercury
- Kahleah CopperOutAnklePhoenix Mercury
- Valeriane AyayiOutNot Injury RelatedPhoenix Mercury
- Kyara LinskensOutNot Injury RelatedPhoenix Mercury
- Jovana NogicOutNot Injury RelatedPhoenix Mercury
Leaders
- PointsKennedy Burke15Connecticut Sun
- AssistsCharlisse Leger-Walker5Connecticut Sun
- ReboundsAaliyah Edwards8Connecticut Sun
- PointsKelsey Plum25Phoenix Mercury
- AssistsAlyssa Thomas5Phoenix Mercury
- ReboundsDeWanna Bonner11Phoenix Mercury
Recent form
Connecticut Sun
Last 10: 3-7Streak L580.6 scored · 88.8 allowed per game1-2 at home
- L63-83at Dallas WingsAug 2
- L88-94at Chicago SkyJul 31
- L84-92at Washington MysticsJul 28
- L88-123at Indiana FeverJul 23
- L63-72at Phoenix MercuryJul 19
- W96-83at Phoenix MercuryJul 18
- W90-87vs Portland FireJul 14
- L64-79vs Golden State ValkyriesJul 10
- L80-86vs Minnesota LynxJul 8
- W90-89at Minnesota LynxJul 7
Phoenix Mercury
Last 10: 4-6Streak L185.9 scored · 92.3 allowed per game2-3 away
- L82-96at Atlanta DreamAug 5
- W106-101at Chicago SkyAug 4
- L92-94vs New York LibertyAug 1
- W91-89vs Golden State ValkyriesJul 30
- W86-82at Los Angeles SparksJul 22
- W72-63vs Connecticut SunJul 19
- L83-96vs Connecticut SunJul 18
- L100-104at Minnesota LynxJul 14
- L58-106at Las Vegas AcesJul 11
- L89-92vs Indiana FeverJul 10
Standings
| Team | Games behind | Lost | Streak | Win % | Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | - | 9 | L2 | .775 | 31 |
| Golden State | 2 | 11 | W4 | .725 | 29 |
| Las Vegas | 4 | 13 | W3 | .675 | 27 |
| Dallas | 7 | 16 | W4 | .600 | 24 |
| Portland | 15 | 24 | L1 | .400 | 16 |
| Los Angeles | 16 | 25 | W2 | .375 | 15 |
| Phoenix | 17 | 26 | W1 | .350 | 14 |
| Seattle | 23 | 32 | L1 | .200 | 8 |
| Atlanta | - | 14 | W1 | .650 | 26 |
| Indiana | - | 14 | W2 | .650 | 26 |
| New York | 2 | 16 | W1 | .600 | 24 |
| Washington | 2 | 16 | L1 | .600 | 24 |
| Chicago | 11 | 25 | L3 | .375 | 15 |
| Toronto | 15 | 29 | L4 | .275 | 11 |
| Connecticut | 16 | 30 | L3 | .250 | 10 |
Box score
| Stat | Phoenix Mercury | Connecticut Sun |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-68 | 27-57 |
| Field goal % | 40 | 47 |
| Three-pointers | 5-28 | 7-20 |
| Three-point % | 18 | 35 |
| Free throws | 13-23 | 14-20 |
| Free throw % | 57 | 70 |
| Rebounds | 29 | 34 |
| Offensive rebounds | 6 | 3 |
| Defensive rebounds | 23 | 31 |
| Assists | 19 | 19 |
| Steals | 10 | 5 |
| Blocks | 1 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 18 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 13 | 20 |
| Fast-break points | 2 | 6 |
| Points in the paint | 40 | 32 |
| Fouls | 21 | 24 |
| Largest lead | 16 | 4 |
| Lead changes | 5 | 5 |
| Time in front | 75 | 12 |
How the scoring went
- 3rd Quarter42-35DeWanna Bonner makes driving layup (Kelsey Plum assists)
- 3rd Quarter44-35Alyssa Thomas makes driving layup (Kelsey Plum assists)
- 3rd Quarter44-37Aaliyah Edwards makes 10-foot jumper (Leila Lacan assists)
- 3rd Quarter44-39Aaliyah Edwards makes 6-foot reverse layup (Brittney Griner assists)
- 3rd Quarter44-41Brittney Griner makes layup (Charlisse Leger-Walker assists)
- 3rd Quarter44-43Leila Lacan makes 18-foot pullup jump shot
- 3rd Quarter46-43Noemie Brochant makes 2-foot layup (Kahleah Copper assists)
- 3rd Quarter46-45Brittney Griner makes 10-foot two point shot (Charlisse Leger-Walker assists)
- 3rd Quarter46-47Leila Lacan makes 15-foot pullup jump shot
- 3rd Quarter47-47Alyssa Thomas makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter49-47Natasha Mack makes two point shot
- 3rd Quarter49-49Aaliyah Edwards makes 19-foot jumper (Hailey Van Lith assists)
- 4th Quarter52-49Sami Whitcomb makes 24-foot three point jumper (Kahleah Copper assists)
- 4th Quarter52-52Hailey Van Lith makes 26-foot three pointer (Saniya Rivers assists)
- 4th Quarter53-52Sami Whitcomb makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter54-52Sami Whitcomb makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter54-53Kennedy Burke makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter55-53Kahleah Copper makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter55-55Saniya Rivers makes 11-foot turnaround jump shot (Brittney Griner assists)
- 4th Quarter58-55Kahleah Copper makes 23-foot three point jumper (Alyssa Thomas assists)
- 4th Quarter58-56Brittney Griner makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter60-56Kelsey Plum makes layup (Natasha Mack assists)
- 4th Quarter61-56Kahleah Copper makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter61-57Aaliyah Edwards makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter61-58Aaliyah Edwards makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter61-61Kennedy Burke makes 27-foot three point jumper (Saniya Rivers assists)
- 4th Quarter61-63Saniya Rivers makes driving layup
- 4th Quarter61-64Diamond Miller makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter63-64Kelsey Plum makes 14-foot fade away jump shot
- 4th Quarter64-64Kelsey Plum makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter65-64Kelsey Plum makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter65-67Diamond Miller makes 24-foot three point jumper (Leila Lacan assists)
- 4th Quarter65-69Aaliyah Edwards makes layup (Diamond Miller assists)
- 4th Quarter68-69Kelsey Plum makes 25-foot three pointer (Natasha Mack assists)
- 4th Quarter68-72Kennedy Burke makes 27-foot three pointer
- 4th Quarter70-72Kahleah Copper makes driving layup (Alyssa Thomas assists)
- 4th Quarter70-73Leila Lacan makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter72-73Kelsey Plum makes 1-foot driving floating jump shot
- 4th Quarter72-74Leila Lacan makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter72-75Leila Lacan makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Connecticut Sun, below favours Phoenix Mercury.
Venue
- Mohegan Sun ArenaUncasville, CT
- Attendance8910
- OfficialsIsaac Barnett, Kelsey Reynolds, Ashley Gloss
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WNBA rules and settlement
These two, other days
- Phoenix Mercury Defeat Connecticut Sun 72-63Jul 19, 2026
- Connecticut Sun Defeat Phoenix Mercury 96-83Jul 17, 2026
- Connecticut Sun Triumphs Over Phoenix Mercury 87-84Sep 6, 2025