Kahleah Copper scored 15 points and Dana Evans added 13 to lead a balanced scoring effort as the visiting Chicago Sky spoiled Brittney Griner’s first home game of the season, defeating the Phoenix Mercury 75-69 on Sunday afternoon.
Courtney Williams added 12 points, Elizabeth Williams had 10 points and eight rebounds and fellow starter Morgan Bertsch scored eight.
Griner had 27 points and 10 rebounds, Diana Taurasi scored 16 and Sug Sutton added 13.
Griner scored the Mercury’s first four points of the third quarter as they closed within 43-39.
Courtney Williams answered with a 3-pointer that started a 6-0 run to give the Sky a 49-39 lead.
Consecutive 3-pointers by Sutton and Griner pulled Phoenix within five before Courtney Williams’ jumper pushed the lead to 60-53 at the end of the third quarter.
Griner’s jumper got the Mercury within 64-61 midway through the fourth quarter.
Courtney Williams answered with a jumper before Taurasi’s 3-pointer trimmed the lead to 66-64.
Evans made a free throw and Courtney Williams added a jumper for a five-point lead with two minutes remaining.
Griner converted a three-point play and the Mercury got a stop but turned the ball over with one minute remaining.
Evans made a basket from the lane and Rebekah Gardner added two free throws with 16.1 seconds left for a 73-67 advantage.
Chicago led by as many as four points before Griner made two free throws to conclude the first-quarter scoring and produce an 18-all tie.
Alanna Smith had three points as the Sky scored the first seven points of the second quarter. Taurasi’s two free throws produced Phoenix’s first points after 2 1/2 minutes.
Elizabeth Williams made two baskets and Copper added a 3-pointer that gave the Sky a 32-22 lead.
Sutton’s layup with 9 seconds remaining trimmed the Sky’s lead to 41-35 at halftime.
–Field Level Media