Phoenix Mercury Rally to Defeat Golden State Valkyries 86-77 in Thrilling Finish
PHOENIX (AP) — In an exhilarating showdown on Thursday night, the Phoenix Mercury triumphed over the Golden State Valkyries with an 86-77 victory, fueled by a remarkable performance from rookie Lexi Held. Scoring a season-high 24 points, Held’s clutch shooting helped Phoenix close the game on an impressive 18-1 run, overcoming a late 76-68 deficit with 4:04 left on the clock.
Held strategically swung the momentum when she sank a deep three-pointer to put the Mercury ahead 77-76 with just over a minute remaining. The critical shot showcased her poise under pressure and marked the best scoring output by a rookie this season, surpassing the previous record held by Paige Bueckers.
Teammate Satou Sabally also shone brightly, contributing 19 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. In a pivotal moment, Sabally completed a three-point play after retrieving her own miss, pushing the lead to 80-77 with only 33.3 seconds left. Golden State’s Veronica Burton had a chance to narrow the gap but missed a crucial layup as the clock ticked down.
The Valkyries, now sitting at 2-5, were led by Burton, who scored 16 points, while Temi Fagbenle added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Despite the loss, Golden State had moments of resilience during the game.
Phoenix now boasts a 6-3 record, maintaining a strong home performance with a 5-1 start. The team, however, was missing key players Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas due to injury. Phoenix’s Megan McConnell showed support for her brother, T.J. McConnell, by wearing his jersey from the sidelines.
As the season progresses, the Mercury’s thrilling victory serves as a testament to their potential and tenacity.
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