7-for-7. Natasha Mack shot a perfect 7-for-7 and finished with 16 points, lifting the Phoenix Mercury to a 72-68 win over the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on June 3, 2026. Phoenix erased a 55-52 deficit to start the fourth quarter with a defensive push, and DeWanna Bonner and Kahleah Copper closed the game with late scoring and free throws. The victory ended a six-game skid and left Phoenix 3-8 as it began a four-game road trip.

72-68. The box score reads like a low-scoring, tightly contested playoff game rather than an early-season road tilt, and it reflected how Phoenix managed to find enough stops and steady scoring to finish the job in the final minute at Climate Pledge Arena.

Defense and late runs decided it

Phoenix trailed 55-52 at the start of the fourth quarter before turning the game with a defensive push and a clutch closing sequence. The Mercury built a 10-rebound advantage, finishing with 44 to Seattle's 34, and tightened up in the paint to limit second-chance looks. DeWanna Bonner sparked the comeback with a seven-point burst off the bench, and Kahleah Copper hit late free throws to keep the lead intact as Phoenix closed out the Storm in the final 20 seconds.

Phoenix converted 21 of 27 free throws, a difference-maker in a game where both teams shot 38 percent from the field. Those makes neutralized Phoenix's cold shooting from long range, where the Mercury went 3 for 22 from three-point range. Turnovers also kept the score close; Phoenix committed 14 turnovers that prevented a larger margin and forced the club to rely on defense and free-throw shooting down the stretch.

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Mack's efficiency and veteran presence

Natasha Mack delivered an unusually efficient night, scoring a career-high 16 points on a perfect 7-for-7 from the field while adding 10 rebounds and three blocks. Her performance provided a two-way anchor Phoenix had needed through the losing streak. Kahleah Copper matched Mack with 16 points and added six rebounds, and Monique Akoa Makani contributed 12 points as part of a balanced effort.

DeWanna Bonner finished with 10 points off the bench while supplying veteran composure in a close finish.

Head coach Nate Tibbetts reflected on the emotional toll of the skid and the value of breaking it, saying, "No one wants to go through that," in reference to the losing stretch and its effect on the team. The comment showed the mood in Phoenix's locker room after a win that delivered both relief and practical benefits for the team's confidence.

Statistically the game had a defensive texture. Both teams shot 38 percent, and Phoenix compensated for poor three-point shooting with dominance on the glass and at the free-throw line. Those edges allowed the Mercury to survive a tight finish despite turnovers and cold perimeter shooting.

The win ended a six-game slide and came at the start of a four-game road trip, giving Phoenix a chance to build momentum away from home. The Storm remained competitive throughout, but Phoenix's late defensive stands and late free-throw shooting proved decisive in a contest that never broke into a runaway score.

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They head to Portland on Friday to try to build on the road win and climb out of a 3-8 hole.

This article was created with AI assistance.