Sami Whitcomb turned back the clock in spectacular fashion, dropping a career-high 36 points to lead the Phoenix Mercury to a dominant 102-72 victory over the Dallas Wings. At 36 years old, Whitcomb proved age is just a number with a performance that had her coach reaching for superlatives.
How Did Sami Whitcomb Dominate the First Half of the Mercury-Wings Matchup?
Whitcomb’s explosion came early and often. The veteran guard poured in 29 of her 36 points in the first half alone, setting the tone for what would become a blowout victory. She shot an efficient 10 of 13 from the field while connecting on six of seven attempts from three-point range.
Her previous career high of 30 points came against the New York Liberty in 2021, making this performance even more remarkable given her age. The 36-year-old’s hot shooting helped Phoenix build an insurmountable lead before halftime.
Beyond Whitcomb’s heroics, forward Alyssa Thomas added her own impressive stat line with a triple-double. Thomas finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists, providing the perfect complement to Whitcomb’s scoring outburst.
What Did Coach Tibbetts Say About Whitcomb’s Work Ethic?
Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts couldn’t contain his praise for Whitcomb during the postgame press conference. The victory moved Phoenix to second place in the WNBA standings, trailing only the Minnesota Lynx.
“I mean, what Sami is about is just she’s self-made,” Tibbetts said. “Give her credit to be doing what she’s doing at her age. Her work ethic is second to none. I mean, yesterday she got two workouts in before the start of practice. She just, she’s been everything we’ve hoped for and more. Just her professionalism, her approach, when she speaks up, no one can question her because everyone knows she’s about the right stuff.”
The coach revealed that the team’s leadership committee had discussed Whitcomb attempting 10 to 12 three-pointers before the game. She nearly reached that target, launching 11 attempts from beyond the arc and connecting on seven of them.
“And so I’m just really glad I’ve gotten the opportunity to coach someone like her because, you know, um, she’s special, and, uh, it’s great to have her here,” Tibbetts added.
Why Didn’t Whitcomb Go for 40 Points?
Whitcomb exited the game with just under three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Had she stayed on the court longer, she might have joined Diana Taurasi as the only Mercury player to score 40 or more points in a single game.
When asked about the decision to pull Whitcomb, Tibbetts acknowledged the dilemma coaches face in these situations.
“I don’t know if there’s a right answer. I think that’s I want to see Sammy go for 40. But yeah, I mean, she was getting tired, and, I also, part of my job is to protect my players. I’ve seen it go both ways, right? Sometimes they get those career highs or, you know, you leave them in a little bit too long. And so I left them as long as I could.”
The Mercury now turns its attention to a crucial matchup against the league-leading Minnesota Lynx. After losing the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup to the Indiana Fever, the Lynx have bounced back with three straight victories over the Washington Mystics, Golden State Valkyries, and Chicago Sky.
For Whitcomb and the Mercury, this performance serves as a statement that they’re ready to challenge the league’s best teams as the season progresses.
