The Phoenix Mercury came into Sunday, June 30 matchup riding high on a six-game win streak. But against the 2023 WNBA champions, the Las Vegas Aces, momentum alone wasn’t enough.
In a game that looked and felt like a playoff preview, the Mercury came up short, losing 84-81. Yet even in defeat, head coach Nate Tibbetts had no regrets. He stood by his team’s approach, saying he wouldn’t change a thing about the way they played.
Nate Tibbetts Optimistic Despite Aces Snapping Mercury’s Winning Streak
The Mercury couldn’t extend their winning streak to seven, but their coach didn’t flinch in the face of defeat. After the hard-fought game, Tibbetts praised the intensity and physicality from both sides.
“That was a playoff basketball game, obviously early in the year,” Tibbetts said. “Yeah I don’t think I would change anything that we did. We are gonna compete and be physical.”
Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said, “I don’t think I would change anything that we did,” after the Mercury’s 84-81 loss to the Aces. #WNBA pic.twitter.com/19SIg43VIn
— Desert Wave Media (@DesertWaveCo) June 30, 2025
He admitted that the Mercury weren’t quite at their best, but made it clear that games like these are essential for growth, especially against a team like the Aces, who have been the league’s measuring stick.
“We need these reps. They did a good job, I didn’t think we played at the level that we have been playing. We were on a winning streak and we gonna get people’s best shot, right? Vegas has kinda been the standard the last three four years. Sometimes, a team like that needs a game like that, and they were ready, and I thought we were too. We were right in the hunt. There’s gonna be games like this.”
Meanwhile, Aces’ superstar A’ja Wilson reminded everyone why she’s still the league’s most dominant force, finishing with 26 points, 18 rebounds, and seven assists. Her all-around brilliance powered Las Vegas to its statement win.
Alyssa Thomas Says Mercury Weren’t Mentally Ready To Face the Aces
The Mercury had their moments, but key misses and turnovers at critical points proved costly. The team shot just 38% from the field compared to the Aces’ 43.3%. Though Phoenix did slightly better from beyond the arc, hitting 10-of-24 (41.7%), they couldn’t capitalize when it mattered most. At the free throw line, the Aces again held the edge hitting the basket 88.5% compared to Mercury’s 81%.
For the Mercury, Alyssa Thomas led the charge with 16 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists on 50% shooting, but even her steady presence couldn’t push Phoenix over the hump. Kahleah Copper added 15 points and 6 rebounds, but the frontcourt duo struggled to fully contain Wilson’s scoring punch and the Aces’ physicality.
After the game, Thomas didn’t sugarcoat what went wrong.
“I don’t think we came out ready to play tonight,” she said. “There’s a different type of mentality you have to come out with and I don’t think we had it from the beginning. I think we kinda woke up in the fourth quarter.”
The Mercury dropped to 12-5 on the season, still sitting in second place in the Western Conference, but this loss could be a turning point. They now face a rare long break before their next matchup on Thursday, July 3, against rookie standout Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings.
