On Sunday June 29, the Phoenix Mercury had a shot at extending their six-game win streak, but the Las Vegas Aces ruined their plans. In a gritty, physical matchup that had all the intensity of a playoff game, the Mercury fell just short, 84-81.
But after the final buzzer, it wasn’t just the missed baskets or defensive lapses that had people talking, but the astonishingly high number of fouls. When asked about the lack of whistles, Mercury star Kahleah Copper took a diplomatic route, dodging a fine while still making her frustration felt.
Kahleah Copper Keeps Composure When Asked About Officiating Frustration
Kahleah Copper didn’t want to make headlines for the wrong reasons. When asked postgame about the officiating and how they kept composure despite the uncertainty of when the foul call would hit them, she chose her words carefully.
“That’s a great question,” Copper said with a stern. “It’s very hard, it’s tough.” While Cooper was looking tough, her teammate Alyssa Thomas, sitting next to her, was in splits of the witty response.
When asked about the officiating and not getting whistles, Kahleah Copper avoided a fine by saying, “that’s a great question.”#WNBA pic.twitter.com/GgM7MmFyAE
— Desert Wave Media (@DesertWaveCo) June 30, 2025
Copper finished the night with 15 points, six rebounds, and three assists on 5-of-12 shooting from the field. She was perfect from beyond the arc (2-for-2) and hit three of her four free-throw attempts in 30 minutes of play.
The Aces, who committed 19 fouls, went 23-of-26 from the free-throw line, posting an impressive 88.5% efficiency. The Mercury, meanwhile, had 20 team fouls and converted 17-of-21 free throws (81%).
Despite the loss, Copper’s response reflected a focus on staying level-headed. The Mercury now sit at 12-5, still holding second place in the Western Conference.
Aces Halt Mercury’s Momentum While A’ja Wilson Dominates Again
This game felt more intense than a regular-season matchup. Both teams battled hard, but A’ja Wilson, the reigning MVP, was simply too much to handle. She led Las Vegas with 26 points, 18 rebounds, and seven assists. It was her fifth straight game as the Aces’ leading scorer, continuing her dominant stretch.
The Aces, now 8-8 on the season, looked more in control than their record suggests. Coming off a defeat against the Washington Mystics, they looked more determined and physical.
Phoenix head coach Nate Tibbetts, though disappointed with the result, didn’t shy away from praising the competition.
“That was a playoff basketball game,” Tibbetts said. “We’re gonna compete and be physical. We need these reps.”
Alyssa Thomas led the frontcourt for the Mercury with 16 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists, while Satou Sabally added 10 points and nine boards. But it wasn’t enough to outduel the Aces team that looked every bit the two-time WNBA champion.
