The Phoenix Mercury edged out the Portland Fire 78‑72 in a tightly contested matchup on Tuesday night, despite being without two of their regular starters.
Veteran forward DeWanna Bonner led the scoring with a season‑high 19 points, punctuating the game with a clutch three‑pointer that put Phoenix ahead 64‑62 with under three minutes left.
Natasha Mack contributed 16 points, and the Mercury’s supporting cast added depth: Noemie Brochant and Monique Akoa Makani each scored 11, while playmaker Jovana Nogic dished out a team‑high six assists and sealed the win with the final field goal at the 2:46 mark.
Portland Fire struggled with 20 turnovers, yet Sarah Ashlee Barker topped their scoring with 15 points and seven rebounds, and Karlie Samuelson made her first four three‑pointers on the way to 13 points, with Teja Oblak adding 11.
What the Win Means
The victory moves Phoenix to a favorable position as they prepare to host Golden State on Tuesday night, while the Fire will look to rebound when they travel to Los Angeles on Sunday.