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Video Credit: Phoenix Mercury
DeWanna Bonner scored a season-high 21 points and passed Brittney Griner for most rebounds in franchise history, helping the Phoenix Mercury beat the Connecticut Sun 72-63 on Sunday, snapping a five-game losing streak and tying the season series at 1-1 after Connecticut's earlier win.
Bonner's fifth rebound of the night moved her past Griner's 2,322, finishing with 2,324 in a Mercury uniform, four shy of Rebekkah Brunson's fifth-most in WNBA history. It was her first 20-point game of the season and the 141st of her career, five short of Angel McCoughtry's seventh-most.
"What a cool moment for two former teammates. She passed BG, and they shared a smile across the court and then even a hug. That's pretty neat. Those are special moments, moments you remember," Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said. "For me, getting the opportunity to coach DB at the end of her career has been special."
Griner, who finished with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting to go with five rebounds and two blocks for Connecticut, said she needled Bonner even as she congratulated her.
"I'm happy for DB. We had a little moment on the court; I told her congrats and then I said, 'forget you,'" Griner said, laughing. "But DB is a great player. She was here when I came, she was my vet. I've been on the side of her and watched her going up the boards, and then being on the other side, playing against her. She's an amazing player, so happy for her too."
Phoenix led 18-12 after the first quarter and extended the lead to 10 by halftime, 43-33. Connecticut mounted a comeback with Griner, who scored five consecutive points early in the third quarter to cut the deficit to three, and later only trailed by one late in the fourth after a Charlisse Leger-Walker and-one. Phoenix responded with free throws, finishing on a 63-62 score with 4:42 remaining, before a 9-1 run—five points from Kahleah Copper—sealed the victory. The Mercury restricted Connecticut to 63 points, their lowest opponent total since August 2025, despite shooting just 2-of-15 from beyond the arc (13.3%), one of only three teams this season to win with two or fewer three-pointers.
"I thought tonight was a good step. I thought Leïla Lacan the other night was extremely aggressive. It's something we talked about yesterday during film, just being better, being tougher around the ball and more competitive," Tibbetts said. "That's something we've got to continue to do down the stretch, and I thought tonight we set the tone early."
Copper scored 18 points with four assists, matching her season high in her 21st game with at least 15 points, tied for third in the league behind A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Mitchell.
"I had five turnovers today, so that was just so bad, but I think early on in the game, making the right decisions. As soon as I saw two defenders, I was just getting off it," Copper said. "It was just not about the scoring early, it was about making the right decision and knowing that it'll open it up down the stretch."
Alyssa Thomas nearly recorded a triple-double with seven points, 11 assists, and six rebounds. Her second assist of the night moved her past Michele Timms for fifth on the Mercury's all-time assist list, and she reached 550 career assists with Phoenix in just 64 games, the fastest in franchise history. It was her sixth 10-assist game of the season, second in the league behind only Jordin Canada, and the 49th of her career, third in WNBA history behind Courtney Vandersloot and Ticha Penicheiro.
"Kahleah Copper had what, six to eight points off this exact same cut," Bonner said of Thomas. "When you play with someone with a high IQ and can pass the ball at every level, and figure out her teammates and where they want the ball, it's kind of easy. She's just a phenomenal passer and she reads the game really well."
Monique Akoa Makani scored 11 points, six rebounds (tying her career high), two steals, and a plus-17. Natasha Mack, back after an absence since June 22, added four points, five rebounds, a steal, and a block.
Olivia Nelson-Ododa posted a double-double for the Sun with 12 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Nell Angloma scored eight points off the bench, including a crucial third-quarter three-pointer and a second-chance and-one, reducing Phoenix's lead to three. Diamond Miller forced a key third-quarter turnover, keeping the Sun competitive. Nelson-Ododa, who has played with Bonner and Thomas earlier, said watching Bonner hit a milestone from the opposing bench was still meaningful.
"They taught me a lot, especially the two years that I was with them. They were my vets too," Nelson-Ododa said. "Just to see her pass that milestone, I'm really proud of her. It's just a testament to the type of player she is."
Sun coach Rachid Meziane said his team's energy and discipline were lacking from the start.
"We were too soft. We knew that, starting a game like that, like we didn't even hope to win it," Meziane said. "We gave too many easy baskets, with some backdoors, and we put them too much time on the free throw line. We knew that we had to play this game with more pride, with more energy, and I don't feel like today we matched their energy."
Phoenix visits the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday in its final game before the All-Star break. Connecticut travels to face the Indiana Fever on Wednesday.
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DeWanna Bonner scored a season-high 21 points and passed Brittney Griner for most rebounds in franchise history, helping the Phoenix Mercury beat the Connecticut Sun 72-63 on Sunday, snapping a five-game losing streak and tying the season series at 1-1 after Connecticut's earlier win.
Bonner's fifth rebound of the night moved her past Griner's 2,322, finishing with 2,324 in a Mercury uniform, four shy of Rebekkah Brunson's fifth-most in WNBA history. It was her first 20-point game of the season and the 141st of her career, five short of Angel McCoughtry's seventh-most.
"What a cool moment for two former teammates. She passed BG, and they shared a smile across the court and then even a hug. That's pretty neat. Those are special moments, moments you remember," Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said. "For me, getting the opportunity to coach DB at the end of her career has been special."
Griner, who finished with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting to go with five rebounds and two blocks for Connecticut, said she needled Bonner even as she congratulated her.
"I'm happy for DB. We had a little moment on the court; I told her congrats and then I said, 'forget you,'" Griner said, laughing. "But DB is a great player. She was here when I came, she was my vet. I've been on the side of her and watched her going up the boards, and then being on the other side, playing against her. She's an amazing player, so happy for her too."
Phoenix led 18-12 after the first quarter and extended the lead to 10 by halftime, 43-33. Connecticut mounted a comeback with Griner, who scored five consecutive points early in the third quarter to cut the deficit to three, and later only trailed by one late in the fourth after a Charlisse Leger-Walker and-one. Phoenix responded with free throws, finishing on a 63-62 score with 4:42 remaining, before a 9-1 run—five points from Kahleah Copper—sealed the victory. The Mercury restricted Connecticut to 63 points, their lowest opponent total since August 2025, despite shooting just 2-of-15 from beyond the arc (13.3%), one of only three teams this season to win with two or fewer three-pointers.
"I thought tonight was a good step. I thought Leïla Lacan the other night was extremely aggressive. It's something we talked about yesterday during film, just being better, being tougher around the ball and more competitive," Tibbetts said. "That's something we've got to continue to do down the stretch, and I thought tonight we set the tone early."
Copper scored 18 points with four assists, matching her season high in her 21st game with at least 15 points, tied for third in the league behind A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Mitchell.
"I had five turnovers today, so that was just so bad, but I think early on in the game, making the right decisions. As soon as I saw two defenders, I was just getting off it," Copper said. "It was just not about the scoring early, it was about making the right decision and knowing that it'll open it up down the stretch."
Alyssa Thomas nearly recorded a triple-double with seven points, 11 assists, and six rebounds. Her second assist of the night moved her past Michele Timms for fifth on the Mercury's all-time assist list, and she reached 550 career assists with Phoenix in just 64 games, the fastest in franchise history. It was her sixth 10-assist game of the season, second in the league behind only Jordin Canada, and the 49th of her career, third in WNBA history behind Courtney Vandersloot and Ticha Penicheiro.
"Kahleah Copper had what, six to eight points off this exact same cut," Bonner said of Thomas. "When you play with someone with a high IQ and can pass the ball at every level, and figure out her teammates and where they want the ball, it's kind of easy. She's just a phenomenal passer and she reads the game really well."
Monique Akoa Makani scored 11 points, six rebounds (tying her career high), two steals, and a plus-17. Natasha Mack, back after an absence since June 22, added four points, five rebounds, a steal, and a block.
Olivia Nelson-Ododa posted a double-double for the Sun with 12 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Nell Angloma scored eight points off the bench, including a crucial third-quarter three-pointer and a second-chance and-one, reducing Phoenix's lead to three. Diamond Miller forced a key third-quarter turnover, keeping the Sun competitive. Nelson-Ododa, who has played with Bonner and Thomas earlier, said watching Bonner hit a milestone from the opposing bench was still meaningful.
"They taught me a lot, especially the two years that I was with them. They were my vets too," Nelson-Ododa said. "Just to see her pass that milestone, I'm really proud of her. It's just a testament to the type of player she is."
Sun coach Rachid Meziane said his team's energy and discipline were lacking from the start.
"We were too soft. We knew that, starting a game like that, like we didn't even hope to win it," Meziane said. "We gave too many easy baskets, with some backdoors, and we put them too much time on the free throw line. We knew that we had to play this game with more pride, with more energy, and I don't feel like today we matched their energy."
Phoenix visits the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday in its final game before the All-Star break. Connecticut travels to face the Indiana Fever on Wednesday.
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