PHO
CHI
Preview not available
Griner, Taurasi deliver in clutch and Mercury defeat Sky 93-88
CHICAGO (AP) Brittney Griner scored 26 points, Diana Taurasi added 25 and the Phoenix Mercury held off the Chicago Sky 93-88 on Sunday night.
The loss, Chicago's eighth in the last 10 games, leaves the Sky (13-25) in a tie with Washington and Atlanta in the battle for the league's eighth playoff spot. Chicago plays at Atlanta on Tuesday with the winner having the upper hand for the final playoff spot. Washington hosts league-leading New York on Tuesday.
Taurasi hit two jumpers off the dribble and Griner rolled through the paint for a layup, giving Phoenix a 91-86 lead with less than two minutes remaining. Phoenix forced the Sky into a number of difficult shots before Rachel Banham drew a foul on a 3-point try with 7.6 seconds remaining.
Banham made two free throws for a 91-88 deficit. The Mercury's Sophie Cunningham made two free throws for a five-point lead and the Mercury forced Chicago into a difficult shot as time expired.
Chicago played without several key players, among them star rookie Angel Reese who has been sidelined by a wrist injury.
Natasha Cloud had 18 points and 11 assists for Phoenix (18-20) and Cunningham added 13 points. Griner had 10 rebounds and five assists.
Chennedy Carter had 20 points, Michaela Onyenwere 18, Banham 17, Dana Evans 13 and Isabelle Harrison 10 for Chicago. Onyenwere added nine rebounds.
Banham hit four of her first five 3-point tries and Carter's floater in the lane gave Chicago a 36-30 lead early in the second quarter. Griner then scored six points and Taurasi hit a 3-pointer while Phoenix went back ahead 39-38.
Neither team led by more than three points the remainder of the high-scoring half, with Chicago out front 57-55 at the break. Both teams shot better than 55% and Chicago made 10 of 14 3-pointers.
The Sky went ahead 64-59 in the third quarter, but Phoenix went on a 10-0 run over the next three minutes. Still, Chicago regrouped and trailed only 77-76 heading to the fourth.
---
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 |  | Start of the 1st Quarter | ||
| 10:00 | | Jump Ball: Kamilla Cardoso vs. Brittney Griner. | ||
| 9:44 | | Chennedy Carter misses a jump shot from 15 feet out. | ||
| 9:44 |  | Sophie Cunningham with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 9:33 | | Personal foul committed by Lindsay Allen. | ||
| 9:26 | | +2 | Brittney Griner makes a layup. Natasha Cloud with the assist. | 2-0 |
| 9:13 | | +2 | Michaela Onyenwere makes a layup. Rachel Banham with the assist. | 2-2 |
| 8:56 | | Brittney Griner misses a jump shot from 10 feet out. | ||
| 8:56 | | Kamilla Cardoso with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:42 | | Michaela Onyenwere misses a layup. | ||
| 8:42 | | Chennedy Carter with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 8:30 | | Brittney Griner blocks a Michaela Onyenwere layup. | ||
| 8:30 | | Brittney Griner with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:23 | | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 8:23 | | Kamilla Cardoso with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:13 | | +3 | Rachel Banham makes a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. Chennedy Carter with the assist. | 2-5 |
| 7:59 | | Kamilla Cardoso blocks a Diana Taurasi layup. | ||
| 7:59 | | Mercury with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 7:56 | | +2 | Diana Taurasi makes a jump shot from 18 feet out. Brittney Griner with the assist. | 4-5 |
| 7:45 | | +3 | Rachel Banham makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Lindsay Allen with the assist. | 4-8 |
| 7:23 | | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 7:23 | | Lindsay Allen with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:15 | | Chennedy Carter misses a jump shot from 10 feet out. | ||
| 7:15 | | Brittney Griner with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:01 | | Personal foul committed by Michaela Onyenwere. | ||
| 6:58 | | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | ||
| 6:58 | | Lindsay Allen with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:48 | | +2 | Kamilla Cardoso makes a layup. Lindsay Allen with the assist. | 4-10 |
| 6:26 | | Kamilla Cardoso blocks a Celeste Taylor layup. | ||
| 6:26 | | Michaela Onyenwere with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:17 | | Shooting foul committed by Celeste Taylor. | ||
| 6:17 | | +1 | Chennedy Carter makes free throw 1 of 2. | 4-11 |
| 6:17 | | Chennedy Carter misses free throw 2 of 2. | ||
| 6:17 | | Brittney Griner with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:00 | | +2 | Brittney Griner makes a layup. Diana Taurasi with the assist. | 6-11 |
| 6:00 | | Shooting foul committed by Kamilla Cardoso. | ||
| 6:00 | | Substitution: Dana Evans in for Chennedy Carter. | ||
| 6:00 | | +1 | Brittney Griner makes free throw 1 of 1. | 7-11 |
| 5:41 | | Offensive foul committed by Kamilla Cardoso. | ||
| 5:41 | | Kamilla Cardoso with a turnover | ||
| 5:41 | | Substitution: Isabelle Harrison in for Kamilla Cardoso. | ||
| 5:21 | | Celeste Taylor misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 5:21 | | Lindsay Allen with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:11 | | Personal foul committed by Natasha Cloud. | ||
| 5:00 | | Lindsay Allen misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 5:00 | | Mercury with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 4:56 | | Official TV timeout. | ||
| 4:43 | | Shooting foul committed by Rachel Banham. | ||
| 4:43 | | Natasha Cloud misses free throw 1 of 2. | ||
| 4:43 | | Mercury with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 4:43 | | +1 | Natasha Cloud makes free throw 2 of 2. | 8-11 |
| 4:34 | | +2 | Lindsay Allen makes a layup. | 8-13 |
| 4:24 | | +3 | Sophie Cunningham makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Natasha Cloud with the assist. | 11-13 |
| 4:14 | | Shooting foul committed by Sophie Cunningham. | ||
| 4:14 | | +1 | Dana Evans makes free throw 1 of 2. | 11-14 |
| 4:14 | | Substitution: Monique Billings in for Diana Taurasi. | ||
| 4:14 | | Substitution: Natasha Mack in for Brittney Griner. | ||
| 4:14 | | +1 | Dana Evans makes free throw 2 of 2. | 11-15 |
| 4:00 | | Natasha Cloud with a turnover - Bad Pass | ||
| 3:43 | | +3 | Rachel Banham makes a 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. Michaela Onyenwere with the assist. | 11-18 |
| 3:25 | | +2 | Celeste Taylor makes a layup. | 13-18 |
| 3:08 | | Rachel Banham misses a 3-point jump shot from 30 feet out. | ||
| 3:08 | | Natasha Mack with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:48 | | Natasha Mack with a turnover - Bad Pass | ||
| 2:34 | | +3 | Dana Evans makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Rachel Banham with the assist. | 13-21 |
| 2:10 | | +3 | Sophie Cunningham makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Natasha Cloud with the assist. | 16-21 |
| 2:01 | | Michaela Onyenwere misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | ||
| 2:01 | | Natasha Cloud with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:55 | | +2 | Sophie Cunningham makes a layup. Natasha Cloud with the assist. | 18-21 |
| 1:29 | | Isabelle Harrison misses a jump shot from 13 feet out. | ||
| 1:29 | | Monique Billings with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:14 | | +2 | Natasha Mack makes a layup. Monique Billings with the assist. | 20-21 |
| 57.1 | | Isabelle Harrison misses a layup. | ||
| 57.1 | | Natasha Mack with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 35.9 | | Natasha Cloud misses a layup. | ||
| 35.9 | | Rachel Banham with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 21.1 | | +3 | Rachel Banham makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Lindsay Allen with the assist. | 20-24 |
| 04.7 | | +2 | Natasha Cloud makes a layup. Natasha Mack with the assist. | 22-24 |
| 0.0 | | End of the 1st Quarter |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | | Start of the 2nd Quarter | ||
| 10:00 | | Substitution: Amy Atwell in for Monique Billings. | ||
| 10:00 | | Substitution: Brittney Griner in for Natasha Cloud. | ||
| 10:00 | | Substitution: Diana Taurasi in for Sophie Cunningham. | ||
| 10:00 | | Substitution: Moriah Jefferson in for Lindsay Allen. | ||
| 10:00 | | Substitution: Chennedy Carter in for Rachel Banham. | ||
| 9:38 | | +3 | Diana Taurasi makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Amy Atwell with the assist. | 25-24 |
| 9:27 | | Isabelle Harrison misses a jump shot from 19 feet out. | ||
| 9:27 | | Michaela Onyenwere with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 9:15 | | +2 | Isabelle Harrison makes a jump shot from 19 feet out. Chennedy Carter with the assist. | 25-26 |
| 9:02 | | +3 | Amy Atwell makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Natasha Mack with the assist. | 28-26 |
| 8:45 | | Personal foul committed by Brittney Griner. | ||
| 8:41 | | +3 | Dana Evans makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Moriah Jefferson with the assist. | 28-29 |
| 8:28 | | +2 | Diana Taurasi makes a jump shot from 13 feet out. Celeste Taylor with the assist. | 30-29 |
| 8:20 | | Personal foul committed by Celeste Taylor. | ||
| 8:13 | | +3 | Chennedy Carter makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Dana Evans with the assist. | 30-32 |
| 8:03 | | Brittney Griner misses a hook shot from 5 feet out. | ||
| 8:03 | | Isabelle Harrison with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:57 | | +2 | Chennedy Carter makes a layup. Dana Evans with the assist. | 30-34 |
| 7:55 | | Mercury take a full timeout. | ||
| 7:41 | | Chennedy Carter steals the ball from Brittney Griner. | ||
| 7:34 | | +2 | Chennedy Carter makes a jump shot from 11 feet out. | 30-36 |
| 7:17 | | Michaela Onyenwere steals the ball from Celeste Taylor. | ||
| 7:14 | | Michaela Onyenwere misses a layup. | ||
| 7:14 | | Sky with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 7:11 | | Substitution: Monique Billings in for Amy Atwell. | ||
| 7:11 | | Substitution: Natasha Cloud in for Natasha Mack. | ||
| 7:11 | | Substitution: Sophie Cunningham in for Celeste Taylor. | ||
| 7:03 | | Dana Evans misses a layup. | ||
| 7:03 | | Brittney Griner with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:54 | | +2 | Brittney Griner makes a layup. Diana Taurasi with the assist. | 32-36 |
| 6:40 | | Chennedy Carter misses a jump shot from 10 feet out. | ||
| 6:40 | | Sophie Cunningham with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:31 | | +3 | Diana Taurasi makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Brittney Griner with the assist. | 35-36 |
| 6:15 | | Shooting foul committed by Diana Taurasi. | ||
| 6:15 | | +1 | Moriah Jefferson makes free throw 1 of 2. | 35-37 |
| 6:15 | | Substitution: Kamilla Cardoso in for Isabelle Harrison. | ||
| 6:15 | | +1 | Moriah Jefferson makes free throw 2 of 2. | 35-38 |
| 5:53 | | +2 | Brittney Griner makes a layup. Diana Taurasi with the assist. | 37-38 |
| 5:45 | | Chennedy Carter misses a jump shot from 17 feet out. | ||
| 5:45 | | Sophie Cunningham with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:35 | | Personal foul committed by Moriah Jefferson. | ||
| 5:35 | | Substitution: Rachel Banham in for Moriah Jefferson. | ||
| 5:25 | | +2 | Brittney Griner makes a jump shot from 17 feet out. | 39-38 |
| 5:10 | | +3 | Michaela Onyenwere makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Rachel Banham with the assist. | 39-41 |
| 4:55 | | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 4:55 | | Michaela Onyenwere with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 4:46 | | Rachel Banham misses a jump shot from 11 feet out. | ||
| 4:46 | | Mercury with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 4:42 | | Substitution: Celeste Taylor in for Diana Taurasi. | ||
| 4:30 | | +2 | Brittney Griner makes a jump shot from 12 feet out. Natasha Cloud with the assist. | 41-41 |
| 4:08 | | Shooting foul committed by Celeste Taylor. | ||
| 4:08 | | +1 | Chennedy Carter makes free throw 1 of 2. | 41-42 |
| 4:08 | | +1 | Chennedy Carter makes free throw 2 of 2. | 41-43 |
| 3:51 | | +3 | Natasha Cloud makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Brittney Griner with the assist. | 44-43 |
| 3:29 | | +2 | Dana Evans makes a jump shot from 11 feet out. | 44-45 |
| 3:19 | | Shooting foul committed by Dana Evans. | ||
| 3:19 | | +1 | Celeste Taylor makes free throw 1 of 2. | 45-45 |
| 3:19 | | Celeste Taylor misses free throw 2 of 2. | ||
| 3:19 | | Monique Billings with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 3:12 | | +3 | Sophie Cunningham makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Brittney Griner with the assist. | 48-45 |
| 2:51 | | +3 | Michaela Onyenwere makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Dana Evans with the assist. | 48-48 |
| 2:37 | | Shooting foul committed by Dana Evans. | ||
| 2:37 | | Sky take a full timeout. | ||
| 2:37 | | Substitution: Lindsay Allen in for Dana Evans. | ||
| 2:37 | | Substitution: Diana Taurasi in for Monique Billings. | ||
| 2:37 | | Substitution: Natasha Mack in for Celeste Taylor. | ||
| 2:37 | | +1 | Natasha Cloud makes free throw 1 of 2. | 49-48 |
| 2:37 | | +1 | Natasha Cloud makes free throw 2 of 2. | 50-48 |
| 2:25 | | +3 | Rachel Banham makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Lindsay Allen with the assist. | 50-51 |
| 2:10 | | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | ||
| 2:10 | | Brittney Griner with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 2:05 | | Sophie Cunningham misses a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. | ||
| 2:05 | | Kamilla Cardoso with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:42 | | +2 | Lindsay Allen makes a layup. | 50-53 |
| 1:34 | | Michaela Onyenwere blocks a Natasha Mack layup. | ||
| 1:34 | | Mercury with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 1:34 | | Substitution: Isabelle Harrison in for Kamilla Cardoso. | ||
| 1:22 | | +2 | Brittney Griner makes a layup. | 52-53 |
| 1:13 | | Natasha Mack steals the ball from Rachel Banham. | ||
| 1:09 | | Personal foul committed by Lindsay Allen. | ||
| 1:06 | | Brittney Griner misses a jump shot from 16 feet out. | ||
| 1:06 | | Lindsay Allen with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 49.5 | | +2 | Chennedy Carter makes a layup. Lindsay Allen with the assist. | 52-55 |
| 36.9 | | +3 | Diana Taurasi makes a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. Sophie Cunningham with the assist. | 55-55 |
| 21.4 | | Chennedy Carter misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 21.4 | | Isabelle Harrison with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 09.3 | | +2 | Michaela Onyenwere makes a layup. Lindsay Allen with the assist. | 55-57 |
| 0.6 | | Brittney Griner misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 0.6 | | Mercury with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 0.0 | | End of the 2nd Quarter | ||
| 10:00 | | Substitution: Moriah Jefferson in for Lindsay Allen. | ||
| 10:00 | | Substitution: Chennedy Carter in for Rachel Banham. |