The Phoenix Mercury go back and forth to play the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday iatCollege Park, Ga., understanding they’re going to omit the playoffs for the primary time in 10 seasons.
The ten-year run was once the longest lively streak within the WNBA.
Accidents and workforce problems have adversely affected the Mercury, who’re 9-25 after shedding their 5th instantly recreation Sunday to the Dallas Wings at house.
Sophie Cunningham got here away with a jaw harm close to the top of Sunday’s loss. Diana Taurasi ignored her 2nd instantly recreation after injuring her toe towards the Indiana Fever on Aug. 20.
Shey Peddy stays in concussion protocol after a head harm previous this month. Skylar Diggins-Smith has been out this season whilst on maternity depart.
Sunday marked the go back of the Mercury’s Brittney Griner, who was once out since Aug. 13 as a result of well being and protection protocols. She completed with 19 issues towards the Wings.
“We have been thru so much this season with accidents and folks going out and in and a brand new training team of workers,” guard Moriah Jefferson stated, referencing Nikki Blue, who’s training on an meantime foundation after Vanessa Nygaard was once fired June 25.
“We do not love to make any excuses. … For us, it is about getting higher each and every unmarried day, it doesn’t matter what.”
Atlanta (16-19) has misplaced 3 instantly video games, 11 of its closing 15 and is coming off an 83-80 loss on the Indiana Fever on Sunday.
The Dream have been a half-game forward of the eighth-place Los Angeles Sparks coming into the week. Most effective 5 video games stay within the common season.
They rallied from a 16-point deficit within the first half of towards Indiana and led through 12 early within the fourth quarter ahead of the Fever got here again past due.
Atlanta trainer Tanisha Wright stated she is in search of extra consistency from her workforce.
“We got here out within the 3rd quarter with the mindset that we want to with a purpose to flip the tides, and I believed we did an excellent task of turning the tides,” Wright stated. “We checked out some movie. We confirmed them how they have been strolling thru numerous stuff (within the first half of towards Indiana).”
Phoenix is 1-15 at the street this season. Atlanta is 9-8 at house.
—Box Degree Media
