LAS VEGAS — Patience among the Phoenix Mercury faithful is wearing thin after the club’s 106-58 loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday.
From the opening minutes, Phoenix was forced to play catch-up. After scoring just nine points in the first quarter and trailing 57-22 at halftime, the Mercury struggled to contain the Aces’ offense. Las Vegas shot 51% from the field while forcing 18 turnovers that led to 24 points.
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Phoenix shot just 35% from the field and 23% from 3-point range.
The defeat dropped the Mercury to 8-16 and extended their losing streak to three games. More concerning than the record has been the team’s lack of competitiveness, as Saturday’s 48-point defeat matched the third-largest margin of victory in WNBA history for Las Vegas.
Jul 11, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Aces forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (32) shoots a layup against Phoenix Mercury forwards DeWanna Bonner (24) and Alyssa Thomas (25) during the second quarter of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
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Needless to say, fans are wondering what’s gone wrong.
The frustration extends beyond the fan base. Head coach Nate Tibbetts reflected candidly on Saturday’s performance, acknowledging the team’s shortcomings after another difficult outing.
“That was ugly, disappointing, all of the above,” he said. “We’re going to find out a lot about us on Monday, see what kind of response we have… But the reality is we can’t have any more of these. It’s time for us to make a move if we’re going to make a move. You don’t want to come out and play like that. That’s extremely disappointing for everyone involved. The players, the staff, the organization, the fans, everybody. That’s completely unacceptable.”
Jul 11, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Phoenix Mercury guard-forward Kahleah Copper (2) shoots the ball against Las Vegas Aces forward Kierstan Bell (1) during the fourth quarter of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
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The fan base has always held the franchise to championship expectations, expecting playoff basketball every season. This loss, coupled with the team’s ongoing struggle to find consistency, has left supporters with even more questions.
With the playoff race tightening, the Mercury face increasing pressure to show meaningful improvement. Another stretch like their current one could leave Phoenix out of the playoff picture altogether — something fans don’t want to see happen.
The Mercury will now head to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Lynx on Monday, July 13, at 6 p.m.
