How The Mercury Defeated A Future Rival

The Phoenix Mercury were a playoff team in 2020, and during the season, they beat a team that reached the WNBA Finals.

Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner (42) and guard Diana Taurasi talk during the second quarter against the Las Vegas Aces at Footprint Center on Sept. 1, 2024, in Phoenix. / Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

The 2020 season was a success, as the Phoenix Mercury finished the year with a record of 13-9. They made the playoffs, and they faced the Washington Mystics and the Minnesota Lynx.

The Mercury won their season series against the Mystics, and they beat them 88-87 in the first game and 94-72 in the second.

Phoenix and Minnesota's series ended in a tie, and the Lynx won the first game. They beat the Mercury 90-80, and Bria Hartley was Phoenix's leading scorer. As far as the second game, the Mercury beat the Lynx 83-79. Skylar Diggins was the star in that game, as she had 25 points.

Mar 8, 2020; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (center) poses for a photo with Phoenix Mercury players Diana Taurasi (left) and Skylar Diggins-Smith prior to game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Diggins and the Mercury did well in their series, and when it came to their series against the Las Vegas Aces, that was one of their victories.

Phoenix swept Las Vegas, and the series started with a 102-95 victory. The Mercury hosted the Aces, and their stars had an excellent performance. Diggins and Diana Taurasi both had 22 points, and in Taurasi's case, she had a double-double. She had 10 rebounds, and she also had a rebound.

Brittney Griner had 18 points, and she also had seven assists, six rebounds and three blocks. Hartley had a solid game off the bench, as she had 15 points, five rebounds and an assist. Then, Sophie Cunningham had 11 points, an assist, a steal and a block.

In what was considered a road game for the Mercury, they beat the Aces 92-85. Taurasi had a big game, as she had 32 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two blocks. Diggins had 20 points, seven assists, six rebounds, a steal and a block.

Phoenix Mercury guard Kitija Laksa (9) loses the ball to Atlanta Dream forward Naz Hillmon (0) and guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (32) during the third quarter at PHX Arena July 23, 2025. / Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Shatori Walker-Kimbrough had 15 points, four rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block. Kia Vaughn had 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and a block.

Mercury get the sweep

The Mercury pulled off a sweep, and while these teams did not meet in the playoffs, both of them were a part of the postseason. The Aces beat the Connecticut Sun, and right after that, they faced the Seattle Storm in the WNBA Finals.

Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) reacts after a foul by the Las Vegas Aces in Game Four of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on Oct. 10, 2025, in Phoenix. / Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Both the Mercury and the Aces played well that year, and since then, they have had their share of battles. The Aces won the 2025 season series, and they also won the Finals. The Mercury put up a fight, and come next season, these teams will have even more battles.

Please follow us on X to read more about the Mercury's 2020 season series against Western Conference rivals when you click right here!

feed