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How Kahleah Copper's game-winner vs Wings writes Mercury's blueprint for 2027 turnaround
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- How Kahleah Copper's game-winner vs Wings writes Mercury's blueprint for 2027 turnaround
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PHOENIX– An 87-86 win over the Dallas Wings on Monday night proved the Phoenix Mercury still have something to fight for. Even with the Mercury's playoff hopes out the window for quite some time, one element remains: pride.
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Players and coaches have talked about finishing the season out strong. It's easier said than done, but Monday's on-court production is a result of what happens in practice.
Usually, when the media walks into the facility, the team is having a half-court shooting contest. Followed by laughter, sometimes lifting each other after sinking a shot, or friendly banter is followed by a group huddle.
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It's not a unit that looks deflated or defeated. It rather feels the opposite. Speaking to Lexi Held and Natasha Mack during the team's morning shootaround before their game against the Wings, their smiles and laughs shone brightly.
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Inside jokes, interrupting and hyping each other up simultaneously during their shared media availability were a microcosm of the shared sisterhood throughout the season.
The on-court production hasn't matched the practice production, but the last three games proved that working hard after the FIBA World Cup was a must.
"That's a really good team. That's a playoff team," Copper explained following her 31-point showing vs. the Wings. "Their defense was very solid… for us to be able to do that against a really good playoff team just gives us confidence."
The Mercury want to establish an identity heading into 2027
Most teams would mail in the season considering where Phoenix is. Instead, it's been trying to get a leg-up on the competition through any means. Whether it's improving the on-court dynamic with Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper , or showing Kelsey Plum what she could be a part of, the options are endless.
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Not to mention the blossoming young crew of Shay Ciezki, Kara Dunn, and Marta Suarez. Will those three be starters next season if they return? Likely not, but they give a youthful spark that this rendition of the Mercury has needed.
"We have a lot of new players, a lot of players that haven't been in the league before. I think when you think of a big picture, you have to think about how this is a lot of their first times," Thomas shared postgame.
"Your first year is something that you always remember. As easy as it is to be negative about everything that's happened this year, you also don't want to take away from their first-year experience."
The energy of the 11,946 X-factor attendees certainly played a major role, but that only amplified the joy.
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Going back to Held earlier in the day, she mentioned how perspective really is everything. She brought things back to reality and emphasized the organization's commitment to intentionality, but also shared that everyone has a job and is healthy.
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To which Mack replied with "best job in the world."
How can the Mercury close out the 2026 season in style?
Luckily for them, they'll play a Las Vegas Aces squad who likely won't play their starters substantial minutes, considering they have secured the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. Still, their main unit could get some run in the game to keep them fresh.
It's another playoff team they'll play, which likely won't stop once the new season kicks off next May. But Monday was a great leap for the Mercury to end the chapter on the disappointing yet encouraging season.
Related: Mercury's Kahleah Copper takes down Wings with game-winning layup
