The Phoenix Mercury are gearing up for a zig-zag week in their game schedule. They started on the road against the Seattle Storm (5-3) on Tuesday, will host the Minnesota Lynx (6-2) on Friday, and then head to Dallas (3-4) on Sunday. It’s a whirlwind, but they’re ready to face each challenge head-on.
Phoenix (4-5) snapped a three-game home losing streak by routing the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday. Up next, they face the red-hot Seattle, which is riding a four-game win streak. “It's gonna be a hard fight, but we're gonna approach it like every other game and hopefully come out with the win," Kiki Herbert Harrigan said during Phoenix's shootaround media availability on Tuesday.
Phoenix and Seattle have striking similarities in their team makeup and playing style this season. Last year, they had the 11th and worst records in the league, respectively. Now, both teams feature three former All-Stars. The Mercury traded their No. 3 overall pick from April's draft for Kahleah Copper, who joins Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner, although Griner is currently sidelined with a left foot-toe injury.
This off-season, Nneka Ogwumike left L.A. and Skylar Diggins-Smith departed Phoenix to join Seattle's star player Jewell Loyd in free agency. Both teams have storied histories as former dynasties — Seattle boasts four WNBA titles, while Phoenix has three.
“There's definitely some similarities,” Mercury's backup big Dixon remarked. “It's great seeing other great players go play with great players, and it's great to see franchises as good as Seattle was with Phoenix back in the day and try to rebuild to what it used to be.”
Seattle and Phoenix both favor an up-tempo game, ranking second and third in pace, respectively. Phoenix, which won three straight games two weeks ago, is eager to build another win streak.
"Just talking on defense, using our length," Dixon said about how to beat Seattle. "We're both trying to get up and down the court as fast as possible. But just talking, trusting our gaps, our defense, our principles."
Exciting times are ahead as the Phoenix Mercury look to navigate their packed schedule and make a strong push forward.
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