It was a tough game against the Atlanta Dream for the Phoenix Mercury, after they lost by a narrow margin. Following the close 82-80 defeat, Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas opened up about the factors that led to the loss.

The game included plenty of fouls, 35 to be exact, and another disappointing performance from the Mercury. According to Aya Abdeen from The Podium Finish, Thomas opined that, currently, getting things in place isn't easy for the team, considering the recent roster changes.

"This is uncharted territory for myself," she said. "So the biggest thing is, it's not a sprint, it's a marathon." "It's not easy when you know we've had a lot of moving pieces," she explained regarding Mercury's recent roster changes.

Thomas also stressed better play at the defensive end, saying, "And we can make as many excuses as we want, but at the end of the day, we know how to play basketball. It starts on the defensive end, and that's the biggest thing."

Thomas here mentioned Mercury's recent struggle with defending, averaging just 24.7 defensive rebounds, along with just 3.5 blocks per game.

"We keep harping on it, and we're just going to keep trying to find people that can play defense," she further elaborated. "And we took a step in the right direction, and we just got to continue to grow, continue to pick people up."

While Mercury fought closely against Dream, the recent streak of losses doesn't look good for their next game.

How Do Things Look For Mercury And Thomas

Mercury just hasn't been in the form they wanted to be in, succumbing to a streak of three straight defeats, with defense being their weak point, as mentioned earlier.

This loss marked Mercury's fifth out of the seven games played so far.

They are scheduled to play the New York Liberty for two straight away games, with the Liberty also on a two-game losing streak, having won three out of the six games they have played.

Of course, superstar Thomas will have to play a vital role in the game. She has averaged 17.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 8.2 assists so far, posing a menace to the opposition.

Mercury would also be dependent on Kahleah Copper, who has been averaging 18.5 points per game, and Natasha Mack, averaging 10.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.

Despite the Phoenix Mercury's recent struggles, Alyssa Thomas remains focused on growth, emphasizing defensive improvements as the team navigates this challenging stretch toward future success.

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Written by

Dhruv Singh

Edited by

Souvik Roy