The Phoenix Mercury have faced a tough phase this season, and finding stability has been an issue. Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts has had to shuffle his rotation constantly, which has affected the outcomes. 

Before the July 19 home game against the Connecticut Sun, Nate Tibbetts addressed reporters about Natasha Mack's injury status and the team's lineup decision. 

“I think we were all hoping that we would see her last game, but it didn’t work out. She wasn’t completely ready," Tibbetts said. 

Everyone expected Mack to return in the previous game on July 17 against the Connecticut Sun. However, she remained unavailable because the team chose to be cautious. A clip of Tibbetts explaining the situation was shared on X by Hayden Cilley. 

Tibbetts was referring to the July 17 loss, where Phoenix fell 83-96 to Connecticut. Mack was close to returning for that game.

Despite the urgency to get her back, the coaching staff decided she needed more recovery time before being cleared. Tibbetts then expressed his optimism for the upcoming game.

"I know she’s ready to go. She’s excited. Obviously, she’ll be on a minutes restriction. Mack played extremely well to start the year, and I think just having her and her presence around the rim will be really good for us.”

The Mercury viewed her return as important for their frontcourt depth. Mack had missed 8 consecutive games because of a left foot bone bruise. 

Mack averaged 9.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0.8 spg, and 1.3 bpg before her absence. The team knows that keeping players healthy will dictate the rest of their season.

Mercury continues dealing with injuries as Natasha Mack returns 

Mack last played June 22 vs. Indiana before suffering the left foot bone bruise that kept her out for nearly a month. 

Mack did return for the July 19 game against Connecticut on limited minutes. Her presence helped, and Phoenix defeated the Sun 72-63 to snap its losing streak. 

The Mercury have dealt with multiple injury challenges involving Sami Whitcomb, Kahleah Copper, and Alyssa Thomas. At different points in the season, Phoenix had multiple players unavailable at the same time. 

The constant changes led to inconsistent rotations and reduced rim protection. According to Basketball Reference, the team sat around an 8-18 to 9-18 record, placing them 7th in the Western Conference during this period.

The Mercury will test their adjusted lineup during a busy upcoming schedule. They play on July 22 at the Los Angeles Sparks, followed by a home game on July 29 against the Golden State Valkyries. 

Do you think Mack's return will be enough to push Phoenix into a secure playoff spot? 

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Utsav Sinha