Natasha

Mack

Bonner played a critical role off the bench especially when the Mercury struggled to get offensive production from Monique Ako Makani and Natasha Mack. Bonner scored in transition on a bunch of layups at the rim and moved off the ball well. Her final score of the night was the final dagger that put the Sparks away for good. With over 1:20 left in the fourth, Alyssa Thomas drove to the right wing and threw a shovel pass to Bonner in the left corner pocket. While Azurá Stevens was right there on the close out, Bonner dribbled a little to confuse her and then stepped back to nail the three-point shot right over the long outstretched arms of Stevens to put the Mercury up 87-75.

In her second straight start replacing Kathryn Westbeld, Mack made an immediate impact. While Mack is known as a defensive stalwart and an excellent rim protector, she found a way to contribute offensively as well. She scored in double digits for the first time this season, hitting a jumper from the free throw line, posting up on a smaller defender in Brittney Sykes and then scored three more times on cuts and movement without the ball. As usual, Mack contributed greatly on the defensive end as well accumulating four total stocks in addition to six of her team’s rebounds.

Westbeld was a late scratch on Friday night in the Mercury’s game in New York against the Liberty. Pregame Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said that the Mercury were going to see how she feels during warmups. Westbeld was replaced in the starting lineup for the second straight game by center Natasha Mack, a more defensive minded complement in the Mercury’s front court.

The Mercury made a late change to their starting lineup, with Mack stepping in for Kathryn Westbeld. During the game, it was announced that Westbeld was dealing with an illness and would be an “emergency option” if needed. Mack only played 18 minutes despite starting, but she offered solid value as a scorer and defender. Westbeld’s absence also impacted DeWanna Bonner (9/4/2/1 with two three-pointers) and Satou Sabally (6/5/3), as the Mercury went with a smaller lineup whenever Mack was not on the floor. Phoenix visits Washington on Sunday, and another start could be in the cards for Mack if Westbeld is unavailable.

Akoa Makani is available after missing two games due to a stint in the league’s concussion protocol. During his pregame availability, Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said the guard will not be under any restrictions, meaning she should play between 20 and 25 minutes. Sami Whitcomb’s streaming value will take a hit with Akoa Makani back in the lineup, but the veteran guard will play rotation minutes. Joining Akoa Makani in the starting lineup are Kahleah Copper, Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally and Natasha Mack.

Sabally missed Phoenix’s final four games before the All-Star break with a sprained ankle. Her return on Wednesday means Natasha Mack will head to the bench after filling the void in the starting lineup. Also, the Mercury can call on DeWanna Bonner to play more minutes, as she filled in for the injured Monique Akoa Makani in the team’s final game before the break.

Mack continues to be effective on the glass without scoring the ball often. She set a new career-high for rebounds during Wednesday’s loss, and she is averaging 9.5 boards per game over her last four appearances. This was also the second straight game that she swiped three steals, which lines up with her starting with both Satou Sabally (ankle) and Kahleah Copper (hamstring) sidelined. Mack is currently averaging 14.8 fantasy points per game, though she has produced at least 23 fantasy points in three of her last four games, and is rostered in 16.6 percent of ESPN leagues.

Sabally and Copper continue to battle injuries and will miss their third straight game. Phoenix secured wins in the first two contests the duo missed, including an impressive victory on Wednesday over the Lynx, who own the best record in the WNBA. Sabally’s and Copper’s scoring will be missed, but veteran players such as Sami Whitcomb and the recently signed DeWanna Bonner should be able to continue making contributions while the team deals with injuries. Whitcomb has started the most recent two games, as has Natasha Mack.

A first-round pick of the Mercury in 2009, Bonner officially returned to the Valley of the Sun Wednesday afternoon. She came off the bench against the Lynx, but, despite this being her first action since June 10, Bonner logged 26 minutes. The six-time All-Star replaced Natasha Mack (seven points and six rebounds in 16 minutes) with 7:08 remaining in the first quarter, and on-court chemistry was not an issue between Bonner and her new teammates. While it remains to be seen how Bonner fits in a rotation that includes Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally, since both were unavailable on Wednesday, her versatile skill set should make for a good fit in Phoenix.