Taurasi drew her sixth and final foul during the fourth quarter of the Mercury’s 101-88 loss against the Minnesota Lynx, who completed their sweep of the Mercury and ended Phoenix’s 2024 season.

A standing ovation for Diana Taurasi in the Target Center 👏 pic.twitter.com/JzQxpEbQYa

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 26, 2024

Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts commended Taurasi and thanked her for welcoming him throughout his first year in the league.

“What an opportunity for me to coach the greatest ever,” Tibbetts said during Wednesday’s postgame press conference.

Taurasi, the league’s all-time leading scorer and 3-point shooter, has continued to allude to her retirement but hasn’t made an official announcement.

“If it is the last time, it felt like the first time,” Taurasi said during the Mercury’s last regular season game on Thursday.

“I think once the season’s over, I’ll have a better idea of what it looks like for me in the future,” Taurasi added.

During Wednesday’s game, Taurasi and the Mercury could not contain Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, who tied a WNBA playoff record with 42 points.

After the Lynx’s Game 1 win on Sunday, Collier joked about potentially ending Taurasi’s career and the Mercury’s season with a Game 2 win.

The 6-foot-1 forward clarified her comments on X, noting that she only wanted the Lynx to win and not have to play a Game 3.

“I feel lucky to have played with her (Taurasi) on Team USA and against her,” Collier said during Sunday’s postgame press conference.

Collier tied Breanna Stewart and Angel McCoughtry for the 42-point record when she made 1 of 2 free throws with 3:18 left in the fourth quarter. It was one of just two misses from the free-throw line in 14 attempts for Collier, who was subbed out with 58.3 seconds left.

Collier, who scored a career-high 38 points in Game 1, became the first player in WNBA history with 38-plus points in back-to-back playoff games. She also set a WNBA record for the most points (80) through the first two games of a playoff series. Collier reached 38 points in Game 2 with 5:55 left in the fourth.

Minnesota plays again on Sunday against Connecticut, which advanced to its sixth consecutive semifinals after an 87-81 victory over Indiana earlier Wednesday.

Phoenix’s season ends with Diana Taurasi potentially playing her final game, as speculation about her potential retirement continues.

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Bridget Carleton gave the No. 2-seed Lynx a 98-92 lead on a fall-away 3-pointer with 39 seconds left, a backbreaker for the underdog No. 7-seed Mercury.

BRIDGET “BIG SHOT” CARLETON DOES IT AGAIN 👑

Clutch bucket may have sealed the deal for the @minnesotalynx in Game 1

MIN-PHX | #WNBAPlayoffs presented by Google pic.twitter.com/Mu4U91Y9Xz

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 22, 2024

Phoenix point guard Natasha Cloud was spectacular with 33 points on 14-of-23 shooting, 10 assists and six rebounds. She also had an incredible behind-the-head assist.

https://t.co/f5LLEmFHNQ pic.twitter.com/MvftHzkTj7

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 22, 2024

Diana Taurasi added 21 points on 8-for-16 shooting, while Kahleah Copper scored 16.

Napheesa Collier was dominant for the Lynx with 38 points — 13 from the free-throw line — on 11-for-19 shooting.

The Lynx jumped ahead 23-8 out of the gates and extended the lead to 50-27 in the second quarter.

Phoenix chipped away for a more manageable 56-42 deficit at the half, helped by a Cloud triple with 15 seconds remaining. Cloud hit another 3-pointer with one second left in the third period, this time to cut Minnesota’ lead to 77-69 with 10 minutes play.

In a less-than-two-minute stretch from 8:13 to 6:39 left on the clock, Copper scored at the cup and hit a triple, followed by a Taurasi 3-pointer and a Cloud midrange jumper. The Lynx called timeout after the 10-2 run, as the Mercury were down only one.

The Mercury took the lead with a pair of free throws from Brittney Griner with 4:44 left, their first lead since 4-2 in the opening moments.

The two sides went back-and-forth until the final two minutes, when Minnesota ended the game on an 11-3 run.

The Mercury now face elimination on the road, which could spell the end of Taurasi’s 20-year career — she has not said whether or not she will return next season.

Game 2 is Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.

If the Mercury win, Game 3 would be back in Phoenix on Friday.

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Wilson became the first player in league history to score more than 1,000 points in a season, and she averaged a record 26.9 points. Clark broke the league’s single-season assist mark and scored the most points ever for a rookie.

So it’s no surprise the two were honored Sunday as the unanimous choices for the AP Player and Rookie of the Year awards, respectively, by a 15-member media panel. The Las Vegas Aces star was named the league’s MVP earlier Sunday, also unanimously. The WNBA will announce the rest of its awards over the course of the postseason, which begins Sunday.

Wilson finished the regular season with 1,021 points and 451 rebounds and led the league with 98 blocks. She finished third in the WNBA MVP voting last season, receiving one fourth-place vote that she said fueled her in the offseason to get better.

“It propelled me a little bit as I started my offseason workouts, but around February I was over it,” Wilson said. “I didn’t want to give that person that energy, that’s when I started to lock in.”

Clark came into the league with quite possibly more hype than any rookie ever and she delivered, leading the Indiana Fever to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. She broke the WNBA single-season record with 337 assists, including a league-record 19 in one game. She also broke the single-season rookie scoring mark as she averaged 19.2 points.

“This is a tremendous honor to be named The Associated Press Rookie of the Year,” she said. “This recognition wouldn’t be possible without an incredible group of teammates and coaches, and we are looking forward to continuing an exciting regular season in the postseason.”

Off the court she helped lift the WNBA to record ratings and attendance.

Clark headlined the all-rookie team along with Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky, who broke the rebounds-per-game record by averaging 13.1. She would have had the overall rebounding record as well had she not gotten hurt at the end of the season. Other rookies on the team were New York’s Leonie Fiebich, Los Angeles’ Rickea Jackson and Chicago’s Kamilla Cardoso.

Wilson’s teammate Tiffany Hayes earned AP Sixth Woman of the Year honors.

AP’s All-WNBA teams

Wilson and Clark headlined the AP All-WNBA first team. They were joined by Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart and Alyssa Thomas. Sabrina Ionescu, Kahleah Copper, Nneka Ogwumike, Kayla McBride and Arike Ogunbowale were on the second team.

More AP WNBA award winners

Coach of the Year: Cheryl Reeve. She helped Minnesota finish second in the regular season with a team that was picked ninth in the preseason. The Lynx won the Commissioner’s Cup and finished the regular season with 13 wins in their final 15 games.

Comeback Player of the Year: Skylar Diggins-Smith. The Seattle Storm guard missed last season after giving birth to her second child. Diggins-Smith averaged 15.1 points and 6.4 assists this season.

Most Improved Player: Dearica Hamby. The Los Angeles Sparks forward made a huge jump this season by averaging 17.3 points — 8.4 more than last season. She also improved her rebounding by more than three a game. Hamby edged Connecticut’s DiJonai Carrington by one vote.

Defensive Player: Collier. The Lynx star had an incredible season on both ends of the court, but she was an anchor especially for Minnesota’s stellar defense. The team had the best defense in the WNBA this season and Collier’s play was the main reason why. Wilson finished second, three votes behind Collier.

“I’m so proud of Phee’s defensive work in 2024. Her commitment to all aspects of our defense — deflections, denials, steals, blocks, rebounds — anchored one of the top defensive teams in the league and led to her best season yet as a pro,” Reeve said.

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The Mercury guard didn’t give a “yes” or “no” answer regarding her anticipated retirement decision. The game could have been Taurasi’s last at Footprint Center with two road games to begin the Mercury’s playoff run against the Minnesota Lynx coming. A home game to close the three-game first-round series is not certain.

“Once the season’s over, I’ll have a better idea of what it looks like for me in the future,” Taurasi said during a postgame press conference.

Diana Taurasi said she still hasn't made up her mind on whether to hang it up yet. pic.twitter.com/r0X7AdQwZb

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) September 20, 2024

Taurasi has donned the Mercury jersey for all 20 of her seasons in the WNBA. Her loyalty to the franchise has cemented her basketball legacy in the Valley.

“If it is the last time, it felt like the first time,” Taurasi said as she stood center court alongside her family and teammates after the 89-70 loss to the Seattle Storm.

To honor her achievements, Mercury players wore special edition Taurasi “GOAT” jerseys for their pregame fits and warmups on Thursday.

In 2021, as the WNBA celebrated its 25th season, fans voted to crown Taurasi as the league’s greatest of all time (GOAT).

Fans and former teammates, friends and family of Taurasi gathered to take in the potential farewell.

Geno Auriemma, Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer and Taurasi’s former UConn Huskies coach, attended the game. Auriemma and Taurasi hugged on the sidelines following her emotional “If this is it” speech.

Taurasi won three straight national championships with the Huskies before Phoenix took her No. 1 overall. The 2004 WNBA Rookie of the Year then led the Mercury to three WNBA championships.

“(Auriemma) knew if I could just scratch the surface of where he thought I could go, something special could happen,” Taurasi said.

Former Seattle Storm and Team USA guard Sue Bird also attended the game alongside her wife and former professional soccer player, Megan Rapinoe.

The crowd pleaded with Taurasi to put off her retirement, chanting “one more year” as she addressed the X-Factor after the game.

“I think they tricked Sue with that one last time,” Taurasi replied to the chants from the crowd.

If Taurasi finalizes her decision to retire, the Mercury will continue to thrive, she believes.

“We’re in a good place going forward, regardless,” Taurasi said.

She highlighted center Brittney Griner, small forward Kahleah Copper along with Sophie Cunningham, Rebecca Allen and Natasha Cloud as the faces of the Phoenix franchise moving forward.

“I’ll always be a part of this franchise,” Taurasi said. “Through the wins and the losses.”

First-round series are best-of-three, and Minnesota will host the first two games against Phoenix. The Mercury would host Game 3 if necessary.

Phoenix is the No. 7 seed after finishing the regular season with a 19-21 record. The Mercury dropped their finale to the Seattle Storm 89-70 on Thursday, a game that doubled as a celebration for legend Diana Taurasi in what may have been her final regular season contest — she has yet to say definitively if she will retire.

The No. 2 seed, Minnesota went 30-10 this season led by All-Star and Olympian Napheesa Collier. The Lynx went 3-1 this season against Phoenix.

When are the Mercury’s playoff games?

The WNBA released its playoff schedule.

Game 1 between the Mercury and Lynx is set for 2 p.m. Sunday on ESPN.

Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.

Game 3 would be Friday, Sept. 27, at a time to be determined on ESPN2.

We have 2024 WNBA playoff games, times and TV designations for the first round pic.twitter.com/lBHYLgx5sM

— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) September 20, 2024

What are the WNBA playoff matchups?

The No. 8 Atlanta Dream face the top-seeded New York Liberty. The No. 3 Connecticut Sun will welcome the No. 6 seed Indiana Fever and sensational rookie Caitlin Clark.

The final opening round matchup is the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces, the No. 4 seed, hosting the fifth-seeded Seattle Storm.

Las Vegas is trying to become the first team to win three titles in a row since Houston won four straight in the first four seasons of the WNBA — from 1997 to 2000.

The final playoff spot came down to the last day of the regular season. Atlanta needed a victory to clinch a spot and the Dream did just that by beating New York 78-67. The Liberty had already clinched the top seed.

All seeds and playoff spots are locked 🔒

Take a look at the official bracket for the 2024 #WNBAPlayoffs presented by @Google ⬇️

First Round begins Sunday September 22nd at 1pm/ET on ESPN#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/QWsC3NF7qj

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 20, 2024

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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With just over three minutes left in a 89-70 loss against the Seattle Storm to end the regular season, Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts checked Taurasi back in for a standing ovation.

If this is it –

a full standing ovation for the GOAT. pic.twitter.com/MRv0ovPrrj

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 20, 2024

Taurasi came out of the game shortly after, hugging her parents courtside before greeting her teammates on the bench.

Taurasi, who has played 20 seasons in the WNBA, all with the Mercury, had not said explicitly going into Thursday that she was retiring, but the club has promoted heavily the theme “If this is it.” She used those same words in a postgame speech to the crowd.

“If it is the last time, it felt like the first time.”

The Mercury have a playoff series against Minnesota Lynx starting Sunday, but there is no guarantee Phoenix will host another home game.

With the uncertainty for her future, Thursday was a celebration of Taurasi’s tenure in Phoenix.

Taurasi is 42 and has accomplished everything one could strive for on the basketball court with three WNBA championships, a league MVP, six Olympic gold medals and the all-time scoring record.

She played 18 minutes on Thursday, scoring nine points on a trio of 3-pointers.

The fans chanted “One more year” as the final buzzer rang and during her address.

Diana Taurasi checks back in and the crowd is lovin’ every second of it 🥹

SEA-PHX | League Pass 📱 pic.twitter.com/MIaFPkvB0g

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 20, 2024

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The 42-year-old is on an expiring contract. There’s the possibility her team might not play again in Footprint Center this season, with two road games to begin the playoffs at the Minnesota Lynx. And then there’s the indecision about her playing future.

Altogether, it brings a possibility that the Mercury’s regular-season finale against the Seattle Storm is the last home game ever for the all-time WNBA leading scorer.

The Mercury rolled out a tribute video with the asterisk of a theme: “If this is it …”

Penny Taylor, Taurasi’s wife, begins the video reading Taurasi a letter.

Dear Dee –

Love,
All of Us pic.twitter.com/SnO1q10Fdp

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 19, 2024

The video also features current teammate Brittney Griner, Taurasi’s agent and her sister.

“If this is it — thank you for letting us share in the joy,” part of the letter reads. “For the banners and MVPs, for 10K (points), for getting to see you on that medal stand six times. For letting us call you ‘GOAT’ even though you hated it. And for the technicals where you really got your money’s worth.”

Phoenix will hand out t-shirts with the letter to all fans who attend the regular season finale on Thursday.

pic.twitter.com/rRkLsiWAfE

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 19, 2024

Taurasi said Tuesday that she had not made a decision about whether she would continue playing after this season.

“I don’t know,” Taurasi told reporters in Los Angeles. “The last couple of weeks have been a little nerve-racking for myself. I don’t want to make any emotional, rash decisions. I know the end is near. When that is, I don’t know.

“I’ve always been a person that just concentrates on what’s next. And that’s practice tomorrow and then [versus] Seattle on Thursday. I guess when the season’s over, I’ll reflect and I’ll get advice from the people that are closest to my heart.”

Diana Taurasi GOAT jerseys for sale Thursday

The Mercury are putting a special edition GOAT jersey for sale at the team shop on Thursday night. The jerseys include a silhouette of a goat standing out of the No. 3 on the jersey.

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After the game, Mercury star Diana Taurasi spoke of her own future with one regular season game left.

Because the Mercury found out before the game they would play second-seeded Minnesota when the playoffs open on Sunday, that became the biggest item of note.

“I don’t know,” Taurasi told reporters in Los Angeles. “The last couple of weeks have been a little nerve-racking for myself. I don’t want to make any emotional, rash decisions. I know the end is near. When that is, I don’t know.

“I’ve always been a person that just concentrates on what’s next. And that’s practice tomorrow and then [versus] Seattle on Thursday. I guess when the season’s over, I’ll reflect and I’ll get advice from the people that are closest to my heart.”

Griner and Sparks standout rookie Rickea Jackson were thrown out after exchanging shoves while in rebounding position following a Mercury free throw in the closing seconds of the first half.

Natasha Cloud had 13 points and 12 assists and Sophia Cunningham scored 14 points for the Mercury (19-20). Taurasi added 13 and Mikiah Herbert-Harrigan had 10.

Dearica Hamby had 21 points for the last-place Sparks (7-32), who lost their eighth straight in an injury-plagued season. Li Yueru scored a career-high 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Kia Nurse had 10 points.

Phoenix turned 20 turnovers into 31 points to offset a 49-25 rebounding deficit.

Natasha Mack’s three-point play had the Mercury up 71-56 with 7:32 to play but the Sparks reeled off 10 straight points, pulling within five on Hamby’s layup with five minutes to go.

Cunningham pushed the lead to 13 with a 3-pointer with 3:44 left but Hamby hit a 3 that made it 79-74 with two minutes to play. Herbert-Harrigan ended that threat with a 3 and the Mercury closed it out.

The game was tied at 14 after one quarter before the Sparks raced to a 44-36 lead at the half.

It was after Celeste Taylor made a free throw for Phoenix, cutting the lead to 43-36, that Griner and Jackson got tangled up, exchanged words and shoves and appeared ready for more before others intervened. After review, both players were ejected and L.A.’s Crystal Dangerfield and Cunningham were given technical fouls.

Griner was 7 of 8 for 14 points in 14 minutes and Jackson played all but those last 18.8 seconds and was 2 of 11 with four free throws.

Phoenix scored the first seven points of the second half, tied the game at 46 on Taurasi’s 3-pointer and took the lead for good on her free throw as she started her own run of five straight points that made it 53-48.

The Mercury led by as many as 14 and took a 64-54 lead into the fourth quarter after outscoring the Sparks 28-10. Phoenix was 9 of 18 in the quarter to 4 of 18 for the Sparks, who had nine turnovers.

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The loss, Chicago’s eighth in the last 10 games, leaves the Sky (13-25) in a tie with Washington and Atlanta in the battle for the league’s eighth playoff spot. Chicago plays at Atlanta on Tuesday with the winner having the upper hand for the final playoff spot. Washington hosts league-leading New York on Tuesday.

Taurasi hit two jumpers off the dribble and Griner rolled through the paint for a layup, giving Phoenix a 91-86 lead with less than two minutes remaining. Phoenix forced the Sky into a number of difficult shots before Rachel Banham drew a foul on a 3-point try with 7.6 seconds remaining.

Banham made two free throws for a 91-88 deficit. The Mercury’s Sophie Cunningham made two free throws for a five-point lead and the Mercury forced Chicago into a difficult shot as time expired.

Chicago played without several key players, among them star rookie Angel Reese who has been sidelined by a wrist injury.

Natasha Cloud had 18 points and 11 assists for Phoenix (18-20) and Cunningham added 13 points. Griner had 10 rebounds and five assists.

Chennedy Carter had 20 points, Michaela Onyenwere 18, Banham 17, Dana Evans 13 and Isabelle Harrison 10 for Chicago. Onyenwere added nine rebounds.

Banham hit four of her first five 3-point tries and Carter’s floater in the lane gave Chicago a 36-30 lead early in the second quarter. Griner then scored six points and Taurasi hit a 3-pointer while Phoenix went back ahead 39-38.

Neither team led by more than three points the remainder of the high-scoring half, with Chicago out front 57-55 at the break. Both teams shot better than 55% and Chicago made 10 of 14 3-pointers.

The Sky went ahead 64-59 in the third quarter, but Phoenix went on a 10-0 run over the next three minutes. Still, Chicago regrouped and trailed only 77-76 heading to the fourth.

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Cunningham, who has spent all six of her seasons in the WNBA with the Mercury, was set to be a free agent after the 2024 season.

“Phoenix has become my home away from home, and I am so thrilled to be in the Valley and continue to get to play in front of the best fans in the W – the X-Factor,” Cunningham said in a news release. “The investments Mat (Ishbia) is making in our organization are unmatched and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of what we are building here, on the court and in the community.”

Cunningham was selected 13th overall by Phoenix in the 2019 WNBA Draft out of the University of Missouri.

In 179 career games, Cunningham has averaged 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 42 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range.

In 37 games played this season, Cunningham has averaged eight points, four rebounds and two assists per game while shooting 42 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range.

She ranks fourth in franchise history in three-pointers made (246), eighth in games played (179) and ninth in points (1,372).

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In their second-to-last possession of the third quarter, the Mercury turned the ball over on their third shot-clock violation of the game. Phoenix scored just six points during the quarter, making it one of their worst this season.

“We haven’t played very well. I don’t think we are hiding from that,” Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said.

After the first quarter, the Mercury trailed the Sun by five points.

Connecticut extended their lead after the second half with a 20-0 run during the third quarter.

DeWanna Bonner, a forward for the Sun, had seven points during the third and finished the game with 14 points. Bonner played for 10 seasons with Phoenix before being traded to Connecticut in 2020.

Phoenix center Brittney Griner was the team’s top scorer on Friday, totaling 26 points.

One of the latest Mercury signees, Celeste Taylor, ended the contest with four rebounds and two blocks. Taylor replaced Kahleah Copper in the starting lineup for Friday’s game.

Copper, the Mercury’s leading scorer this season, was absent due to a back injury.

“We don’t think it’s anything serious,” Tibbetts said.

The 6-foot-1 small forward’s absence was apparent as the Mercury continued to struggle offensively.

Mercury guards Rebecca Allen (hamstring) and Charisma Osborne (leg) were also missing from the game due to injuries.

Tibbetts spotlighted forced turnovers, points off turnovers and defensive rebounds as the team’s biggest struggles on the court.

“It’s going to be about our approach, our physicality and slowing down and being organized,” Tibbetts said.

The Mercury had seven turnovers by the end of Friday’s loss. The team’s last regular season game will take place on Thursday at Footprint Center before the WNBA playoffs begin on Sept. 22.

Phoenix (17-20) is ranked seventh in the WNBA playoff seedings and Connecticut is ranked third (26-10).

Diggins-Smith finished with 12 points and 11 assists and Nneka Ogwumike scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Seattle (21-14). The Storm are 1 1/2 games behind Las Vegas for the No. 4 seed. Phoenix is 1 1/2 games behind Indiana for the sixth seed.

Horston made a hook shot that gave the Storm the lead for good with almost 8 minutes left in the second quarter and sparked a 17-4 run. Horston scored seven more points while Diggins-Smith and Sami Whitcomb each hit a 3-pointer in the spurt that pushed Seattle’s lead to 36-23 with 3:17 left in the first half.

Horston, who scored in double figures for the first time since prior to the monthlong break for the Paris Olympics, poured in 11 points as Seattle outscored the Mercury 28-13 in the second quarter to take a 15-point lead into halftime.

Diana Taurasi led Phoenix (17-19) with 18 points. Kahleah Copper added 11 points on 4-of-16 shooting.

Seattle hit 12 3-pointers — including three apiece by Whitcomb, Diggins-Smith and Loyd — and committed just six turnovers.

Taylor signed her third and final seven-day contract with the Mercury on Aug. 30. She’s appeared in 10 games so far for Phoenix, averaging 2.7 points and 1.0 assists in 12.2 minutes per game.

“This is a place that took a chance on me and believed in me, all the way through the line from the players to the staff to the front office,” Taylor told Desert Wave Media reporters during a postgame press conference on Thursday.

Taylor has received support from her new teammates, including Mercury guard Natasha Cloud. “She’s Celeste Taylor. That’s all her,” Cloud tweeted to her X account during Phoenix’s victory against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday night. The win led to the team clinching a spot in the WNBA playoffs.

The team signed Australian Olympian Amy Atwell to a seven-day contract on Thursday morning. Later that evening, the 6-foot guard played her first game for Phoenix during the team’s 90-77 loss to the Washington Mystics.

Atwell’s contract will expire on Sept. 12 at midnight.

The Mercury are on the road for their next game against the Seattle Storm on Saturday.

She returns to the team after practicing with the Mercury during the team’s 2024 training camp in late April.

Atwell recently won bronze with the Australian Opals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She made that roster as a replacement for Mercury forward Rebecca Allen, who was set to compete for Australia before aggravating a hamstring injury during practice.

Atwell was selected 27th overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2022 WNBA Draft out of Hawaii and appeared in four games during her rookie season.

According to WNBA rules, players can only sign three or fewer seven-day contracts with the same team in one season.

The Mercury recently signed guard Celeste Taylor to her third and final seven-day contract. Taylor had four rebounds and two assists during the Mercury’s 74-66 win against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday night, which led to Phoenix clinching a spot in the playoffs.

Atwell joins as the Mercury prepare to face the Washington Mystics at Footprint Center on Thursday night.

Allen (hamstring) and guard Charisma Osborne (lower leg) are out for Thursday’s game.

The Mercury also needed Chicago’s loss to Las Vegas at the same time, which clinched a playoff spot for Caitlin Clark and the idle Indiana Fever.

Atlanta, which trailed by as many as 16, was within 60-57 early in the fourth quarter when Taurasi hit a 3-pointer. It was a four-point game with four minutes to go when Griner knocked down a 3 from the top of the key to make it 69-62.

Griner finished with 16 points and Taurasi had 13 for the Mercury (17-17). The Mercury were without Natasha Cloud, who had to sit out after picking up her seventh technical foul of the season in her last game.

Rhyne Howard scored 31 points for the Dream (11-22), who remain tied with Chicago for the final playoff spot, a game ahead of Washington, with seven games left. Tina Charles added 12 points and 12 rebounds.

In the final 4:08 of the second quarter, Phoenix stretched a three-point lead to 40-25. In the 14-3 run, Copper had the first five points and Natasha Mack and Sophie Cunningham had 3-pointers.

Atlanta only had eight field goals in the first half, half of them 3-pointers.

The Dream, who made 9 of 15 shots in the third quarter, cut a 16-point deficit to five before the Mercury took a 56-49 lead into the fourth quarter.

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Cloud, who is currently averaging 11.6 points and 6.8 assists per game, will miss Tuesday night’s game against the Atlanta Dream.

As per the WNBA rules, coaches and players are automatically suspended without pay for one game after receiving seven technical fouls. Following the suspension, the coach or player must sit out another game for every two technical fouls amassed.

The Mercury are still missing key players due to injuries. Forward Rebecca Allen (hamstring) and guard Charisma Osborne (lower leg) continue to sit out games. To help combat a depleted roster, the Mercury recently signed WNBA rookie Celeste Taylor to a seven-day contract.

Taylor will compete for Phoenix during their next game against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday night at Footprint Center.

Mercury guard Diana Taurasi also received her seventh technical foul during Sunday’s game, but the call was rescinded upon league review, making Taurasi eligible to play against the Dream. The WNBA vet has previously received single-game bans for technical fouls on two separate occasions during the 2016 and 2018 regular seasons. In 2013, Taurasi received nine technical fouls, causing her to miss two games.

The Mercury currently lead the league with 32 technical fouls, the all-time single-season record for team technicals.

Phoenix guard Kahleah Copper received a technical while playing against the Aces. Copper, Phoenix’s lead scorer, now has six technical fouls.

During Phoenix’s match against the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday night, Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham was ejected from the game after receiving two back-to-back technicals.

The Mercury are on a three-game losing streak, but the team is still contending for one of the three remaining playoff spots.

The top eight out of 12 teams will make the postseason. Phoenix (16-17) is currently ranked seventh behind the Indiana Fever (17-16), who are looking to make their first playoff appearance since 2016.

The Mercury missed last year’s WNBA playoffs and finished last in the league.

There are seven games left before the WNBA playoffs begin on Sept. 22.

Wilson, who scored a season-high 42 points in a 93-90 loss to Dallas on Tuesday, exceeded 40 points for the second time in three games.

Brittney Griner led Phoenix (16-17) with 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting. Sophie Cunningham made 4-of-6 from 3-point range and finished with 16 points, and Kahleah Copper scored 15.

Kelsey Plum finished with 16 points and five assists and Tiffany Hayes scored 11 points for the Aces (20-12), who have won back-to-back games for the first time since winning four straight from July 7-14.

Las Vegas shot 56% (37-of-66) from the field, hit 11 3-pointers and finished with 32 assists.

The Mercury missed their first six field-goal attempts and committed three turnovers as Las Vegas jumped to an 11-2 lead when Young hit a 3-pointer with 5:25 left in the first quarter. Griner sandwiched back-to-back baskets in the paint around a 3-pointer by Plum before Wilson scored six consecutive points to make it 20-6 with three minutes to go and the Aces led by double figures the rest of the way.

Phoenix committed six turnovers, shot just 4 of 15 from the field and was outscored 15-10 in the first quarter by Wilson alone as the Aces took a 19-point lead into the second period.

On July 24, she signed her first of three seven-day contracts with the Mercury. Last Friday, Phoenix re-signed Taylor to her second contract. Taylor played seven games with the Mercury and averaged 2.7 points and 1.0 assists in 12.2 minutes per game.

After signing her second Mercury contract on Aug. 23., Taylor put up a career-high nine points and helped Phoenix defeat the Chicago Sky.

With Mercury guard Charisma Osborne (lower leg) and forward Rebecca Allen (hamstring) injured, Taylor has become a key reserve for Phoenix.

The 5-foot-11 guard recently signed a one-year contract with the Women’s National Basketball League team, the Sydney Flames. The WNBL season begins on Sept. 18.

The Mercury will play their next game against the Las Vegas Aces this Sunday at Footprint Center.