Kahleah Copper insists the Phoenix Mercury must swiftly move past their recent 86-83 loss to the Las Vegas Aces at Footprint Center as they prepare for the approaching <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/wnba/”>WNBA playoffs. Despite the narrow defeat, the Mercury remain in fourth place in the league standings, and Copper urges her teammates to concentrate on their upcoming matchup against the Seattle Storm on Sunday.
In the final moments of the Aces game, Chelsea Gray secured a three-point advantage by sinking two crucial free throws and then blocked Satou Sabally’s attempt to tie the game with only eight seconds remaining. Copper highlighted the importance of treating this close loss as a learning opportunity that can strengthen the team moving forward.
Learning from Defeat to Build Future Success
“If you imagine this game as a series, it’s something to learn from,”
Copper said.
“We understand what we have to do, but we just have to be able to make adjustments a little bit quicker. It’s a little bit bigger than just this game.”
She emphasized the necessity of maintaining a short-term memory regarding losses, explaining that dwelling on setbacks will not help the Mercury gather momentum for playoff success. Instead, the team’s focus must remain on constant improvement and forward progress.
Coach Tibbetts Highlights Positive Aspects Amidst Tough Loss
Head coach Nate Tibbetts pointed out encouraging developments despite the defeat. The Mercury trailed by 10 points at one stage but managed to narrow the gap significantly as the game progressed, showing resilience against a Las Vegas team that held much of the momentum.
“[Las Vegas] had all the momentum,”
Tibbetts stated, acknowledging the challenge faced by his squad.
The coach also praised the impact of in-game substitutions, noting the contribution of players who injected intensity and competitive spirit into the contest. Tibbetts views this experience as valuable preparation for the demanding nature of playoff basketball, where the ability to overcome adversity is crucial.
He added that although winning remains the ultimate goal, grappling with difficult games such as this one is an essential part of the team’s development, helping shape their performance in future high-pressure situations.
Upcoming Challenges and Strategic Focus for Phoenix Mercury
With the playoffs imminent, the Mercury’s capacity to learn from their tight defeat to the Aces and quickly regain focus will be key to their postseason aspirations. The team’s next opponent, the Seattle Storm, awaits on Sunday, presenting an important opportunity for Phoenix to build momentum.
Balancing the lessons from this narrow loss with forward-looking preparation, Kahleah Copper and the rest of the Mercury are concentrating on adjustments needed to make deeper runs in the playoffs and contend with the league’s top teams.