Dylan Kane

A new exciting player to watch has emerged out of nowhere for the Phoenix Mercury! For @TheIXSports, here’s my piece on Jovana Nogić’s hot start to her WNBA career: theixsports.com/the-ix-basketb…

Jovana Nogic tonight 🔥 • 27 points • 4 rebounds • 5/8 3PM • 6/11 FG

Most points in a WNBA game by an undrafted rookie, btw.

Jovana Nogić tonight: 27 points, 6/11 FG, 5/8 3FG, 10/11 FT Guess I should’ve waited a day to write my feature on her 😅

Natasha Mack just fouled out with 2:09 left. Mercury up 84-82 with Rickea Jackson going to the line.

3:10 to go Sky up 80-79. Rickea Jackson is killing the Mercury: 28 points, 10/21 FG, 4/9 3FG, 3 blocks

Mercury’s offense beginning to stall again like it did in the 2nd quarter. Sky on a 12-0 run and Rickea Jackson just made a 3 to put them up 75-73.

The Sky have cut the Mercury lead in half a little more than two minutes into the 4th. Natasha Cloud just converted an and-1 layup that got her and the Chicago bench pretty hyped up. Mercury timeout with 7:47 left to go, up 73-68.

End of Q3: Mercury 69 | Sky 59 The Mercury are now up to 29-of-32 on free throws. The Sky are 15-of-21, so a +14 margin for Phoenix that’s proving to be a difference maker.

HALFTIME: Mercury 45 | Sky 35 Despite the 8-minute field goal drought, Phoenix did a good job of getting to the line (18/20 on free throws). Jovana Nogic leads with 17 points. Kahleah Copper has 11.

Skylar Diggins just took a shot to the face on a foul by Kahleah Copper and immediately ran to the locker room holding her face. After review, call stood as a common foul.

The Mercury haven’t made a field goal since the 2-minute mark in the first quarter when it was 21-9. It is now 27-24. Shots aren’t falling and Chicago’s defense starting to settle in.

A technical foul was just charged to Nate Tibbetts for arguing with an official. Guessing it was because of a travel called on Kiana Williams the play before.

End of Q1: Mercury 23 | Sky 17 Mercury bringing it defensively so far, forcing Sky into low-percentage shots early. But Sky responded by ending the period on an 8-0 run.

Jovana Nogic is proving that her off night against Minnesota on Tuesday was an outlier. She’s on fire to start the game: 11 points, 3/4 3FG

Halfway through the first quarter, Alyssa Thomas has 0 points but it feels like she’s had her hand in the game more than anyone. Defense and playmaking top notch as you’d expect. Mercury up on the Sky 11-4.

Jovana Nogić back into the starting lineup for the Mercury tonight: F DeWanna Bonner F Alyssa Thomas C Natasha Mack G Kahleah Copper G Jovana Nogić

Gabriela Jaquez is back at the Mortgage Matchup Center for the Sky after winning an NCAA Championship with UCLA here about a month ago.

Natasha Cloud is back in Phoenix after recently being picked up by the Chicago Sky. Cloud played the 2024 season for the Mercury and was a fan favorite, then played last season with the New York Liberty after being part of the trade that brought Alyssa Thomas to Phoenix.

Marta Suárez’s first impression of playing at home for the Phoenix Mercury? The reggaeton, of course.

Nate Tibbetts with more on some of the factors contributing to Jovana Nogić’s off night against Minnesota after two standout performances: