Toronto Tempo guard Kiki Rice defends against Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Aug. 29, 2026.
Mark J. Rebilas, IMAGN IMAGES via
But the younger players provided some energy against an injury-depleted Toronto team. Forward Maddy Westbeld showed more awareness in her third game with the Mercury, drawing contact when she couldn’t find any open passes and getting to the free-throw line.
Guard Kara Dunn found confidence from the perimeter in her WNBA debut, draining three 3-pointers on three looks in her first seven minutes.
Dunn participated in training camp with the Mercury, but dealt with a lingering knee issue and didn’t make the opening-night roster. She returned on a developmental contract on July 26.
“For me, it means a lot because me and Sami share similar journeys this year,” Dunn said. “Getting comfortable is important to me and showcasing everything that I can do is just one step, but I was really happy with what I’ve seen so far.”
Guard Shay Ciezki had a better feel for her two-way playmaking in her fourth game, matching Brochant for the team lead in scoring with 15 points, along with five assists.
Tibbetts and his coaching staff have seen the younger players stay in the gym the longest during practice and play for limited minutes.
“It’s hard when you’re not playing,” Tibbetts said. “You got to love it to continue to want to get better. We’ve got some young players that are doing that, and that’s the reason our staff is pouring into them for opportunities like this. It’s good to get reps and feel on film instead of in practice.”
The Mercury’s youth movement resulted in the team hitting a season high of 15 3-pointers. The Mercury also scored 49 bench points and 28 fast-break points.
Phoenix played only the reserves in the fourth quarter and went scoreless for nearly five minutes, but eventually reached the 100-point mark for the fifth time this season.