'Big, big plays': Sami benches shooting woes, sets record

• Australian Opals star Sami Whitcomb had her best scoring game off the bench for Phoenix
• Quick Guide: List of Aussies in the WNBA in 2025
• How to watch every WNBA game in Australia in 2025

Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts brought Australian Opals star Sami Whitcomb off the bench against the Las Vegas Aces and it sparked her highest scoring game of the 2025 WNBA in their 76-70 win against road win on Monday, June 16, 2025.

WNBL MVP Whitcomb is now tied for the most games in WNBA history with 4+ made threes off the bench.

"You know, Sammy hasn’t shot it great from three this year — she’d be the first to tell you," Tibbetts said.

"But we all believe in her. Every time she shoots it, I think it’s going in. And you know, she came in and really just changed the game.

"I loved her patience in pick and roll — her and Sabally, the two-game that they played was really good.

"Yeah, we needed all of Sammy’s 18 points tonight to get that win.”

Whitcomb's 18 points came on 7-from-14 from the field (50%) in just 23 minutes. She went 4-from-8 from three and had two rebounds. Whitcomb is averaging 38.7% from the field this season and 27.9% from three.

“I mean, it’s something that Sammy has done before," Tibbetts added.

"Coming here this season, I didn’t know if she was gonna start or come off the bench. But having that spark plug off the bench is huge.

"She looked super comfortable tonight. And yeah, I mean those points are huge.

"You know, this is not a new role for her. This is something that she has done throughout her career at different points.

"But Sammy made some big, big plays down the stretch.”

Key Details

• Result: Phoenix Mercury 76 def. Las Vegas Aces 70
• When: June 16, 2025
• Where: Las Vegas, Nevada
• Standings: Phoenix Mercury (#2) | Las Vegas Aces (#5)

By the Numbers

• Satou Sabally (Phoenix Mercury) starred with 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block in 30 minutes.
• Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces) scored 20 points, and had 10 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block in 38 minutes.

What Happened

The Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces battled to a 20-20 tie in the first quarter, with both teams demonstrating strong defensive intensity. Phoenix gained separation in the second quarter, outscoring Las Vegas 23-19 to take a four-point advantage into halftime. The Mercury maintained their momentum in the third, extending their lead by two more points with a 17-15 quarter before matching the Aces with 16 points in the final period to secure the six-point victory.

Alyssa Thomas orchestrated the Mercury offense masterfully throughout the contest, finishing with 14 points and 13 assists. Her seven turnovers were the lone blemish on an otherwise stellar performance. With three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Thomas delivered a crucial assist to Sami Whitcomb, who connected on her fourth three-pointer of the game to extend Phoenix's lead to eight points.

Whitcomb provided exceptional scoring off the bench, contributing 18 points on efficient 7-from-14 shooting, including 4-from-8 from beyond the arc. Kahleah Copper added 11 points for the Mercury, who shot 38.4 percent from the field compared to the Aces' 35.9 percent.

The game featured strong rebounding from both sides, with Las Vegas holding a slight edge on the glass (38-36). Kiah Stokes controlled the boards for the Aces, grabbing 14 rebounds despite going scoreless. However, the Aces' 19 turnovers proved costly against the Mercury's more disciplined approach (12 turnovers). Phoenix capitalised on Las Vegas mistakes, generating 10 steals to the Aces' six.

With this victory, Phoenix improved to 8-4 overall and 2-2 on the road, strengthening their position as the second-placed team in the WNBA standings. The Aces dropped to 5-5 overall and 3-2 at home, currently sitting fifth in the standings as they continue to navigate through an inconsistent start to their season.