​The Phoenix Mercury embarked on a two-game road swing against the WNBA’s two fiercest teams, nearly crafting a memorable moment—though one that no one connected with the franchise would want to relive. The Las Vegas Aces throttled Phoenix 106-58 on Saturday, a 48-point defeat that stands as the third-worst margin in WNBA history. A’ja Wilson led all scorers with 21 points and 15 rebounds, while Justine Pissott shined in her WNBA debut, pouring in 19 points off the bench and hitting 5-of-6 from long range.
In a surprising twist, this game matched a rematch of last season’s WNBA Finals, which the Aces swept in four games to clinch their third championship in four years. Phoenix had previously toppled Las Vegas 99-66 in the Aces’ season-opening win this year. The Aces jumped ahead early, forging a 29-9 lead after the first period and pushing the halftime gap to 57-22. Late in the game, Las Vegas stretched its advantage to 54 points, leading 92-38 with about seven minutes remaining.
To put the blowout in perspective, the largest margin of victory in WNBA history remains Minnesota’s 59-point triumph over Indiana, 111-52, in 2017, a game highlighted by a 37-0 Lynx run. On Saturday, Monique Akoa Makani led Phoenix with 13 points, while Lexi Held added 11; they were the Mercury’s only double-figure scorers as the team shot 35% from the floor. Phoenix’s record fell to 8-16, ranking as the fourth-worst in the league.
Postgame, Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts did not mince words. “The reality is, we can’t have any more of these,” he said. “It’s time for us to make a move if we’re going to make a move. You don’t want to come out and play like that.” He added that the performance was “extremely disappointing for everyone involved—the players, the staff, the organization, the fans—everybody,” calling it “completely unacceptable.”
Pissott’s 19 points came in a fast, decisive 10-minute stint, highlighted by five 3-pointers—the most ever by a player making her WNBA debut. Drafted this year in the second round at No. 25 overall by Indiana after a stint at Vanderbilt, the 22-year-old spent training camp on a development contract before being waived and quickly signing with the Aces.
Looking ahead, the Aces have a primetime date with the Fever at 9 p.m. ET. Indiana is expected to be without full strength for that game, as star Caitlin Clark is slated to play limited minutes (roughly 20-25) while recovering from a back injury, per Indiana head coach Stephanie White.
Meanwhile, the Mercury head to Minnesota on Monday to face the Lynx—who, like Las Vegas, sit atop the league with a 17-6 record. The meeting comes as Phoenix searches for a spark as they continue a difficult stretch on the road. The two-team stretch against the league’s best teams underscores how crucial improvements will be as Phoenix looks to steady its season and climb out of the lower tier of the standings.