After seeing them lead 49-38 at halftime before giving up 50 second-half points in an 88-82 loss to the Indiana Fever on June 30, the Phoenix Mercury head into the rematch shorthanded with three players out.
Already long-term absentees Diana Taurasi and Charisma Osborne (left lower leg) both remain out for Phoenix while Sug Sutton (right hamstring) was added to the inactive list.
Taurasi is out for her fourth straight game with a lingering lower left leg issue. She already dealt with a lower back injury that kept her out of action against the Connecticut Sun on July 1. The UConn player is averaging 16.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game this season and will be named a WNBA All-Star for the 11th time in her 20-year career.
Sutton has suffered a number of injuries this season and the latest will be a blow to the Mercury bench. She sat out Phoenix’s game against the Sun on May 29 with a right ankle injury and the June 22 game against the Minnesota Lynx with a hamstring injury. She suffered a left elbow injury and was questionable against the Dallas Wings on May 25 but was able to play.
As for Osborne, her return to the Mercury after being released after training camp saw her play just two games in the WNBA. Since being drafted in the third round of the 2024 WNBA Draft, she was averaging one point, 0.5 assists and rebounds per game before her left leg injury. She has not been able to play since June 30 because she was seen wearing a boot on her left leg.
The Mercury will face rookie sensation Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Friday at 4:30 p.m. PT.
