For most of the season, Phoenix relied heavily on its bench and depth. When Kahleah Copper, Alyssa Thomas, and Satou Sabally dealt with injuries early in the season, the team’s role players stepped up and led the Mercury to plenty of wins. When DeWanna Bonner joined the team, it only strengthened the Mercury’s bench.
In the playoffs, Sami Whitcomb was the hero of the semifinals when she led the charge in Game 2, which ended with an impressive comeback win in overtime. Two games later, Bonner sealed the series win with three well-timed 3-pointers.
In the finals, the Mercury’s bench and overall depth haven’t been quite as impressive, especially compared to the output the Aces got from their reserves. That needs to change if the Mercury want to take control of the series. So far, Nate Tibbetts has only trusted DeWanna Bonner, Sami Whitcomb, and Kathryn Westbeld to play consistent minutes off the bench in the playoffs. Tibbetts either has to hope that his bench can up its game at home or consider some bold adjustments to the rotation.
The Mercury lost the bench battle twice
In Game 1, the Mercury did a good job limiting A’ja Wilson’s and Jackie Young’s production. That wasn’t quite enough to secure the win, though. Dana Evans and Jewell Loyd were unstoppable, scoring 21 and 18 points, respectively. Megan Gustafson also contributed two points off the Aces’ bench. Meanwhile, the Mercury got 16 points from Bonner and Whitcomb—a solid number, but not when you compare it to Evans’s and Loyd’s 39 points.
In Game 2, the Aces’ bench wasn’t quite as lethal. Loyd led the bench scoring with nine points, Evans scored 5, and Gustafson had two points. Nevertheless, they still outscored the Mercury’s reserves. Phoenix got eight points from its bench—four from Bonner and two each from Kalani Brown and Kiana Williams, who only saw the court once Nate Tibbetts emptied his bench.
Tibbetts should consider giving other reserves a shot
DeWanna Bonner and Sami Whitcomb are proven veterans. It’s no surprise that Tibbetts trusts them to deliver off the bench in the finals. However, neither has had a very efficient playoff run so far. Bonner shot only 36.2% from the field and 24.1% from three over the first nine games. Whitcomb shot 31% from the field and 26.1% from three. The latter also went scoreless in Game 2. Likewise, Kathryn Westbeld hasn’t been very productive in the finals yet.
If the Mercury’s regular bench rotation continues to struggle, it may be time to give other reserves a shot. Many of them delivered in the regular season, and someone may come out and stun the Aces.
Kalani Brown, for example, could provide some size in the paint. At 6’7”, Brown is by far the tallest player on the Mercury’s roster. The next tallest players are Natasha Mack, Satou Sabally, and DeWanna Bonner. Having that extra size on A’ja Wilson, even for just a few minutes, could make a real difference.
Kitija Laksa is also a candidate for productive playoff minutes. She may be a WNBA rookie and hasn’t been super efficient in her first season, but she is a proven 3-point threat and scorer, regularly shooting around 40% in European competitions, and has experience playing in high-pressure situations. Laksa has a EuroLeague championship, a SuperCup title, a Turkish Cup championship, and, most recently, an Italian league championship on her resume. She may be able to come in and hit a few shots to give the Mercury a boost off the bench.