Latest news with #MoniqueAkoaMakani
Fox Sports
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Phoenix visits Chicago following Akoa Makani's 21-point game
Associated Press Phoenix Mercury (10-4, 6-4 Western Conference) at Chicago Sky (3-8, 1-6 Eastern Conference) Chicago; Saturday, 1 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix Mercury visits the Chicago Sky after Monique Akoa Makani scored 21 points in the Mercury's 89-81 victory over the New York Liberty. The Sky have gone 1-3 in home games. Chicago is fifth in the Eastern Conference at limiting opponent scoring, allowing 86.3 points while holding opponents to 46.0% shooting. The Mercury are 4-2 in road games. Phoenix ranks eighth in the WNBA with 33.8 rebounds per game. Satou Sabally paces the Mercury with 8.5. Chicago's average of 6.4 made 3-pointers per game is 1.4 fewer made shots on average than the 7.8 per game Phoenix allows. Phoenix averages 80.5 points per game, 5.8 fewer points than the 86.3 Chicago allows to opponents. The teams meet for the second time this season. The Mercury won 94-89 in the last matchup on May 28. Sabally led the Mercury with 20 points, and Ariel Atkins led the Sky with 21 points. TOP PERFORMERS: Atkins is averaging 12.6 points, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals for the Sky. Kamilla Cardoso is averaging 11.5 points and 7.1 rebounds over the past 10 games. Alyssa Thomas is averaging 14.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, nine assists and 1.8 steals for the Mercury. Sabally is averaging 19.5 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Sky: 3-7, averaging 77.0 points, 35.7 rebounds, 19.6 assists, 7.5 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 42.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 85.6 points per game. Mercury: 7-3, averaging 81.9 points, 34.2 rebounds, 20.3 assists, 8.5 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 42.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.3 points. INJURIES: Sky: Moriah Jefferson: out (leg), Courtney Vandersloot: out for season (acl). Mercury: Megan McConnell: out (knee). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. recommended
Winnipeg Free Press
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Phoenix visits Chicago following Akoa Makani's 21-point game
Phoenix Mercury (10-4, 6-4 Western Conference) at Chicago Sky (3-8, 1-6 Eastern Conference) Chicago; Saturday, 1 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix Mercury visits the Chicago Sky after Monique Akoa Makani scored 21 points in the Mercury's 89-81 victory over the New York Liberty. The Sky have gone 1-3 in home games. Chicago is fifth in the Eastern Conference at limiting opponent scoring, allowing 86.3 points while holding opponents to 46.0% shooting. The Mercury are 4-2 in road games. Phoenix ranks eighth in the WNBA with 33.8 rebounds per game. Satou Sabally paces the Mercury with 8.5. Chicago's average of 6.4 made 3-pointers per game is 1.4 fewer made shots on average than the 7.8 per game Phoenix allows. Phoenix averages 80.5 points per game, 5.8 fewer points than the 86.3 Chicago allows to opponents. The teams meet for the second time this season. The Mercury won 94-89 in the last matchup on May 28. Sabally led the Mercury with 20 points, and Ariel Atkins led the Sky with 21 points. TOP PERFORMERS: Atkins is averaging 12.6 points, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals for the Sky. Kamilla Cardoso is averaging 11.5 points and 7.1 rebounds over the past 10 games. Alyssa Thomas is averaging 14.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, nine assists and 1.8 steals for the Mercury. Sabally is averaging 19.5 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Sky: 3-7, averaging 77.0 points, 35.7 rebounds, 19.6 assists, 7.5 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 42.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 85.6 points per game. Mercury: 7-3, averaging 81.9 points, 34.2 rebounds, 20.3 assists, 8.5 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 42.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.3 points. INJURIES: Sky: Moriah Jefferson: out (leg), Courtney Vandersloot: out for season (acl). Mercury: Megan McConnell: out (knee). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
WNBA Sends Message to Mercury Rookie's Career Night vs. Liberty
WNBA Sends Message to Mercury Rookie's Career Night vs. Liberty originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Phoenix Mercury continued their hot streak on Thursday with an 89-81 win over the New York Liberty. The Mercury were coming off an 83-75 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday. Additionally, they didn't have Kahleah Copper, who was under injury management. Advertisement In her place, the Mercury put Sami Whitcomb, who scored 16 points on 44.4% shooting from downtown. However, it was rookie guard Monique Akoa Makani who led the team to a win. The French-Cameroonian guard had 21 points and six assists in 27 minutes of action. She was the only player for the Phoenix team to score at least 20 points in the game. It was a new career-high for Akoa Makani and the first time she scored at least 20 points since getting drafted. Phoenix Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani brings the ball up court while being defended by New York Liberty guard Natasha Jones-Imagn Images Following Akoa Makani's best scoring outing of her professional career, the WNBA recognized it and had a message for the rookie. "Monique Akoa Makani made her statement tonight 👑," the WNBA posted. "The rookie delivered 11 HUGE third-quarter points in Brooklyn!" Scoring is nothing new for Akoa Makani. In the first 13 games she played in, she has displayed an aggressive approach on offense. The 5-foot-10 guard is averaging 7.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists. The 24-year-old guard is also a reliable shooter from deep, making 46.3% of her attempts. Advertisement The rookie guard also had help from the veteran players on the team. Alyssa Thomas had her usual all-around game and finished with 18 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists. Satou Sabally, meanwhile, was dominant and had 15 points and nine rebounds. The Mercury are on a four-game winning streak. Related: WNBA Star Reflects on First Game Against Former Team This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kayla Thornton scores 16 points as Valkyries rally past Fever
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Kayla Thornton hit two key 3-pointers over the final 4:57 and scored 16 points to go with six rebounds, and the Golden State Valkyries rallied past Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever 88-77 on Thursday night. Clark had 11 points, nine assists and seven rebounds and her layup with 4:12 remaining pulled Indiana within two points — but Golden State had an answer to each threat. Advertisement A raucous crowd roared as the Valkyries (6-6) sold out their sixth straight home game to start the season, a matchup circled on the calendar for the expansion franchise from the day the schedule was released. Monique Billings rebounded her own missed 3 and scored with 3:24 left. Veronica Burton hit a 3 from the top of the arc with 5:49 to play helping spark the comeback then scored again in the closing minute. MERCURY 89, LIBERTY 81 NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie Monique Akoa Makani scored a season-high 21 points, Alyssa Thomas added 18 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists, and Phoenix beat New York for their fourth straight win. Advertisement Sami Whitcomb scored eight of her 16 points in the fourth quarter, Satou Sabally had 14 points and nine rebounds, and Kitija Laksa added 13 points for Phoenix (10-4). Breanna Stewart scored a season-high 35 points for the defending champion Liberty (10-2), who lost at home for the first time this season. Sabrina Ionescu added 16 points on 3-of-16 shooting, including 1 of 10 from 3-point range. Whitcomb's 3-pointer capped a 16-6 run that gave Phoenix an 84-74 lead with 3:10 to play. She went 4 of 9 from 3-point range and Laksa hit 3 of 6. The rest of the Mercury went 0 for 16 from behind the arc.
10 hours ago
- Sport
Monique Akoa Makani scores 21 points and Mercury hand Liberty their 1st home loss, 89-81
NEW YORK -- Rookie Monique Akoa Makani scored a season-high 21 points, Alyssa Thomas added 18 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists, and the Phoenix Mercury beat the New York Liberty 89-81 on Thursday night for their fourth straight win. Sami Whitcomb scored eight of her 16 points in the fourth quarter, Satou Sabally had 14 points and nine rebounds, and Kitija Laksa added 13 points for Phoenix (10-4). Breanna Stewart scored a season-high 35 points for the defending champion Liberty (10-2), who lost at home for the first time this season. Sabrina Ionescu added 16 points on 3-of-16 shooting, including 1 of 10 from 3-point range. Whitcomb's 3-pointer capped a 16-6 run that gave Phoenix an 84-74 lead with 3:10 to play. She went 4 of 9 from 3-point range and Laksa hit 3 of 6. The rest of the Mercury went 0 for 16 from behind the arc. New York's Jonquel Jones left early in the second quarter with a right ankle injury and did not return. The Mercury's Lexi Held departed midway through the third quarter after a collision with Stewart while diving for a loose ball near midcourt. Kahleah Copper (injury management) did not play for the Mercury, who beat Connecticut 83-75 on Wednesday. The 2021 WNBA Finals MVP with Chicago, Copper had surgery on her right knee in May and made her season debut against Las Vegas on Sunday. The Liberty kick off a four-game trip Sunday at Seattle. Phoenix plays the last four consecutive away games Saturday at Chicago.
