Mercury vs. Aces Preseason: Rookie Performances

On Tuesday, the Phoenix Mercury confronted off in opposition to the Las Vegas Aces in a thriller that stayed shut via the second half. The Aces improved to 2-0 all through the preseason with a victory over the Mercury by only one level.

Deja Kelly’s Influence Coming Off the Bench

Guard Deja Kelly, who signed a coaching camp contract with the Las Vegas Aces after going undrafted on this yr’s WNBA Draft, scored 15 factors and recorded two assists whereas capturing 71.4% from the sector off the bench.

Kelly additionally made the game-winning basket, contributing to the workforce’s victory on A’ja Wilson’s particular night time.

“I believe it’s only a sense of gratitude for this chance—to have the ability to play on this enviornment on (Wilson’s) particular night time, in entrance of all these followers, carrying this jersey,” Kelly mentioned after Tuesday’s sport. “Total, it’s simply taking benefit, seizing the second and actually simply embracing a chance.”

Her third Grade Dream Board

“Laborious Work Pays Off! Deja Kelly arrives in 2025!”

Certainly you have got, R🤩🤩KIE!

So happy with you, @dejakelly25 !

Maintain going…💫 https://t.co/kq1fJwXNRI pic.twitter.com/zdFkLLmVFC

— Theresa Nunn (@tnunn1325) Might 7, 2025

When Kelly was in third grade, she created a imaginative and prescient board that showcased her aim of creating it into the WNBA. The poster included the phrase, “Laborious work pays off. Deja Kelly arrives in 2025!” Simply 13 years later, it has all come true.

“That’s one thing that I’ve honed and targeted on since I used to be younger,” Kelly mentioned on Media Day Thursday. “My mother actually instilled that in me—making a listing of targets and visualizing. I began that at a younger age, therefore making that dream board.”

Aaliyah Nye’s Contribution to the Aces 

The Aces are happy with rookie guard Aaliyah Nye’s progress and contributions in the course of the preseason. She brings defensive depth and takes satisfaction in her protection.

Nye enjoys the chance to be taught and develop underneath veterans resembling Wilson, Chelsea Grey, Jackie Younger, and Jewell Loyd.

“Realizing that I put the work in to have the ability to shoot these threes,” Nye mentioned Thursday. “Clearly being a shooter, you must take into consideration the following play. In order that’s one thing that I’ve tried to inform myself, like, if a shot is just not following, simply take into consideration the following play, or how I can influence the sport in different methods.”

Aces head coach Becky Hammon states that finalizing the roster is difficult as a result of tough cuts, as she acknowledges the expertise among the many coaching camp gamers. On Wednesday, Las Vegas has waived ahead Queen Egbo and guard Harmoni Turner, who was chosen at thirty fifth general on this yr’s draft by the workforce out of Harvard.

“It’s their job to make my life tough, and so they’re making me make powerful decisions. That’s for positive,” Hammon mentioned Tuesday. “However everyone that we’ve introduced in has performed stable basketball. So that is completely my least favourite a part of the job. I don’t prefer it, and it’s actually arduous.”

“There’s solely so many spots, and it simply turns into a numbers sport. I’d wish to preserve all of them. It’s simply not doable, and till (the WNBA) provides roster spots, it’s what it’s.”

Alexis Prince and Kathryn Westbeld Impress the Phoenix Mercury Teaching Workers

The Phoenix Mercury had a busy offseason, transitioning from one of many oldest groups within the WNBA to one of many youthful groups. This alteration adopted the retirement of longtime guard Diana Taurasi, who stepped away from the sport after 20 seasons.

Nate Tibbetts and his teaching employees’s key gamers are reserve guard Alexis Prince and ahead Kathryn Westbeld, who helped preserve the Mercury aggressive regardless of the slender one-point loss to the Aces.

“I am a bit of bitter simply because I used to be guarding (Deja Kelly) on the finish there,” Westbeld instructed the media Tuesday. “It was actually good simply to stand up and down the ground, and now we have all been working actually arduous. The entire Phoenix Mercury group has carried out a extremely good job of constructing such a great tradition and everybody from the starters until the final one on the bench— did a extremely good job of simply staying collectively and being one as a workforce.”

Westbeld gained a nationwide championship with Notre Dame in 2018, alongside present Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale and present Connecticut Solar guard Marina Mabrey. Since then, she has participated in coaching camp with the Los Angeles Sparks and performed for numerous groups abroad.

Now, Westbeld is again within the WNBA, however this time, with the Phoenix Mercury.

“I have been enjoying abroad for six years now, so I really feel like I am a brand new participant,” Westbeld instructed reporters in Phoenix Thursday. “Popping out of school, I had a stacked workforce. I had (Arike Ogunbowale), Marina (Mabrey), Jess (Shepard), and Jackie. I used to be a great function participant for Notre Dame. With the ability to play abroad and develop my very own sport lots, I really feel much more assured coming into this coaching camp, and it is excellent place to be so joyful to be right here.”

It is a Full Circle Second for Alexis Prince and the Phoenix Mercury

Prince, chosen twenty ninth general by the Phoenix Mercury within the 2017 WNBA Draft out of Baylor, performed for the workforce underneath former head coach Sandy Brondello throughout her rookie season. Now, eight years later, it’s a full-circle second for her with the franchise.

Prince performed for quarter-hour of motion, scored 10 factors, and grabbed 4 rebounds whereas capturing 57.1 % from the sector.

“It was good to truly get out and play, (and) see how every little thing works,” Prince mentioned. “It is totally different while you observe in and the place you get on the court docket. So simply to be on the market and in a position to execute some issues was good.

Tibbetts praised Prince and Westbeld for his or her contributions to the Mercury in opposition to the Aces on Tuesday, highlighting their measurement within the place.

“They have good positional measurement,” Tibbetts mentioned. “They each can shoot it between the two of them they acquired up six threes, which is nice. They each can drive the basketball. You realize that neither one has is performed a ton of minutes on the W degree. They each have had actually good camps, and so they had been productive right here tonight.”

The Las Vegas Aces won’t play once more till Saturday, Might 17, after they journey to Barclays Middle to face the reigning WNBA champions, the New York Liberty. In the meantime, the Phoenix Mercury have yet another preseason sport at dwelling on Mom’s Day, the place they’ll tackle the Golden State Valkyries.