Phoenix Mercury forwards Alyssa Thomas, Natasha Mack expected to play vs. Dallas Wings
Mercury forwards Alyssa Thomas (left calf) and Natasha Mack (back) are both expected to play against the Dallas Wings on Wednesday.
PHOENIX — Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said forwards Alyssa Thomas (left calf) and Natasha Mack (back) are both expected to play against the Dallas Wings on Wednesday.
“The plan is for (Thomas) to play,” Tibbetts said at practice on Tuesday. “She’s been trending in the right direction. She had a really good day today along with (Mack). So I’m excited to get those two back.”
Thomas has missed the past five games in which the Mercury (6-4) have gone 2-3.
Mack has not played at all during the regular season after being ruled out two to three weeks with a lower back injury ahead of the season opener on May 17.
During the open portion of Tuesday's practice, Thomas got in individual work with assistant coach Megan Vogel, while Mack was working alongside Kalani Brown and Murjanatu Musa with assistant coach/advance scout John McCullough.
Thomas last played in Phoenix’s win over the Chicago Sky on May 27. The team was off on May 28 and she did not practice on May 29. She was not originally listed on the injury report ahead of the Mercury’s matchup against the Minnesota Lynx on May 30, and participated at shootaround the morning of the Lynx game, but was ruled out several hours before tipoff.
She is averaging 15.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, eight assists, 0.8 blocks, 1.8 steals and 3.4 turnovers in 33.3 minutes per game through her first five games with the Mercury.
Mack started in both of the Mercury’s preseason games, but Tibbetts said he was unsure when Mack’s back injury happened exactly. He said it was around the time of the preseason game against the Golden State Valkyries on May 11.
After the preseason loss vs. Golden State, Mack did not participate in on-court activities at practice that week before being ruled out.
She resumed basketball activities at Mercury shootaround on June 5, and has been working her way back since.
Across both preseason contests, Mack averaged 9.5 points, five rebounds, 1.5 assists, one block, 0.5 steals and one turnover in 16 minutes per game.
Mack was one of two Mercury players to play in all 40 games during the 2024 regular season (along with Sophie Cunningham).
Kahleah Copper (left knee) remains out for the Mercury. She was working with Sami Whitcomb and Satou Sabally at practice on Tuesday.
Copper underwent a successful left knee arthroscopy and was ruled out four to six weeks, the team announced on May 17. She has been continuing to inch closer to returning.
When will Paige Bueckers return from injury?
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (illness) will play on Wednesday against the Mercury and won't have any type of minutes restriction, Wings coach Chris Koclanes told reporters on Tuesday.
Bueckers was a full participant at the Wings’ practice in Dallas on Tuesday.
“She’s been working behind the scenes and she’s good to go and we’ll be all set for tomorrow,” Koclanes told reporters at practice.
Bueckers had missed the past four games due to a concussion and a subsequent illness she picked up.
The No. 1 pick out of UConn last played in the Wings' loss to the Sky on May 29, and inadvertently banged heads with Courtney Vandersloot during the final minute of the first half in Chicago. Bueckers remained in the game, but was later placed in the concussion protocol the next day.
She is averaging 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists, two steals and one block through her first six games.
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