Getting back to business as usual isn't easy for everyone after the WNBA All-Star Game and Olympics break. Despite winning Game 1 back from the break, the Aces and Mercury are struggling.
The Mercury is even at 4 defeats in 7 games since the resumption of the championship. It must be said that Diana Taurasi's teammates played away during five games and only returned to Phoenix at the beginning of the week, which leaves little room for training and the possibility of finding automatisms.
“We will have the players here in the next few days. We will do video sessions and try to improve.”, hopes Nate Tibbettsthe Mercury coach. “It's in attack that we suffer the most and we have to pull ourselves together.”
The 11th team in scoring at the start of the match
With Nate Tibbetts' players not playing until Sunday against the Aces, the coach will have the opportunity to get them back on track during two training sessions this Friday and Saturday in brand new facilities.
“With some injuries and the age of the squad, we want to protect ourselves, but sometimes you just have to roll up your sleeves and get to work,” says full-back Sophie Cunningham. “I think that's exactly what we're going to do. We've got a lot of players who want it on this team.”
“Sometimes you just have to go through it together, and it sucks, there’s not really much you can do about it, but you just have to keep working and eventually, everything will work out. planned,” she adds. “It's just practice. We haven't had a serious practice in a long time. I think everyone is looking forward to Friday.”
To correct the situation, Nate Tibbetts will have to draw attention to his team's difficult start to the game. In the four losses, the Mercury has a point differential of -45 points in the first quarter. Worse still, his team is second to last in the league in scoring going into the game with only 19.5 points scored on average in the first quarter.
“It will take time” he acknowledges. “Listen, we're coming back from the All-Star break and we haven't really had any practice. We've got to get back in the practice room, get to work and focus on our offense.”
