PHOENIX, AZ - JULY 2: Kahleah Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury drives to the basket during the game against the Seattle Storm on July 2, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. (Kate Frese / NBAE / Getty Images)
PHOENIX - Kahleah Copper scored 23 of her 30 points in the first half, Valeriane Ayayi added 18 points and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Seattle Storm 90-67 on Thursday night for their third straight victory.
Copper was 9 of 12 from the field in the first half to help Phoenix (8-13) build a 55-36 lead. Copper scored her first points of the second half with 8:39 left for a 75-60 lead. She finished 12 of 21 from the field.
Lexi Held had 17 points and a career-high five 3-pointers for Phoenix. Alyssa Thomas had nine points, 13 rebounds and nine assists, and DeWanna Bonner was held to six points on 3-of-10 shooting.
Awa Fam and Natisha Hiedeman each scored 13 points for Seattle (5-16), which dropped to 1-9 away from home this season. Flau’jae Johnson and Jade Melbourne had 11 apiece. Seattle was out-rebounded 40-29.
Ezi Magbegor made her season debut for Seattle after missing the first 20 games with a foot injury. She had eight points in 17 minutes.
Up next
Storm: Host Portland on Saturday night.
Mercury: Host Chicago on Tuesday night.
The Source: Information in this story came from The Associated Press.
MORE STORM NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
Flau'jae Johnson, Awa Fam lead Seattle Storm 105-90 over Dream
Seattle Storm losing streak reaches 10 with 93-73 loss to Mercury
Dominique Malonga scores career-high 28 points, but Seattle Storm lose ninth-straight 94-89 to Fire
Janelle Salaun scores 22 points as Valkyries beat Storm 76-72 for eighth straight loss
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.