Opening Summary

Phoenix Mercury defeated Dallas Wings 87-86 on Monday, and Kahleah Copper led all scorers with 31 points as Phoenix outscored Dallas 26-18 in the fourth quarter at Mortgage Matchup Center, overcoming a seven-point deficit entering the period to finish a one-point home win and move to 16-27.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter: Wings 26, Mercury 19

Dallas established an early seven-point advantage by putting up 26 points in the opening quarter. The Wings started with a 26-19 edge and gave themselves room to work with on the road.

Second Quarter: Mercury 24, Wings 21

Phoenix responded before halftime, outscoring Dallas 24-21 in the second period. The Mercury trimmed three points from the margin, but the Wings still carried a 47-43 lead into the break.

Third Quarter: Wings 21, Mercury 18

Dallas added three more points to its lead in the third quarter. The Wings won the period 21-18 and entered the final 10 minutes ahead 68-61, with Paige Bueckers continuing to direct the Dallas offense.

Fourth Quarter: Mercury 26, Wings 18

Phoenix delivered its best offensive quarter when it mattered most. The Mercury posted 26 points, held Dallas to 18, and turned a seven-point deficit into an 87-86 final margin without needing overtime.

Key Performers

Kahleah Copper, Phoenix: Copper scored a game-high 31 points and was Phoenix’s leading scorer in the one-point victory.

Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix: Thomas controlled multiple areas of the game with 11 rebounds and 12 assists. Her playmaking helped the Mercury produce 22 assists as a team.

Paige Bueckers, Dallas: Bueckers finished with 30 points and seven assists, leading the Wings in both scoring and playmaking.

Jessica Shepard, Dallas: Shepard collected 19 rebounds, helping Dallas finish with a 42-32 advantage on the glass.

NerdSports Stat: Dallas made twice as many three-pointers as Phoenix, 10 to 5, and won the rebounding battle by 10, but Phoenix’s 26 made free throws were 12 more than Dallas’s 14 in an 87-86 game.

Game Analysis

The final margin reflected how narrow the statistical tradeoffs were. Dallas made 31 field goals to Phoenix’s 28 and shot 43.5% from three-point range, compared with 23.8% for the Mercury. The Wings also had a 24-22 advantage in assists and a significant edge in rebounds.

Phoenix made up ground at the foul line. The Mercury went 26-for-30 on free throws, an 86.7% rate, while Dallas finished 14-for-21. That 12-point difference in made free throws provided the separation in a game decided by one point. Phoenix also found enough offense in the fourth quarter to overcome Dallas’s earlier advantages and finish the comeback.

Closing Context

The result leaves Phoenix at 16-27 and gives the Mercury a timely home win before Thursday’s matchup with the Las Vegas Aces. Dallas falls to 26-17 and returns to action Wednesday against the Seattle Storm. No season-series or conference-ranking details were provided with the game data, but the one-point outcome adds importance to each team’s remaining schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Phoenix Mercury vs Dallas Wings game on September 21, 2026?

Phoenix Mercury defeated Dallas Wings 87-86 on September 21, 2026.

How many points did Kahleah Copper score?

Kahleah Copper scored 31 points; her individual shooting percentage was not provided in the available game data.

What are Phoenix Mercury’s standings after this game?

After the win, Phoenix Mercury sits 16-27 in the WNBA standings.

Who was the best player in the game?

Kahleah Copper was the standout performer with a game-high 31 points for Phoenix.