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The Phoenix Mercury clinched their 12th WNBA playoff berth in the last 13 years before tipoff Tuesday night then celebrated with their seventh consecutive win.
Skylar Diggins-Smith, WNBA Western Conference Player of the Year, led a balanced Mercury attack in a 103-83 win over the Chicago Sky at Footprint Center.
Diggins-Smith fell just short of a triple-double with 20 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists.
The Mercury (16-10) already were assured of a postseason berth following New York and Los Angeles losses Tuesday. Now on their longest win streak since eight in 2018, they are trying to land a top-four playoff seed and first-round playoff bye.
There was more good news before tipoff when center Brittney Griner returned from a one-game absence due to an ankle injury. Griner finished with 18.
Kia Nurse, who beat Chicago with a 40-foot buzzer beater on June 1, had another big game with 21.
The Mercury were up by three at halftime (49-46) and one (55-54) at 6:08 of the third quarter when they went on a 10-0 run that included consecutive Nurse and Diana Taurasi 3-pointers.
The Mercury led 71-62 at the end of the third and quickly put the Sky away in the fourth thanks to a pair of Taurasi 3-pointers and another from Nurse at 5:31 to lead 89-71.
Chicago (14-13) saw its three-game win streak end while losing for a third time to the Mercury. Kahleah Copper led the Sky with 18 points.
Mercury control first half
The Mercury led the majority of the first half by as many as 11 points including 33-22 after a Taurasi 3-pointer at 7:25 of the second quarter.
Chicago forward Candace Parker had just two first-half points on free throws with 1:26 left in the second. She was coming off a 25-point game Sunday at Seattle.
The Mercury led 25-16 after the first quarter and 47-39 after a Shey Peddy 3-pointer late in the second before the Sky closed the half on a 7-2 run.
Diggins-Smith had 10 first-half points plus four rebounds and five assists with eight points each from Taurasi and Kia Nurse.
Associated Press WNBA power poll
Through Sunday games
1. Connecticut, 168 points (14 first place votes)
2. Las Vegas, 154
3. Minnesota, 129
4. Seattle, 125
5. Phoenix, 113
6. Chicago, 109
7. Dallas, 74
8. Washington, 73
9. New York, 55
10. Los Angeles, 50
11. Atlanta, 21
11. Indiana, 21
Jeff Metcalfe AP vote: 1. Connecticut, 2. Las Vegas, 3. Seattle, 4. Minnesota, 5. Phoenix, 6. Chicago, 7. Dallas, 8. New York, 9. Los Angeles, 10. Washington, 11. Atlanta, 12. Indiana.
Up next
The Mercury are off until Saturday when they play the first of two consecutive games at Indiana (5-19). They also meet Monday. The Mercury beat the Fever 84-80 on Aug. 17.
Reach the reporter at jeff.metcalfe@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8053. Follow him on Twitter @jeffmetcalfe.
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