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Phoenix Mercury reporter combines love of journalism, sports in career
Phoenix Mercury reporter Jenna Ortiz loves finding stories outside the action. Subscribe to The Arizona Republic for the latest Mercury news.
Summer is here in Arizona, and there’s plenty of activity. Phoenix Rising FC’s USL Championship soccer and Arizona Rattlers seasons are in full swing, along with the new women’s soccer club Desert Dreams FC.
Here are the news and events happening around Arizona sports.
Alyssa Thomas, Mercury cruise to victory in return to Connecticut
Alyssa Thomas and the Phoenix Mercury (9-4) made it a worthy homecoming with an 83-75 win over the Connecticut Sun (2-10) on June 18.
Thomas returned to Connecticut after spending all 11 seasons with the franchise before being traded to the Mercury in the offseason. She finished with 14 points and 11 assists, her fifth double-double of the season.
Lexi Held added 14 points and two steals off the bench.
The Mercury led by as many as 19 points in the second quarter and didn’t let the Sun come within a possession throughout the game. The Sun were within seven points four times in the second quarter, but the Mercury would always throw a counterpunch.
Aneesah Morrow led the Sun with 16 points and nine rebounds off the bench, followed by Jacy Sheldon’s 13 points.
Other than Olivia Nelson-Ododa, who posted a double-double with 14 rebounds and 10 points, the Sun’s starting five were contained by the Mercury. Starting center Tina Charles had just two points in 14:51 minutes, while starting forward Marina Mabrey had eight points on 2-of-11 shooting.
Sheldon had a hot start with 13 points in the first half, but was shut out by Satou Sabally’s defense in the second half.
The Mercury will head to New York to play the Liberty on June 19 at 4 p.m. The game will be shown locally on Arizona’s Family Sports.
— Jenna Ortiz
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