M.A. Voepel, ESPN.comJun 30, 2023, 02:57 AM ET
CloseM.A. Voepel covers the WNBA, women’s college basketball, and other college sports for espnW. Voepel began covering women’s basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.
Nikki Blue got her first victory as interim coach of the Phoenix Mercury, who broke a six-game losing streak Thursday with an 85-63 victory over the visiting Indiana Fever.
“Their energy level was at an all-time high,” Blue said of the Mercury players. “It was very fun basketball to watch and even more fun to coach. As much as I credit us as coaches putting it together, it was all these players. They make our jobs easy on nights like this.”
Brittney Griner had 22 points and Diana Taurasi had 17. The Mercury shot 53.1% from the field and every Phoenix player who appeared in the game scored.
Editor’s Picks
Phoenix, in last place in the WNBA at 3-11, won for the first time since June 11 at Indiana. The Mercury’s only other victory came May 25 against Minnesota.
Coach Vanessa Nygaard was fired Sunday after the Mercury lost their fifth game in a row. Blue was elevated from her assistant’s role, and the Mercury lost in her first game Tuesday against the Dallas Wings. But the drought ended Thursday.
Blue, a longtime assistant at the college and then pro level, said her first victory as a head coach was very meaningful. She mentioned the fact that while an assistant coach for Arizona State, she was not named head coach after Charli Turner Thorne retired in 2022.
“They actually found a phenomenal coach who is great,” Blue said of Natasha Adair. “But to be told that I checked all the boxes except one, which was head-coaching experience, was difficult for me, since I was so bought into that school and I wanted that job.
“So all I needed was an opportunity and … a great team to have my back. I’m so grateful we got this win and I got my first win as a head coach, and I’m truly appreciative of that.”