Satou Sabally put 27 points and Elisa Thomas added 20 to Phoenix Mercury, who led the wire-to-wire in the 81-59 season-opening win on the visiting Seattle Storm on Saturday.
Saballi strangely came down on his ankle in the initial quarter, but a player shook him to score the most points by a player.
Thomas, who came into the four-team trade in February, proved to be one or two punch for Saballi mercury (1-0). He was designed for the absence of last year’s leading scorer, Kahli Copper, who scored 21.1 points per game, but expected to be out for four to six weeks due to the left knee issue.
Alexa selected 11 points for Phoenix, who shot 51.7 percent from the floor.
Skylar Diggins scored 21 points for Seattle (0–1). Neneka Ogwumike coupled 12 couples for the storm, who shot only 33.3 percent from the ground.
Thomas stopped Mercury for an early lead, driving between two defenders for a trimming, who took advantage of 10–2 with 6:49 to play in the early quarters.
Digids scored a back-to-back leaps runs, cutting Seattle’s deficiency 10-6 with 6:01. But Para replied with 10–0 runs, highlighted by 3-pointers from Sabli and Catherine WestBeld, Phoenix got a double-point benefit with 1:55 remaining.
Seattle stayed in the game for nine points from five turnover, behind 23–15 after a quarter.
Hurricanes captured 8–0 runs in fuel by Digins, who hit two free throw and knocked a jumper and closed the interval by 33–27 and remained half with 4:59.
Phoenix was not surprised and closed the initial half on 8-3, which returned the speed to its side and placed it on half at the top 41–30.
After three after 60-46, Phoenix took a lead of its first 20 points, when Kalani Brown made 73–53 with 4:29 in the game.
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