What happened

The Phoenix Mercury edged the Dallas Wings 87-86 at home when Alyssa Thomas found Copper for the deciding layup in the closing second. Copper finished with 31 points, including the game-winner, in the postseason home win. The one-point margin stood as the final.

The decisive play came in the closing second at home, with Thomas finding Copper for the layup. The basket gave Phoenix the 87-86 lead and held as the game-winner. It closed a 31-point performance for Copper against Dallas.

Phoenix secured the home win in the 2026 postseason push. Dallas remained within a single point at 86 but did not answer the last-second score. The final read Phoenix 87, Dallas 86.

Why it matters

The home win strengthens Phoenix's position in the 2026 postseason push. A last-second result against Dallas gives the Mercury momentum at a point when elimination stakes are rising. Winning at home by a single point underscores the margin in postseason play.

For Phoenix, the 87-86 outcome provides momentum with elimination stakes rising. The Mercury took the postseason home win against Dallas rather than conceding the closing second. That distinction matters as the 2026 postseason push continues.

For Dallas, the one-point loss keeps pressure on elimination-game preparation. The Wings reached 86 at Phoenix but fell short on the final layup from Copper. A last-second 87-86 result leaves Dallas turning to what comes next.

By the numbers

By the numbers, Copper: 31 points, including the game-winning layup. The final: Phoenix 87, Dallas 86. The margin was a single point, decided in the closing second at home.

Thomas enters the account with 30 career triple-doubles including playoffs, the most in WNBA history. That context frames a game in which Thomas found Copper for the deciding layup. The 31-point game-winner and the triple-double history define the postseason home win.

What to watch next

What comes next is straightforward for Phoenix, which awaits its next postseason date and matchup. The Mercury carry the momentum of an 87-86 home win decided by Copper in the closing second. The position in the 2026 postseason push is stronger after beating Dallas.

Dallas turns to elimination-game preparation after the 87-86 loss at Phoenix. The Wings scored 86 on the road but conceded the game-winning layup to Copper. The next postseason date will test the response to a last-second defeat.