Of note, the Mercury had to do all that without the services of 10-time All-Star center Brittney Griner. And according to a number of fans, it's the controversial Griner's fault she wasn't available.

Brittney Griner would have herself an early shower following an altercation with a standout rookie in the league. With less than 20 seconds to play before halftime, Mercury guard Celeste Taylor was at the free throw line,

Brittney Griner’s evening took a turn for the worse on Tuesday when she was thrown out of the game following a heated altercation with Los Angeles Sparks rookie Rickea Jackson, which almost escalated into a fight.