Kahleah Copper game-winning layup sees Mercury come from behind to top Wings

PHOENIX (AP) — Kahleah Copper scored 16 of her 31 points in the fourth quarter, including a go-ahead layup with 2.4 seconds left, and the Phoenix Mercury rallied to beat the Dallas Wings 87-86 on Monday night.

A foul call against Phoenix was overturned with 13.3 seconds left in the fourth quarter, and the Mercury secured the jump ball. Then, Alyssa Thomas found Copper on a backdoor cut along the baseline to take the lead.

KAH GETS THE LAY OFF THE BACKDOOR CUT. THE MERCURY LEAD BY ONE POINT.

PHX: 87
DAL: 86

2.4 LEFT IN REGULATION! 👀 https://t.co/wdh3iUdOz4 pic.twitter.com/gNiSDGuUrE

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 22, 2026

Phoenix forced a difficult shot at the buzzer as Paige Bueckers’ 3-point attempt did not hit the rim.

WHAT A WIN AT HOME FOR THE MERC 🤩

Kahleah Copper secured the last-second layup to lock in the @PhoenixMercury win! They defeated the Wings, 87-86.

Kahleah Copper: 31 PTS | 5 REB
Alyssa Thomas: 15 PTS | 12 AST | 11 REB
Natasha Mack: 12 PTS | 4 REB
Kara Dunn: 11 PTS | 3 3PM | 2… pic.twitter.com/WHZuDYm0dA

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 22, 2026

Thomas finished with 15 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds for her fifth triple-double of the season for Phoenix (16-27), which trailed 74-63 early in the fourth.

Dallas (26-17), which led by as many as 14 points, had a six-game winning streak snapped with its first loss since Aug. 17. The Wings remain tied for sixth place in the WNBA standings.

Bueckers scored 30 points to go with seven assists, and Jessica Shepard had 17 points and 19 rebounds for Dallas. Bueckers, who reached 30 points for the fourth time this season, set a Dallas record for points in a season with 853.

Dallas guard Arike Ogunbowale sank a baseline jumper — just her second basket of the game — with 1:43 left in the fourth for an 81-77 lead. After Phoenix scored the next four points to tie it, Bueckers was left open on the wing for a shot from well behind the arc for an 84-81 lead.

Dallas was just 14 of 21 from the free-throw line.

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