Phoenix Mercury 2021 season: 19–13, scoring 82.1 points per game and allowing 79.5 (+2.6 average margin) across 32 games. Updated August 16, 2026.
The Mercury finished 19–13, 5th in the league standings, with a +3.1 net rating that ranked 5th of 12. This was an offense-first team — 2nd in offensive rating (104.3) but 7th on defense (101.3 allowed per 100). They ground games down, second-slowest pace in the league. Their calling cards were outshooting opponents (50.7% eFG vs. 46.6% allowed) and getting to the line (24.6 attempts a game, 2nd); the soft spot, losing the turnover battle (17.4% of possessions vs. 13.9% for opponents). Brittney Griner (20.5 ppg) and Skylar Diggins (17.7) carried the scoring load between them, though the on/off numbers point to Skylar Diggins as the one they can least afford to lose — +24.5 per 100 possessions better with her on the floor. The high points: a 10-game winning streak (Aug 15–Sep 8) and a 27-point rout of the Liberty on Aug 25. The lows: a 4-game losing streak (Jun 8–Jun 16) and a 31-point loss to the Lynx on Jul 3. They went 6–9 against teams at .500 or better. Bottom line: a solid playoff-caliber team whose ceiling depended on addressing its turnover problem.
Shot-zone charts shaded against the WNBA average, four factors versus opponents, most-used lineups by net rating, on/off player impact, and where the Mercury rank league-wide.