The Phoenix Mercury just wrapped up a four-game stretch that showcased the best and worst of their current form — from dominant, high-energy blowouts to a hard-fought home loss against Atlanta. In this episode, Aya Abdeen breaks down every matchup, the trends driving their success, and the adjustments they’ll need heading into a tough Western Conference stretch.

We’ll unpack:

• Aug 3 @ Chicago (W 83–67): Copper’s 25 points and a textbook “defense-to-offense” game.
• Aug 5 vs Connecticut (W 82–66): Sabally’s 23 points on elite efficiency and another Alyssa Thomas triple-double.
• Aug 7 vs Indiana (W 95–60): Third straight triple-double for Thomas and a wire-to-wire rout.
• Aug 10 vs Atlanta (L 66–74): Shooting struggles and spacing issues in a physical battle.

From Alyssa Thomas’ historic triple-double streak to the Copper–Sabally scoring punch, Aya connects the dots on what’s working and where the Mercury must evolve to stay in the hunt.

We also dive into the new “Taurasi” Prime Video documentary — exploring Diana Taurasi’s career-defining moments, her candid salary remarks, and the lasting imprint she’s left on the Mercury’s culture.

Follow & Engage

• Subscribe to The 9450 wherever you get your podcasts.
• Follow Aya Abdeen on Twitter: @ayabdeen
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DA is back on the mic for his first episode since the 2024 WNBA Finals. On this solo episode of 'Keep'n It 9450,' he dives into the complex and often hostile fan culture surrounding two of the league's all-time greats, Candace Parker and Sheryl Swoopes. From Parker's controversial player rankings to Swoopes's comments on Caitlin Clark, DA explores the fan outrage and asks a powerful question: Do these legends have the right to critique the game they helped build without being subjected to slander? Get ready for a passionate and detailed breakdown of a crisis in WNBA fan culture.

🏀 Weekend Recap: Indiana Fever 88, Dallas Wings 78 (August 1, 2025)

• The Indiana Fever handed the Dallas Wings an 88–78 defeat in front of a sold-out crowd at the American Airlines Center .
• Originally hyped as a marquee matchup between Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark, Clark remained sidelined due to injury—putting extra pressure on Dallas’s rising star Bueckers .
• Paige Bueckers led the Wings with 22 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals, but she also struggled with turnovers and isolation offense late in the game .
• Dallas shot poorly: went just 2-of-15 from three and were outrebounded 44–30 (including being outmuscled on the offensive glass, 14–4) .
• Arike Ogunbowale did not play in the fourth quarter, raising questions about rotation and late-game execution .
• Coach Chris Koclanes voiced frustration, citing guard defensive lapses and rebounding issues—while calling for growth and consistency in a young roster still seeking identity .

Key Themes:

1. Identity missing without Clark – Dallas showed up but lacked spark and cohesion.
2. Bueckers’ breakout or burden? – Strong individual effort overshadowed by poor team context.
3. Depth concerns – Coach Koclanes questioned rotation decisions and minutes distribution late in close games.

📝 Episode Overview

Corey breaks down a signature road performance as the Wings toppled the defending champs, New York Liberty, 92‑82 on Monday. Despite their record struggles, Dallas dominated early, overcame depth disparities, and secured one of the most complete wins of their season.

📊 Key Segments

1. Game Recap & Context

• Final: Wings 92, Liberty 82. Dallas improved to 8‑19, New York dropped to 17‑8 🌟
• Dallas held a commanding 31‑19 first quarter, extended to 63‑36 at half

2. Statistical Highlights

• Arike Ogunbowale: Career/franchise-high 14 assists, 20 points; just one turnover
• Paige Bueckers: 20 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals on 58.3% shooting
• Wings forced turnover advantage and converted it into efficient scoring

3. Liberty Struggles

• New York missing core players: Stewart, Sabally, Burke ruled out
• Liberty opened slowly, allowed first-half field-goal percentage near 59%, fell into early deficit they couldn’t climb out of
• Postgame near–40-minute team meeting called by players and coach to address energy and effort issues

4. Dallas’ Standout Identity

• Wings led wire-to-wire: dominated both in transition and half-court execution
• Late in Q4, Liberty rallied 20‑3 over first ~8.5 min of quarter, trimming deficit to 6—but Dallas held composure

📝 Episode Overview

Corey dissects the Wings’ latest setback at home versus the Nevada squad. From the Aces’ surgical shooting to Dallas’ faltering defense and missing star power, this episode digs through box score details, narrative shifts, and takeaways for the Wings’ next steps.

📊 Topics Covered

1. Game Recap & Context

• Las Vegas cruised to a 106–80 win in Arlington, ending Dallas’ short skid and bringing the Wings to 7–19 on the season, while the Aces leveled at 13–13 .
• Key storyline: Wings rested rookie guard Paige Bueckers, who averages over 18 PPG. Dallas is just 1–5 in games without her .

2. Aces’ Offensive Explosion

• Six players scored in double figures, led by Jackie Young with 24 points and five 3-pointers .
• Bench duo Jewell Loyd (20 pts off bench) and Kierstan Bell (19 pts) combined for seven triples; Las Vegas hit a season-high 15 threes .

3. Wings’ Stat Struggles

• Dallas shot a decent 59% from the field in Q1, but allowed a first-half surge that led to a 56–44 halftime deficit .
• Wings totaled just 10 points off turnovers, while the Aces turned Dallas’ 12 turnovers into 26 points .

4. Dallas Standouts

• Arike Ogunbowale led the Wings with 18 points, while Haley Jones added a season-high 15, DiJonai Carrington had 14, and Teaira McCowan posted a double-double (12 pts, 13 reb) in just 17 minutes .

5. Key Discussion Themes

• Impact of absence: How does Dallas adapt with Bueckers out due to load management?
• Defensive lapses: Needed adjustments to stop the Aces’ shooting wave.
• Rematching up: What should be the approach against elite teams like Vegas?

In this forward-thinking episode, Lolivia Pope is joined by journalist Meghan L. Hall to explore an idea that could shift the WNBA landscape: bringing the 2026 All-Star Game to Atlanta.

With the 30-year anniversary of the 1996 U.S. Women’s Olympic Team approaching, Meghan outlines why ATL is more than just a backdrop—it’s a strategic, symbolic, and cultural home run. The duo explores the city’s media infrastructure, the Dream’s recent momentum, and how Atlanta’s role in political and social justice movements aligns with the W’s values.

🗂️ Topics Covered:

• Why 2026 All-Star makes perfect sense for Atlanta
• Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the 1996 Olympic Women’s Basketball Team
• Atlanta Dream’s road wins and growing momentum
• The Southeast’s untapped potential as a WNBA market
• Atlanta’s infrastructure, media reach, and cultural capital
• The WNBA’s legacy of activism and ATL’s place in that narrative
• How cities are selected for All-Star Weekend + what comes next
• Meghan’s call to action for fans and media to support the idea

📣 Sponsors:

• SeatGeek – Use code 9450 for $15 off your first ticket purchase
• Welshmode Coffee – Start your day with purpose. Bold coffee for bold minds.

🔗 Connect with Us:

• Lolivia Pope: @Lolobyke
• Meghan L. Hall: @ItsMeghanLHall
• Network: @The9450 on Twitter | @the9450 on IG and TikTok
• Subscribe & Review: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms

Do YOU want the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game in Atlanta? Share your thoughts using the hashtag #AllStarInATL or tag us on social.

Aya Abdeen breaks down the Phoenix Mercury’s rollercoaster weekend — from a tough Friday night loss at Barclays Center to a resurgent win on Sunday afternoon in D.C.

In this episode:

• 🗽 What went wrong vs. the New York Liberty and how the Mercury let a first-half lead slip
• 💪 Alyssa Thomas’s back-to-back dominance, including a near triple-double performance
• 🧠 Adjustments from Friday to Sunday: how Phoenix used defense and ball security to overwhelm the Mystics
• 🔁 The importance of Satou Sabally’s return, and how Kahleah Copper is being worked back into rhythm
• 🔮 What’s next for the Mercury heading into the playoff push

📲 Follow & Subscribe

🎙️ Subscribe to Codename: Mercury on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods

🐦 Follow Aya on Twitter: @ayabdeen

📡 Follow the network: @The9450 on Twitter

🗣️ Like. Rate. Review. Share with fellow W heads!

The Aces reminded everybody why they’re still the standard A’ja dropped a casual 37 & 10 and made history again. But the Wings didn’t back down. Paige showed composure beyond her years and nearly led Dallas all the way back.

In this episode, Corey breaks down:

A’ja’s dominant night

Paige stepping into her moment

The Wings’ record-setting ball movement

Why that fight last night matters for Dallas going forward