Summer is here in Arizona, and there’s plenty of activity. Phoenix Rising FC's USL Championship soccer and Arizona Rattlers seasons are in full swing, along with the new women's soccer club Desert Dreams FC.

Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) smiles after a basket against the Dallas Wings during the first quarter in Phoenix, at PHX Arena on June 11, 2025.

Here are the news and events happening around Arizona sports.

Phoenix Mercury, Monique Akoa Makani, defeat New York Liberty

The Phoenix Mercury (10-4) once again flexed their depth, delivering a stunning upset over the New York Liberty (10-2) and handing them their first home loss of the season in an 89-81 win on Thursday, June 19.

Star guard Kahleah Copper, who played the prior two games, didn’t play due to injury management after dealing with a left knee injury earlier this season.

Rookie Monique Akoa Makani was red hot in the second half of the game, posting 15 points on 6 of 7 shooting. Akoa Makani led the Mercury with 21 points on 8 of 12 shooting.

Alyssa Thomas posted a double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds, along with seven assists. Thomas has six double-doubles in nine games this season.

The Mercury’s defense only allowed two players to score in double figures. The Liberty's Breanna Stewart posted 35 points and Sabrina Ionescu finished with 16 points and six assists.

Both teams were close, but the Mercury got to the line more in the fourth quarter, resulting in nine points on 12 attempts compared to the Liberty’s three points on five attempts.

Mercury guard Lexi Held departed midway through the third quarter after a collision with Stewart while diving for a loose ball near midcourt and did not return. Liberty center Jonquel Jones left early in the second quarter with a right ankle injury and did not return.

The 10-4 start is the second-best record through 14 games in franchise history and the best start since 2018. The Mercury have won four consecutive games, including three road contests. The Mercury have not won three consecutive road games since 2021, when the team won six in a row.

The Mercury will conclude the four-game road trip with the Chicago Sky (3-8) on June 21 at 10 a.m. on ABC.

--Jenna Ortiz

Alyssa Thomas, Mercury cruise to victory in return to Connecticut

Alyssa Thomas and the Phoenix Mercury (9-4) made it a worthy homecoming with an 83-75 win over the Connecticut Sun (2-10) on June 18.

Thomas returned to Connecticut after spending all 11 seasons with the franchise before being traded to the Mercury in the offseason. She finished with 14 points and 11 assists, her fifth double-double of the season.

Lexi Held added 14 points and two steals off the bench.

The Mercury led by as many as 19 points in the second quarter and didn’t let the Sun come within a possession throughout the game. The Sun were within seven points four times in the second quarter, but the Mercury would always throw a counterpunch.

Aneesah Morrow led the Sun with 16 points and nine rebounds off the bench, followed by Jacy Sheldon’s 13 points.

Other than Olivia Nelson-Ododa, who posted a double-double with 14 rebounds and 10 points, the Sun’s starting five were contained by the Mercury. Starting center Tina Charles had just two points in 14:51 minutes, while starting forward Marina Mabrey had eight points on 2-of-11 shooting.

Sheldon had a hot start with 13 points in the first half, but was shut out by Satou Sabally’s defense in the second half.

The Mercury will head to New York to play the Liberty on June 19 at 4 p.m. The game will be shown locally on Arizona’s Family Sports.

-- Jenna Ortiz