Kahleah Copper scored nine of her game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter and the visiting Phoenix Mercury held on for an 86-82 victory over the skidding Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday afternoon.

Alyssa Thomas finished off a triple-double with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 15 assists, Monique Akoa Makani had 14 points and Natasha Mack added 10 points off the bench as the Mercury won consecutive games following a five-game losing streak.

Copper was 4 of 5 from the floor in the fourth quarter and 10 of 16 in the game while scoring at least 20 points for the ninth time over the past 11 contests.

Dearica Hamby scored 18 points with 10 rebounds and Nneka Ogwumike added 13 points with 13 rebounds as the Sparks lost for the eighth time in 10 games since All-Star guard Kelsey Plum went down with a left leg injury.

Ogwumike, who returned to the Sparks after two season in Seattle, moved past Candace Parker for second on the Los Angeles all-time rebounding list with 3,483.

Rae Burrell led Los Angeles with 20 points and Ariel Atkins added 15. Burrell, who shot 7 of 16 from the floor and added two assists, has started the past 10 games at point guard in place of Plum.

The Sparks made a late push, trimming an 84-76 deficit with 2:49 to play down to 84-82 with 48 seconds remaining after a layup from Burrell.

After a Mercury turnover, Los Angeles had a chance to tie the game with 19 seconds remaining, but Hamby missed a layup.

Makani sealed the victory for the Mercury on a layup with 14 seconds left.

The Sparks shot just 35.0% from the floor in the first half and yet still pulled within 43-41 at the second-quarter buzzer on a coast-to-coast floater from Burrell.

Copper, Thomas and Makani combined to score 32 of the Mercury’s 43 points in the first half as Phoenix shot 45.7%. Hamby went into the break with a team-leading nine points for the Sparks.

The game was tied at 60-all after three quarters and featured ten ties and eight lead changes.

–Field Level Media

Arizona Cardinals: Does new coach Mike LaFleur have a QB1 in the building?

Contenders in the QB competition are rookie Carson Beck, journeyman and sometimes-starter Gardner Minshew and Jacoby Brissett. Brissett gave the offense a chance in most games last season as the stand-in for Kyler Murray, but neither of the old guys are likely to be here long-term.

Atlanta Falcons: Is either southpaw a fit for Kevin Stefanski’s offense?

Adding Tua Tagovailoa might eventually look like a masterstroke from two-time NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski. He extracted some rather elite performances from Joe Flacco in Cleveland on a team that made the AFC playoff field. Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. are tangling for the starting job, braced by the greatest crutch either could have in All-Pro RB Bijan Robinson.

Baltimore Ravens: Can Jesse Minter restore Ravens as defensive predators?

Scoring was rarely the problem for the Ravens with Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and a productive offense carrying most of the freight in recent seasons to keep Baltimore in contention in the AFC North. Minter made the most of his tools with the Chargers and intends to use an array of athletes and concepts to keep quarterbacks guessing. How quickly can he make all of the pieces fit together?

Buffalo Bills: Can Brady rule the AFC East?

Joe Brady and Josh Allen have plenty of pelts on the wall as coordinator-QB in Buffalo. Now the Bills cross their fingers they made the right call elevating Brady to the big chair after Sean McDermott was let go. From the outside, it’s fair to ask if the Bills are getting more of the same until the pattern of playoff heartbreak ends.

Carolina Panthers: What will the Panthers do for an encore?

In the foot-pedal race that is the NFC South, nine wins will typically do the trick. Carolina took advantage of a second-half fade by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to sneak into the playoffs last season, even if the product remains unconvincing. Head coach Dave Canales and QB Bryce Young are firmly entrenched on proving grounds until wins become the expectation in a toss-up division.

Chicago Bears: Will Ryan Poles decide to Maxx out to fix the pass rush?

Bidding for Myles Garrett made all the sense in the world for the Bears. General manager Ryan Poles knows what all to well we can see — the Bears are contenders, with one glaring weakness. Unless there is a surprise breakout player already in the building — there’s not — Montez Sweat (still) won’t be enough to float the pass rush alone. Keep those Maxx Crosby rumors flowing.

Cincinnati Bengals: Can Joe Burrow stay healthy?

For all the hand-wringing over a Swiss cheese defense, Cincinnati will ride or die on Burrow’s right arm. Unfortunately, he missed the meat of the season in 2025 with another injury. There’s simmering excitement over some of the upgrades on defense in the offseason, but Cincinnati remains a coin flip call to be playing Operation and missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year unless No. 9 stays on the field.

Cleveland Browns: When is the 2027 draft again?

Acquiring assets and draft capital has been the critical plot line since Andrew Berry staked his professional fortunes and those of the franchise on Deshaun Watson being a savior. Watson’s fumble somehow didn’t cost Berry his job. His latest coaching change puts Todd Monken at the controls of a wayward vessel with wait-til-next year vibes. Come 2027, the familiar mission in Cleveland is fixing the fatal flaw at quarterback.

Dallas Cowboys: Is Caleb Downs capable of leading a U-turn for this defense?

Downs was panned as a top-three prospect entering the 2026 draft as a versatile safety, and Dallas decided he was too good to pass up when he dropped out of the top 10 in April. New defensive coordinator Christian Parker envisions playing Downs all over the field. Parker also has a lot of other new faces in Cowboys camp, where a full-blown revival isn’t expected but improvement is vital from a group that was too user-friendly last season.

Denver Broncos: Can Sean Payton turn this offense into a juggernaut?

Acquiring wide receiver Jaylen Waddle with better depth at tight end and running back means Sean Payton’s play-call sheet might unfurl to look more like a growth chart this season. Payton plans to run, evident in concept with the return of J.K. Dobbins, rookie Jonah Coleman and second-year horse RJ Harvey. The blend benefits QB Bo Nix and brings headaches to defensive coordinators already overwhelmed by the chess match with Payton, who drafted two tight ends (Justin Joly and Dallen Bentley) and should be able to invent new ways to score.

Detroit Lions: Will TE Sam LaPorta rebound from back surgery?

QB Jared Goff missed LaPorta after Week 10 last year, when the security blanket who kept defenses honest went down with a back injury that required surgery. He caught 40 passes with three touchdowns. That’s a far cry from his 89-catch, 10-TD rookie season. LaPorta has all the motivation to get back on the field entering the final year of his contract.

Green Bay Packers: Is health already too big of a challenge for the Packers?

Edge rusher Micah Parsons and tight end Tucker Kraft were arguably two of the team’s most important players before both ended the season abruptly with torn knee ligaments. Parsons, acquired for a mint from the Cowboys last August, brought energy and a pocket-smashing component missing from Green Bay for several years. He was leading the NFL with 83 pressures and posted 12.5 sacks in 14 games before he was hurt at Denver in December. Kraft went down Nov. 2 but not before establishing himself as Jordan Love’s most reliable, complete target. Kraft is more likely to be on the field when the regular season begins. Without one or both, the Packers are playing with a short deck.

Houston Texans: Was the CJ Stroud playoff performance the beginning of the end?

Stroud’s magical rookie season might be more of a mirage unless he rediscovers his footing early in the 2026 season. The 2026 postseason was an unmitigated disaster for Stroud with seven turnovers (five interceptions) and a 51.8 passer rating in two games. Houston is saying all the right things you’d expect from a supportive employer, but results are destined to write the next chapter.

Indianapolis Colts: Are these receivers enough for Daniel Jones to keep the Colts afloat?

We are going to find out if paying Alec Pierce and trading Michael Pittman Jr. was sensible or the latest misstep from the Colts front office. Jones is unlikely to do much for the next month as he upramps from Achilles surgery. But establishing chemistry with this group becomes more significant the closer we get to Week 1. If Pierce can’t say healthy, Indianapolis and Jones are headed for a world of hurt.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Where will Travis Hunter play?

Receiver, cornerback or a little of both was the answer one year ago. Injuries derailed Hunter’s rookie season. He’s recovered from a lateral collateral ligament tear and headed for mostly a defensive role to start the 2026 season. For that to last, Hunter has to make more of an impact on defense than he did as a rookie.

Kansas City Chiefs: Did KC do enough to protect Patrick Mahomes?

Blocking for Mahomes comes with certain expectations. Protecting Mahomes as he returns from a season-ending ACL tear ratchets things up a level. But the Chiefs are hitting camp with questions about the stability of the front five again. They also don’t have a proven No. 1 receiver with Rashee Rice trying to reclaim the role and Xavier Worthy working to bounce back from a disappointing second season. For a franchise used to polishing trophies in the offseason, this camp carries a lot of uncertainty. Then again it could all work according to plan if newcomer Kenneth Walker III proves to be the missing piece on offense. The Super Bowl MVP gives head coach Andy Reid a featured back to punish teams who don’t prioritize stuffing the run.

Las Vegas Raiders: When do we see No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza?

Contract language is keeping Fernando Mendoza on the sideline as rookies get set to report to camp. When he arrives, the Raiders are saying they plan to keep him on training wheels until he’s comfortable leading a pro offense. Our guess is Kirk Counsins can’t block Mendoza’s path in training camp. It won’t be long.

Los Angeles Chargers: Can Mike McDaniel and Jim Harbaugh lift Justin Herbert to new heights?

McDaniel and Harbaugh blend a boatload of personality and energy to the offense and specifically a quarterback room where Justin Herbert is the alpha. Harbaugh pulled a lot out of Herbert and, regardless of varied opinion, McDaniel and Tagovailoa had stellar moments and stretches of peak production in Miami. How these superpowers come to co-exist might not be clear in the preseason, but the dynamic has our full attention.

Los Angeles Rams: Are special teams blocking L.A. from reaching ceiling?

Playoff football can be an exhibit of razor-thin margins. For a virtual all-star team that features Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua and Myles Garrett, the last thing the Rams want to be doubting with the game on the line is whether the special teams are going to throw it all away. The playoffs were a microcosm of a season of special-teams gaffes that cost the Rams. Sean McVay changed ST coordinators, hiring Bubba Ventrone as the third man in that role since the start of last season.

Miami Dolphins: Do the Dolphins have a QB1 or WR1 in the building?

No is the knee-jerk reply with Malik Willis entering as the favorite despite his inconsistent performance with the Titans and Packers. Miami hasn’t done a whole lot to inspire confidence at the skill positions where Tutu Atwell or Jalen Tolbert might be Willis’ top receiver. This season is about hitting the reset button for first-year coach Jeff Hafley as the Dolphins are carrying financial burdens for the price to jettison Tagovailoa, receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and linebacker Bradley Chubb.

Minnesota Vikings: Will Kyler Murray answer Kevin O’Connell’s call?

Signing Murray is the latest roll of the dice for the Vikings who decided to let Kirk Cousins walk (we know, Atlanta overpaid), replaced him with Sam Darnold while drafting J.J. McCarthy and signing Daniel Jones off the street. Then when Darnold nearly led the Vikings to a division title while McCarthy healed from a knee surgery, Minnesota decided to let now-Super Bowl champ Darnold flee to Seattle and didn’t try to retain Jones when the Colts put in a higher bid. That left them with McCarthy last season and, well, here we go again. Murray was not a coach’s dream at all time in Arizona, but the former No. 1 pick appears motivated to change the narrative. Minnesota is all in on that plan.

New England Patriots: Was the offensive line exposed or outplayed in the Super Bowl?

For many reasons, the Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks in February was forgettable for the Patriots. Will Campbell was turned into a rodeo clown by a flood of pass rushers, only to later reveal the extent of his knee injury. If Campbell can cowboy up and turn in a rebound season, the Patriots are just fine. What if he can’t?

New Orleans Saints: Does Travis Etienne Jr. complete the Saints?

Averaging 94.3 rushing yards per game last season was a shortcoming for the entire offense and made the intro to the NFL a ridiculous mission for Tyler Shough. With help up front and the addition of free agent running back Travis Etienne, Shough won’t have to do it all.

New York Giants: Is this really a rebuild?

John Harbaugh’s playoff credentials bring unfamiliar expectations to the Giants, who had a grand total of 13 wins the past three seasons. Talent-wise, the Giants are not one of the worst teams in the NFL. Harbaugh generally produced results in Baltimore and a fearsome collection of pass rushers, second-year QB Jaxson Dart and wide receiver Malik Nabers underscore this job might not be a rebuild. But New York has plenty of questions to start camp. How they go about keeping Nabers healthy and whether a consistent No. 1 cornerback emerges are chief among them.

New York Jets: Does Geno Smith have anything left?

A hole at QB is not a new challenge for the Jets. They believe it could be filled, at least temporarily, by 35-year-old Geno Smith. Because he’ll have far superior blocking and skill talent — WRs Garrett Wilson and rookie Omar Cooper, running back Breece Hall — we’ll give Smith the benefit of the doubt. His age, the fact that he’s starting for a third team in three years, and the recent woes of the Jets could add up to another season of double-digit losses.

Philadelphia Eagles: Can Sean Mannion make the hurt stop for Jalen?

Jalen Hurts was not tearful with his farewell to A.J. Brown when the Eagles finally traded the wide receiver to the Patriots last month. To be clear, Brown and Hurts had enough positive moments to lead Philadelphia to a Super Bowl. Of course, that had a lot to do with the run-first approach and Saquon Barkley. It’s Mannion’s job now as offensive coordinator to create something other than “and run second” as Philly’s Plan B.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Is the Aaron Rodgers-Mike McCarthy pairing timeless?

Rodgers is 42 and back for one more roll — this is season 22 and the Steelers did win the division and make the playoffs in his first year in Pittsburgh. Rodgers returned after Mike Tomlin stepped away and the Steelers turned to McCarthy. The pairing made plenty of success and won a Super Bowl together with the Packers. There’s also enough tension there, and abrasiveness in their personalities, the pyrotechnics could be something entirely different this time around.

San Francisco 49ers: Are the old, new guys enough to revive the 49ers?

Wideout Mike Evans signed as a free agent and linebacker Dre Greenlaw returns to San Francisco following a year in Denver. Neither will be called upon to carry the 49ers a significant distance. The veterans do contribute to improved depth — as long as they avoid injuries themselves. The 49ers had 20 different players land on reserve lists last season and cratered with season-ending injuries to Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. George Kittle also went down in the playoffs and his return isn’t likely by Week 1.

Seattle Seahawks: What changes without OC Klint Kubiak?

Defending Super Bowl champion Seattle must deal with all the usual pinnings of carrying the Lombardi into the regular season. The roster was looted and another custom of teams poaching assistants means even offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak left to run the show in Las Vegas. Still present are Darnold, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba and vertical threat Rashid Shaheed. First-round pick Jadarian Price figures prominently at running back with Kenneth Walker III leaving for Kansas City. Overall, the makeup of the offense is tweaked but the scheme should be familiar.

Tennessee Titans: Can Brian Daboll expedite Cam Ward’s development?

Brian Daboll landed on his feet in Nashville as offensive coordinator and that’s likely positive news for head coach Robert Saleh and QB Ward. The No. 1 pick in the draft last year didn’t always have enough oars in the water to keep the offense moving in 2025. Too often Ward was running for his life with the Titans playing from behind. He’ll be well-equipped to make a major jump this season from a coach who has tutored Tom Brady, Josh Allen and got plenty out of another 2025 rookie QB Dart last season.

Washington Commanders: Is Jayden Daniels the Commanders’ only playmaker?

Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt had 800 rushing yards and averaged 4.6 yards per carry, but he’s not a game-breaking threat in the backfield next to Daniels. With only one proven lead receiver (Terry McLaurin, who tries to rebound from injuries last season), the Commanders are crossing their fingers Daniels gets more help from others and can stay healthy himself.

–Field Level Media