9
Jul
Play-by-Play
'She's special': Whitcomb has 36 points in 27 minutes
Australian Sami Whitcomb #33 of the Phoenix Mercury reacts after a basket and a foul during the first half against the Dallas Wings at PHX Arena on July 8, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo: Chris Coduto/Getty Images
Highlights
Opals guard Sami Whitcomb scores 29 points in first half, most by a player in 2025 WNBA season
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Australian Opals star and 2024-25 WNBL MVP Sami Whitcomb splashed her first five shots en route to a career-high 36 points on 70% from the field as the Phoenix Mercury hammered the Dallas Wings 102-72 in Phoenix on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
Whitcomb, 36, finished the first quarter with 19 points — just three short of the all-time WNBA record for points in a quarter — and 29 in the half. It's most by a player in the 2025 WNBA season.
Her three point bomb at the 2.35 minute mark of the 1st quarter took her past 2,000 WNBA career points in the two-time champion's 282-game career.
Whitcomb, who turns 37 on July 20, finished with 36 points on 12-from-17 from the field, including 7-from-12 threes.
"First, we met with our leadership committee earlier and told her we needed 10 to 12 threes tonight," Tibbetts said in the post game press conference.
"Sammy is self-made. Her work ethic is second to none. Yesterday, she got two workouts in before practice.
"She’s been everything we hoped for and more — her professionalism, her approach.
"When she speaks up, nobody questions her because everyone knows she’s about the right stuff.
"I’m really glad I get to coach someone like her. She’s special, and it’s great to have her here."
Tibbetts revealed he wanted to keep Whitcomb in the game as long as possible in a bid to help her score 40.
"I wanted to see Sami go for 40, but she was getting tired," Tibbetts added.
"My job is to protect my players. I’ve seen it go both ways — sometimes you leave them in a bit too long.
"I left them out there as long as I could. I wanted a dead ball so the crowd — the X-Factor — could show them the love they deserved."
1st Quarter
- 9:25 – Sami Whitcomb makes 26-foot three pointer
- 7:47 – Sami Whitcomb makes 25-foot three pointer
- 7:22 – Sami Whitcomb makes 12-foot pull-up jump shot
- 6:43 – Sami Whitcomb makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 4:36 – Sami Whitcomb makes 12-foot two point shot
- 3:40 – Sami Whitcomb misses driving layup
- 3:14 – Sami Whitcomb misses 25-foot three point jumper
- 2:35 – Sami Whitcomb makes 24-foot three point shot
- 1:03 – Sami Whitcomb makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1:03 – Sami Whitcomb misses free throw 2 of 2
- 0:58 – Sami Whitcomb makes 12-foot jump bank shot
End of 1st Quarter: DAL 19 – PHX 28
Sami Whitcomb: 19 points | FGM: 7 - FGA: 9 | FG%: 77.8% (3P: 4/5)
2nd Quarter
- 8:54 – Sami Whitcomb makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 4:18 – Sami Whitcomb makes 16-foot pull-up jump shot
- 2:30 – Sami Whitcomb makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 1:16 – Sami Whitcomb makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1:16 – Sami Whitcomb makes free throw 2 of 2
- 0.1 – Sami Whitcomb misses 15-foot pull-up jump shot
End of 2nd Quarter: DAL 39 – PHX 52
Sami Whitcomb: 29 points | FGM: 10 - FGA: 12 | FG%: 83.3% (3P: 6/7)
3rd Quarter
- 9:50 – Sami Whitcomb misses 25-foot three point jumper
- 8:27 – Sami Whitcomb makes free throw 1 of 3
- 8:27 – Sami Whitcomb makes free throw 2 of 3
- 8:23 – Sami Whitcomb makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 6:09 – Sami Whitcomb makes driving layup
End of 3rd Quarter: DAL 56 – PHX 82
Sami Whitcomb: 36 points | FGM: 12 - FGA: 14 | FG%: 85.7% (3P: 7/9)
4th Quarter
- 8:38 – Sami Whitcomb misses driving layup
- 4:25 – Sami Whitcomb misses 28-foot three point jumper
- 3:33 – Sami Whitcomb misses 25-foot three point pull-up jump shot
End of Game: DAL 72 – PHX 102
Sami Whitcomb: 36 points | FGM: 12 - FGA: 17 | FG%: 70.6% (3P: 7/12)
