Light in her stride, even with pockets that were suddenly $186,000 heavier, Ezi Magbegor dealt the Phoenix Mercury’s defense a load too heavy to handle during the opening quarter on June 4, 2024. Before the paperwork of her freshly-signed one-year extension could even reach the printers, the one-time All-Star was focused in, quickly inking her name through the night’s history books with quick-pivot turnarounds, pull-ups, and even a catch-and-shoot triple. By quarter’s end, the result spoke for itself: Magbegor, 13; Mercury, 12. Among the WNBA’s premier two-way producers, Magbegor quantified her impact through a block just 40 seconds in, setting her pace for a WNBA-high 10 consecutive games with multiple rejections. Utilizing quickness as her preferred method on this night, Magbegor opened the game six-of-six, ultimately finishing with 21 points (on an efficient 9-of-13), nine rebounds, two assists, two steals, three blocks, and a +25 plus-minus. Key in limiting Phoenix to just 33.8 percent shooting, the Australian big helped guide Seattle to both its fifth-straight win of 2024, and its fifth-straight against Phoenix. · Jun 5, 2024