Kelsey Plum scored 20 points in just over 20 minutes of playing time in her Phoenix debut as the Mercury defeated Chicago. Photo by Jacob Nunez/Sportspage Magazine

The Phoenix Mercury aren’t ready to give up just yet. Despite a 4-12 start, the Mercury have been turning things around lately. They split their next 14 games, and then pulled off the biggest move of the trading period. Bringing All-Star guard Kelsey Plum to Phoenix for Monique Akoa Makani and a pair of draft picks gives clear indication that the Mercury aren’t ready to throw in the towel.

Plum suited up for the first time in a Mercury uniform on Monday night in Chicago’s Wintrust Arena, scored 20 points in 20:32 of playing time, and helped lead Phoenix to a hard-fought 106-101 victory over the Sky.

She arrived with the team late Sunday night after the trade and with just one team shootaround, blended in as if she had been there all season long. She scored 10 points in her first 9:37 to help Phoenix to a 55-47 lead at the break.

“I’m super grateful to be here,” Plum said. “I’m super grateful just to be out there and do what I love.”

The Mercury (12-19) have now won four of their last five games as they start a five-game road trip with another go-to clutch player in the lineup. And that’s very bad news for those teams trying to stay above them in the standings.

With the top eight teams advancing to the postseason, Phoenix moved into 10th place with the win on Monday and are just a half-game behind ninth-place Los Angeles. They’re still 5 ½ games behind that all-important eighth spot, currently held by Washington (16-12).

But Phoenix has added a huge piece to its attack. Pair up Plum with a clutch player like Kahleah Copper, who poured in a game-high 31 points (10-for-19) on Monday, and you have multiple reliable scorers, including future Hall of Famers Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner.

“Another leader out there,” Copper said of Plum. “Another great player. She’s just incredible.”

Kahleah Copper poured in 31 points to lead Phoenix past Chicago. Photo by Jacob Nunez/Sportspage Magazine

Is Plum the missing piece that puts Phoenix back on the playoff map? That remains to be seen, but judging by Monday’s initial performance, the Mercury would have to be included in the conversation.

Injuries have limited Plum to 12 games this season. Her 23.9 scoring average prior to being sidelined would rank second in the league if she played enough games to qualify. She scored right at a point per minute on Monday and was probably the difference in the game.

That’s not taking anything away from Copper’s huge game, which has now become commonplace in Phoenix. Coming into the game, the five-time All-Star was averaging the third-best scoring average (23.9) since June 13. She hit 4 of 8 from 3-point range on Monday, but said she has to work on her free throws, after making just 7 of 12 in the win.

This is now a team with a starting lineup full of players who could step up when needed. Thomas did so with a fourth-quarter flurry, rallying the Mercury from a 99-92 deficit with 3:22 to play. Thomas scored 11 of her 19 points in the final 10 minutes, and along with 15 rebounds and 12 assists earned her 21st career regular season triple-double. No other player has more than 5.

“She’s all about winning,” said Phoenix Head Coach Nate Tibbetts.

Bonner added 14 points and eight rebounds (3 steals, 2 blocks). The 6-4 forward in her 17th season, punctuated the victory with a key blocked shot in the waning seconds as Chicago attempted to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Courtney Vandersloot directs the Chicago offense from her point guard position. Photo by Jacob Nunez/Sportspage Magazine

Phoenix grabbed a 103-101 lead on a Plum 3-pointer and Bonner blocked a potential game-tying close range shot with :07 left. She was fouled and cooly delivered a pair of free throws to seal the deal.

“It’s figuring out a way to win and we did that tonight,” Tibbetts said.

Valeriane Ayayi also scored in double figures for Phoenix with 11 points.

The Chicago Sky, now 11-19, saw their four-game home win streak snapped, and may have lost their leading scorer over the last few games. Sydney Taylor, who hit the game-winning 3-pointer to beat Las Vegas two nights ago, and averaged 21.3 points per game over the last six games, left with a groin injury at the 7:11 mark of the third quarter and did not return.

Though looking a bit disjointed at first, the Sky didn’t fold despite trailing 63-57. They shared the basketball and eight different players ended up scoring in the quarter to pull to within one point heading into the final period. The Sky took the lead on back-to-back 3-pointers from DiJonai Carrington and Courtney Vandersloot, and built a 7-point advantage with 3-plus minutes to play.

But that’s when Thomas and Bonner took over for Phoenix and the Mercury finished the game on a 14-2 run to claim the victory.

Vandersloot (10 assists), Carrington, and Kamilla Cardoso (13 rebounds) scored 16 points apiece to pace Chicago. Taylor had 14 points before her injury, and Natasha Cloud finished with 13 points for the Sky, which conclude a current five-game homestand with Los Angeles on Wednesday, and Indiana on Saturday afternoon.