This game · 159 FGA|Season model · 290 games · 39,575 shots
Los Angeles Sparks won on finishing, not shot quality.

led the way with 24 points on 9-for-15 (60%), headlined by 4-for-5 at the rim — 5.1 more than expected overall (40% from the rim or corner).
- Phoenix Mercury created 2.2 more expected points from field-goal attempts.
- Both teams finished close to expectation on makes and misses.
- The game flipped in the fourth quarter — Phoenix Mercury created a +6.3 expected-point edge in Q4.
Shot quality
Shot diet
Phoenix Mercury (28% good looks) and Los Angeles Sparks (25% good looks) ran comparable diets with small zone-by-zone differences.

bailed out the offense from the midrange — 4/7 from short midrange, a zone most players avoid for good reason.
This is where the shot diets diverged most — 37% of Los Angeles's attempts came from above-arc threes vs 31% of Phoenix's; Los Angeles tilted here more (37% vs 31%).
This is where the shot diets diverged most — 37% of Los Angeles's attempts came from above-arc threes vs 31% of Phoenix's; Los Angeles tilted here more (37% vs 31%).
Possession context
Inferred from ESPN play-by-play — transition, steals, and offensive rebounds before each FGA. Not official possession tracking.
Process scorecard
Full process edge
Los Angeles Sparks won by 17.0 pts — SQ edge said PHX.
Phoenix Mercury got the better looks, but Los Angeles Sparks won the full process battle by 17.0 pts.
Process edge blends expected points from shots, finishing, free throws, turnover cost, and second-chance value — not just who found the better offense.
Tracked FGA
ESPN box score
Process value (pts)
Process total = expected pts from shots + finishing + free throws − turnover cost + second-chance value (1.05 expected pts per OReb). SQ edge alone ignores the last three terms.
Player shots
Key insightCopper's strongest zone was Paint — 86% from Paint (6/7) vs. a 39% expectation.
Expected value is an estimate from public shot data — location, shooter history, and shot clock. No defender distance, closeout speed, spacing, or proprietary tracking.
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