Mercury enter 'must-win' game against Washington Mystics

It’s been a start to the season that the Phoenix Mercury aren’t quite used to.

The three-time champions have lost their first four games and are now facing a must-win scenario a lot earlier than anyone could’ve anticipated when they play host to the Washington Mystics (2-3) on Sunday.

The offense hasn’t been the issue – the team has averaged 81.8 points over the first four games – it’s been the defense, a unit that hasn’t quite gotten up to speed in the early going. Throughout the win drought, the defense has given up 87.8 points per game and managed a defensive rating of 106.5, the lowest mark in the WNBA.

“It all starts with defense,” head coach Sandy Brondello said. “We haven’t been anywhere near the point that we want, but this last week we’ve been getting where we need to go, so that’s what it starts with.”

Despite the offensive production, Brittney Griner, the first overall pick in 2013, has struggled to get going.

RELATED: Mercury fall to Minnesota Lynx again, drop to 0-4

After leading the team in scoring last season with 15.1 points per game, Griner is averaging just 12.3 points per game. She has been efficient, however, capitalizing on 3.8 of her 7.3 attempts per game.

In her eyes, it’s just a matter of staying diligent and working for her opportunities.

“Doing the work beforehand, you know, all the little small things so I can get the ball instead of just trying to post up right when I want the ball, I’ve got to do the work beforehand,” Griner said.

Teammates Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor have been able to pick up the slack while Griner finds her way, averaging 21.3 and 14.8 points, respectively.

Taylor finished with 25 points in Wednesday’s 85-78 loss, including 18 points in the fourth quarter.

MORE: Complete Mercury coverage

“We look to improve as a team, we know that everyone has to contribute and everyone looks at themselves first,” Taylor said. “There’s no finger-pointing, none of that, and we’re going to move forward.”

In order to move forward, though, the Mercury are going to have to get their first win against a Washington team that has won its past two games.

“They’re a young team,” Brondello said. “They play hard, Ivory Latta’s just come back in the last game, so she’s an emotional player that can score for them. They move a lot, they’re young ... that’s what they want to play and, I mean, they’re well-coached as well, so it’s more about executing the scout and taking away their individual tenancies.”

Entering Sunday, the Mystics rank eighth in the league in offensive rating, just one spot below the Mercury, and boast the fourth-worst mark in defensive rating at 103.4, providing Phoenix with one of its most favorable matchups on the season.

The Mercury understand that the season is young – they also recognize that this losing streak cannot go on for much longer if they have any hope of living up to the expectations set forth before the season.

“This is a must-win,” Griner said. “We have to win this game, this is a do-or-die game for us.”

Sunday's game

Washington at Mercury

When: 3 p.m.

Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena.

TV: FSAZ Plus

Update: Although in the midst of a four-game losing streak to start the season, the Mercury remain optimistic that a new streak is not far off. The consensus around the locker room seems to be that the new streak, a winning streak, needs to start Sunday against the Washington Mystics.

The two teams started the season in a similar state – losing games, desperate to get that first win to get back on track. For the Mystics, they have won their last two in overtime by a combined 10 points after losing their first three. Washington is a game away from reaching .500, making the matchup all the more difficult for Phoenix.

Penny Taylor is coming off of a 25-point game in Wednesday’s 85-78 loss at the hands of Minnesota and will be a focal point of the offense alongside Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner. Sunday’s contest will serve as an early must-win game for the Mercury, who have failed to live up to expectations and then some on the early season.