The Mercury’s 81-66 victory Sunday over the previously undefeated Minnesota Lynx should rank as one of the team’s biggest wins in the last two years.

Sure, it might sound outlandish at first, but not when you consider the circumstances.

No Taurasi. No Taylor. No Griner.

Sunday marked the Mercury’s third game in four days, and the team had just come off a tough Eastern Conference road trip where they went 0-2 against the Liberty and Fever.

It didn’t matter.

“Look, we’re still a work in progress,” Sandy Brondello said after the game. “We’re going to keep learning, and figuring out how to play with each other. But I was happy with our effort tonight. That’s a really good team [Minnesota]. We’re a bit short-handed right now, and I thought it was big win for us. But we’re going to get right back in the gym and correct the little things so that we continue to keep improving.”

Here are three significant things we learned from #MercVsLynx:

The Mercury are Incredibly Difficult to Beat at US Airways Center

Captain Obvious, right?

With Sunday’s win over the Lynx, the Mercury extended their franchise-record home winning streak to 17 games — a streak that dates back to last season.

Throughout the streak, Phoenix is averaging 81.0 points per game while holding opponents to just over 67.

In terms of the Lynx specifically, Phoenix has now won four of the last five meetings between the two teams after losing 10-straight to Minnesota.

The Mercury’s Defense, Led by Rookie Alex Harden

If she hasn’t already, Mercury rookie Alex Harden should quickly become a fan-favorite of the X-Factor.

Off the court, she’s quiet, kind and rather shy. On it, however, she plays as hard as anyone in the league — especially on the defensive end of the floor.

Her impact has already been felt this season, as evidenced by her game-saving block against the Stars to open the season. Sunday, however, Harden had the difficult job of guarding three All-Stars at various points in Sunday’s game: Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen. With help from her teammates, they forced the trio into 17-of-42 shooting (just over 40 percent).

As a team, the Lynx shot just 36 percent from the floor (24-of-67) and zero percent (0-for-9) from the three-point line. Phoenix also forced 16 turnovers.

Everyone Contributed Offensively

When the Mercury’s offense is clicking, combined with their always-ferocious defense, they can beat any team on any given night.

Against the Lynx, they supported their defense with a strong showing offensively; six players finished with nine or more points. Their 48 points in the first half were the most the Mercury scored in a half this season.

Leilani Mitchell followed up a career-best seven three-pointers against the Liberty Friday with another three against the Lynx. Mitchell is now 12-of-17 from beyond the arc over her last two games. She also had a game-high seven assists.

Candice Dupree tallied 16 points and DeWanna Bonner added 22 (her third game this season of 20 or more points). Monique Currie and Cayla Francis each had nine points, but also combined for 18 rebounds.