During warmups before Sunday night’s game, Diana Taurasi frequently halted her routine of shots and stretches to meet fans wanting to wish her a happy birthday. Some brought cards. Others had signs. One even presented her a bottle of Taurasi wine.

During the game, the 34-year-old gave right back to the fans who have seen her since she was a 21-year-old rookie, scoring a season-high 31 points in a come-from-behind 86-80 Mercury win over Chicago.

“Twelve years [after I came to Phoenix], I’ve seen a lot of these fans grow up into teenagers,” Taurasi said. “They’ve seen me grow into an adult, for the most part. We enjoy each other’s company. You felt the energy in the gym. It makes a huge difference when you feel that as a basketball player. It’s a remarkable feeling.”

It looked like anything but a happy birthday through the first three quarters. At one point, Taurasi pumped her fist in frustration after a fruitless drive to the basket that did not produce a foul call, much less two points.

By the end of the fourth quarter, she was making the same motion, but this time in triumph after teammate Brittney Griner (nine points, 10 rebounds) scored on a contested offensive rebound and put-back to extend the Mercury lead to three with 1:41 remaining.

Phoenix, which trailed by as many as 13, outscored the Sky 13-3 over the final 4:18 of the game. Taurasi, who scored 22 of her 31 points after halftime, was her familiar fired-up self during the Mercury surge.

“If you don’t play with some sort of emotion or some sort of chip on your shoulder, it’s going to be hard to get things done,” Taurasi said. “I think we’ve lacked that a little bit. Hopefully, today, that momentum will carry on through the next couple of games.”

The victory was the Mercury’s second in a row and fourth of its last six games after beginning the season 0-4. Their next game is at Los Angeles, where the undefeated Sparks will play host.