Perth Lynx star Amy Atwell hoping she’ll get an extension to seven-day WNBA contract with Phoenix Mercury

Perth Lynx vice-captain Amy Atwell is hopeful she did enough in two games last weekend to encourage Phoenix Mercury to extend her seven-day contract. Atwell returned to the WNBA after being offered the short term deal and was thrust straight into the first match against Washington despite only just arriving from Australia. She then followed up with 12 minutes on court against Seattle on Sunday. Phoenix have already qualified for the play-offs and have games against Connecticut, Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle to close out the regular season which finishes on September 20. The Mercury must offer her another contact before Saturday’s game against Connecticut to keep her dream alive and Atwell said she’s doing everything possible at training to impress. “I always plan to put my best foot forward and if that’s enough then great. If not, I’ll continue to work at it and see where it goes. I’m just taking it day by day,” she said. If Atwell is re-signed, it would continue an incredible rise in recent months. Her brilliant finish to the WNBL season resulted in selection in the extended Australian squad for the Olympics and then she joined the travelling team as an emergency. The sharp shooter’s Olympic dream came true when Rebecca Allen injured her hamstring just days before the opening ceremony and Australia went on to win a bronze medal. Atwell is thrilled that her determination and hard work has been paying off. “It’s been a crazy last couple of months,” she said. “It’s super rewarding to get some output for all the work I’ve put in. This was another goal of mine, as well as going to the Olympics. I didn’t think it was going to happen this way but you can’t always plan how it happens. I’m super grateful I got another opportunity.”