Phoenix Mercury hold 2025 media day

PHOENIX — It’s a new era for one of the WNBA’s original franchises. 

For the first time in 20 years the Phoenix Mercury are opening training camp without Diana Taurasi, who retired, and Brittney Griner, who signed with the Atlanta Dream, on its roster.  

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Second-year head coach Nate Tibbetts is now tasked with creating chemistry among new players and establishing the team’s new identity in an effort to bring the franchise back into championship contention. 

A WNBA title has eluded 12-year veteran Alyssa Thomas, who is playing her first season in Phoenix after spending her entire career up to this point with the Connecticut Sun. After winning Olympic gold with Kahleah Copper last summer in Paris, the two have teamed up to become the new faces of the franchise in Phoenix.

“Defense is going to be a huge part of our identity, and I’m going to be spearheading a lot of that,” Thomas said. “I love to play defense; I take a lot of pride in it. Hopefully, we can go out there and be top three in defense this year.”

Copper is locked in on the defensive philosophy the team plans to implement this season. As the only returning starter from the 2024 team, Copper has been challenged to step up as a leader on and off the court. This will be the second season she and Tibbetts are working together in the Valley, and they’re aligned in their vision for the team’s future.

“For me, just having great leaders be themselves and get me to follow, that was inspiring,” Copper said. “I’m just trying to do the same and do it my own way. I love that everyone has locked in defensively… I think that’s why it’s so important for me to set the tone like, ‘Let’s go! Let’s get it!'” 

Copper has a chance to bring Phoenix its fourth WNBA championship after winning the title and earning WNBA Finals MVP in 2021 as a member of the Chicago Sky. The Mercury guard spent much of her offseason campaigning for free agents to join her in Phoenix, flexing the team’s resources and history of winning. 

Tibbetts admitted to becoming emotional when discussing Copper’s growth and value to the organization heading into the 2025 season.

“It’s kind of hard to lead when you walk in with two cornerstones in (Taurasi) and (Griner),” Tibbetts said. “I think you’re really going to see her (Copper) spread her wings… She’s really kind of bought into what we’re about. I’m just really proud of the step that she’s made and the mindset that she’s come into camp with. I feel like we’re on solid ground with where she wants to go and what we want to do.” 

Rounding out the Mercury’s new Big Three is forward Satou Sabally, who will get a clean slate in Phoenix after spending the last five seasons in Dallas. Sabally was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft, but she’s eager to join an organization that was part of her introduction to women’s basketball. The 6’4″ forward isn’t shying away from the high expectations set by the coaching staff or her teammates as she embarks on this next chapter of her decorated career.

“The standard is high and those are the environments that I thrive in and enjoy working in,” Sabally said. “Every single day that I come in here, I’m super grateful to be in an organization like this.”

The Mercury will travel to Las Vegas to play the Aces in their first preseason game on May 6. The Mercury’s home opener is on May 17 against Seattle.

Follow the conversation with Lina Washington on X and Instagram: @LWashingtonTV. If you have a sports story idea, email Lina at LWashington@12News.com.  

The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, NBA’s Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.

Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL’s Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.

The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football’s Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.

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