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We are just days away from the start of the 2025 WNBA regular season, and this offseason has seen a lot of moves made by many franchises, and the Phoenix Mercury are no different. Between retirement, free agency, and training camp contracts, the front office has had its hands full these last few months.
This season, for the first time in the last 21 years of the franchise’s history, Phoenix’s starting lineup will look completely different. Diana Taurasi, the all-time leading scorer, has retired. Shocking? Not exactly, we all knew it was coming. After 20 years of shooting threes from outside of the arena, fearlessly attacking the rim, and that signature smirk that we all know, the No. 1 overall draft pick of the 2004 WNBA draft has hung up her sneakers.
Taurasi wasn’t the only loss for the team. Brittney Griner, after 11 years protecting the paint in Phoenix, agreed to a one-year deal with the Atlanta Dream. Natasha Cloud, whose leadership and toughness always stood out, was traded to New York.
We can all agree that these losses make a big hole for the franchise, but it also creates an opportunity to redefine the team around its new ecosystem. But what does it mean for Phoenix as it steps into a new chapter without Taurasi and Griner?
“We are not trying to replicate anything anyone else has done, whether it’s here or in the past, we’re trying to be our own version of Phoenix Mercury,” said Phoenix Mercury General Manager Nick U’ren during a media day press conference. This is not a story of decline for the Mercury, it’s one of reinvention, a new era, a new identity and they didn’t tiptoe into it. Let’s dive into what this season could look like for the franchise.
Roster Shake-Up
In: Alyssa Thomas (from Connecticut Sun), Satou Sabally (from Dallas Wings), Kalani Brown (from Dallas Wings), Sevgi Uzun, Sami Whitcomb, Kitija Laksa,
Out: Sophie Cunningham (to Indiana Fever), Rebecca Allen (to Chicago Sky), Diana Taurasi (retirement), Brittney Griner (to Atlanta Dream), Natasha Cloud (to New York Liberty)
Drafted: The Phoenix Mercury traded all their 2025 draft picks
Last season, the Mercury had a tough 19-21 run and fell short in the first round of the playoffs against the Minnesota Lynx. The team was not consistent, almost caught in what they already knew was a transition with Taurasi potentially retiring. But Kahleah Copper, who stuck with the team, achieved a career-high 21.1 points per game (PPG) last season. She’s electric, an offensive weapon, and has that edge. She is now the heart of this team and it is obvious that they are fully leaning into her as the new face and leader of the franchise on and off the court.
Fast forward to this offseason, the Mercury’s front office got busy and made some of the boldest moves in the league during free agency.
They first signed Alyssa Thomas, acquired from the Connecticut Sun via a four-team blockbuster trade. Nicknamed “The Engine”, I didn’t fully get her at first as a new WNBA enthusiast. No three-point shots? But after seeing her play, it all made sense. She is the kind of player who sets the tone and gets things moving on both sides of the ball. Thomas does all the tough, game-breaking, and high IQ plays, without needing the spotlight. She’s a force as the all-time league leader in triple-doubles in the regular season. In 2023, she averaged 15.5 PPG, 9.9 rebounds per game (RPG), and 7.9 assists per game (APG). She’s going to lead Phoenix, and not just statistically.
Then there’s the Satou Sabally trade. Yes, we said bold moves! Sabally is a player that is just built differently. Have you ever seen a forward her size move like a guard? Sabally’s game is dangerous. In 2023, she averaged 18.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG and 4.4 APG. Although she missed part of last season due to injury, if healthy this season, the trio of Thomas, Sabally, and Copper can be a nightmare on both ends of the floor.
Need Yet To Be Addressed
One question remains to be addressed: who is their 3-point shooter? Thomas does not shoot threes. Can Sabally be consistent at shooting threes? This is an important aspect the front office still has to figure out. Their best three shooters last season were Taurasi, Allen, and Cunnigham, and they all respectively retired or got traded.
Phoenix is an exciting team built for today’s game. While the past of the franchise is legendary, its future has teeth and they’re ready to bite. The Mercury are going to set the pace, switch things up, and make teams uncomfortable. Thomas can run fast breaks. Copper will cook anyone who gives her an inch. Sabally can stretch the floor and drive. They aren’t rebuilding, they retooled to start fresh. But is it going to be enough to be a contender? Do they have the depth they need from their bench?
Rotation Breakdown
The starting lineup for the Phoenix Mercury is impressive and will make some noise in the league, with the projected starting lineup consisting of Copper, Sabally, Thomas, Brown, and Withcomb.
While the frontcourt is stacked with the explosive trio, the bench raises questions. The rest of the roster still has something to prove.
Sami Whitcomb, a seasoned vet, brings leadership and championship experience but averaged 5.0 PPG last season with Seattle. Kalani Brown gives them size in the paint, but she’s struggled with consistency with limited minutes. Sevgi Uzun, who had her rookie year in 2024, will need to take a leap and steadily lean into her role. Beyond that, Phoenix is also leaning on training camp players like Natasha Mack and Celeste Taylor, who can definitely bring defensive energy but provide limited offensive contribution.
In short: the starting five is competitive, but if this team wants to make a deeper playoff run in 2025, they’ll need their sixth player to step up in a big way.
Leaning on Leadership
This transformation for the franchise traces back to leadership. Nate Tibbetts is entering his second season as a head coach in the desert. His rookie debut didn’t go as expected by both the front office and the locker room, but it takes more than one season to create a new championship-caliber culture, especially when you walk into a league as competitive as the W for the first time.
In his second year, Tibbetts, who has an NBA background with an emphasis on pace and spacing, wants to bring a fresh vision to Phoenix and build a roster that matches his up-tempo philosophy, and modern style. But let’s not forget about U’Ren, who isn’t afraid of making big-time moves. Landing both Sabally and Thomas in one single offseason is not just impressive, it’s a testament. It’s not about rebuilding, it’s about reloading around toughness, versatility, and leadership—with intent.
That said, what can we expect now? It could go many ways for the Mercury. If chemistry clicks early, Sabally stays healthy, Thomas finds her MVP-caliber form again and Copper leads as the new face of the franchise, they can grab a top-four seed and make a deep postseason run. If injuries get in the mix, or they can’t find their offensive flow, they may hover near .500.
Realistically, Phoenix could surprise many with all its talent and good momentum, they can be a threat to any team. The Mercury aren’t dwelling on old glory, they are chasing a new one. It is clear that they want to keep on creating history and are not looking back.
