{"id":643499,"date":"2026-05-01T20:55:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T20:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/643499\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T20:55:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T20:55:11","slug":"2026-wnba-season-preview-phoenix-mercury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/643499\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 WNBA season preview: Phoenix Mercury"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOENIX \u2014 When Nate Tibbetts became the Phoenix Mercury\u2019s head coach in October 2023, he brought along zero coaching experience in the women\u2019s game and was tasked with building a culture that could survive the final year of franchise legend Diana Taurasi<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now, he and the Mercury are coming off a WNBA Finals appearance, and for the first time during his coaching tenure, will be returning a roster that is mostly familiar. That culture is starting to cement itself.<\/p>\n

\u201cPart of building a culture and a team to me is establishing continuity,\u201d Tibbetts said on Day 1 of 2026 training camp. \u201cWe\u2019ve had consistent change the first two years \u2026 it\u2019s great to have six returners out there today. Not everything we\u2019re talking about is new. Obviously, we\u2019re doing some new stuff, but just seeing them play together, there\u2019s a vibe that we didn\u2019t have early in the year last year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, the Mercury face more unknowns than one would typically expect from a team that was just in the finals six months ago. The team\u2019s 2025 leading scorer Satou Sabally<\/a> departed Phoenix for the New York Liberty in free agency, leaving behind 16.3 points per game that need to be made up for on an offense that was still just middle of the pack<\/a> a season ago (seventh in offensive rating).<\/p>\n

Additionally, the Mercury didn\u2019t necessarily have the \u201csplashiest\u201d free agency period in terms of signing new players. No new star was added to fill the void of Sabally, nor was any collection of established role players with real WNBA experience. Instead, general manager Nick U\u2019Ren chose to take chances<\/a> on international veterans and undrafted rookies.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That combination of losing Sabally and having a relatively quiet offseason has caused many to not look at Phoenix as championship contenders despite being just four wins away from claiming one last year. However, it also puts the Mercury in a familiar position where internal belief outweighs external expectations: as underdogs.<\/p>\n

Embracing the underdog, again<\/p>\n

A year ago no one thought the Mercury would come close to the finals. That expectation became the rallying cry for a new group of individuals that had been doubted at different times in their respective careers. The result was a 27-17 regular season, followed by a postseason that saw the Mercury take down the defending-champion Liberty and the No. 1-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the first and second rounds, respectively, of the 2025 playoffs.<\/p>\n

It was a season Tibbetts described as the most fun of his entire career, but also one that doesn\u2019t guarantee anything for this season.<\/p>\n

\u201c[There\u2019s] excitement for what we did, but also an understanding that we didn\u2019t get the job completely done,\u201d Tibbetts said. \u201cThere\u2019s a chip on our shoulder for that. It\u2019s a new year. Every year is different. There\u2019s change throughout the league, there\u2019s change within your team, there\u2019s change in your staff.\u201d<\/p>\n

Getting swept by the Las Vegas Aces in the finals ended the Cinderella story, preventing the 2025 Mercury from being immortalized with a banner. Based on how this past offseason went, it may have also prevented them from earning the respect a league finalist deserves.<\/p>\n

Kahleah Copper<\/a>, Phoenix\u2019s emotional heartbeat, stayed on the court after the final buzzer sounded, taking in an image with her teammates \u2014 hoping that it would stick with them as the WNBA was about to dive into the unknown.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust take a couple seconds \u2014 feel it, hear it,\u201d Copper said after Game 4 of the 2025 WNBA Finals. \u201cYou hate this feeling; you hear the other team celebrating. Just remember what this feeling feels like. Remember the hurt. Just remember everything that you feel in this moment, and then let that fuel you for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, months later after a long offseason of following CBA negotiations, playing games with Unrivaled and Team USA, and signing a two-year contract extension with the Mercury, Copper was able to reflect on how that image settles in her mind with a new team and fresh start.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s super important, especially having that Finals experience, big-time playoff experience,\u201d Copper said. \u201cHaving us together, being able to pour into the young players and then continue to grow our chemistry together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"KahleahPhoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2) against Japan during a WNBA preseason game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 29. 2026. (Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas | Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

That mindset isn\u2019t unique to Copper. Across the locker room, the finals loss still lingers \u2014 but not as a burden, more as a baseline. Forward Alyssa Thomas<\/a> found a new home in Phoenix in 2025 after 11 seasons and five All-Star appearances with the Connecticut Sun.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The choice and challenge of leaving familiarity for something new paid off with a third-place MVP finish and third trip to the finals, but even after signing a three-year, $3.6 million contract extension, the challenge of capturing that elusive first title doesn\u2019t stop for the future hall-of-famer.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, nothing changes,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cI think that\u2019s the goal each and every season. First and foremost, it\u2019s just about starting day one, laying the foundation for us. We let one go in the finals, something we definitely don\u2019t forget. But, you know, we got a new season, different team, and the goal is to get back there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alongside her again is DeWanna Bonner<\/a>, who decided not to retire at age 38 and instead return for a 16th season. After a tumultuous start to 2025 with the Indiana Fever, Bonner returned to Phoenix midseason and became a crucial piece to the Mercury\u2019s Finals run \u2014 averaging 10.9 points off the bench while bringing a much-needed veteran presence. Carrying that into the start of the new season will be significant, especially since Bonner wasn\u2019t able to practice as much with the team during 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course [the finals loss] is on the back of your mind, but as a vet it\u2019s like, \u2018It\u2019s time to change now, it\u2019s a whole new team,\u2019\u201d Bonner said. \u201cThe champions got a whole new team, we got two new teams. So you never know what could happen. So, [we\u2019re] just focused on the work and building from ground zero to build the foundation from day one.\u201d<\/p>\n

That sense of \u201cground zero\u201d might sound like a step backward for a finals team. Inside the Mercury locker room, it\u2019s closer to the point. That\u2019s because even after a run that exceeded expectations, the message from the top hasn\u2019t changed: the standard has been set, now it\u2019s about re-establishing it with a different group. While the Mercury might still be underdogs, they\u2019ve gained at least some respect across the league for the foundation they\u2019ve built \u2014 they won\u2019t be able to catch opponents off guard anymore.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou lean into the things that made us successful a year ago and how we can tweak some other areas that were weaknesses for us,\u201d head coach Nate Tibbetts said. \u201cWe\u2019ll continue to evolve. We\u2019re not going to be the same team that we were to finish the year last year. People are going to know who we are rolling in to play them, where last year early on maybe we surprised some teams. We\u2019ll be overlooked probably, like we were a year ago, and that\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Continuity is key<\/p>\n

The massive positive going for the Mercury into 2026 is their continuity. Aside from Sabally and Kathryn Westbeld<\/a>, who unfortunately will be out for the season with a torn right ACL suffered right before coming to training camp, Phoenix returns each one of its rotational players from 2025.<\/p>\n

The preseason starting lineup of Thomas, Copper, Bonner, Natasha Mack<\/a> and Sami Whitcomb<\/a> has looked versatile and cohesive in two games, leading the charge for an offense that averaged 97 points per game in those contests. Copper, Bonner and Whitcomb provide plenty of shooting and perimeter play to take advantage of Thomas\u2019 superb court vision and downhill playstyle, and Mack has been able to do all the dirty work from the center spot.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When point guard Monique Akoa Makani<\/a> returns from overseas, the Mercury will have another familiar face in the building who can provide above-average playmaking, shooting and defense.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year coming in with only two returners, that\u2019s kind of unheard of,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cAnd now we got a little bit of a core to return, so just excited to continue to build off of what we did last season, and hopefully we can add to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thomas later added when asked about losing Sabally, \u201cWe\u2019re going to continue to do what we do. I think we showed last year with people in and out the lineup, we\u2019re capable of a lot of things, and we\u2019re just going to continue to move forward, and wish her best of luck.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"NatePhoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts in the huddle with his players against Japan during a WNBA preseason game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 29, 2026. (Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas | Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

Structurally, the loss of Sabally effectively changes Phoenix from having a \u201cBig Three\u201d to having a \u201cBig Two\u201d with Thomas and Copper. While replacing Sabally by committee may not seem like an optimal solution on paper, it\u2019s worth noting that having a star-studded top three hasn\u2019t necessarily been a consistent recipe for success when it comes to winning championships. For Tibbetts, the hope is that spreading out the responsibilities previously carried by Sabally will allow Thomas and Copper to fully maximize their skillsets while creating a more natural flow and rhythm on offense and defense.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny time you have a team with Alyssa Thomas on it, you\u2019re going to be an elite-level defensive team,\u201d Tibbetts said. \u201cYou\u2019re going to compete every night. And then offensively with the things that have happened this offseason, we\u2019re going to have to get into some more movement stuff offensively and playing to the second and third side\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Obviously, collectively as a group it will be a big hole to fill from losing [Sabally], but that\u2019s how teams evolve and grow,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really excited about the star power of [Thomas and Copper]. Just understanding who they are, playing to their strengths and putting really good role players around them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Potential breakouts<\/p>\n

If Phoenix is going to replicate last season\u2019s success, it likely won\u2019t come solely from its established core. Instead, much of the Mercury\u2019s ceiling could depend on how far their supporting cast is able to stretch beyond expectations. Lucky for them, there are several candidates on the roster that can be sleepers to have big years.<\/p>\n

One of those intriguing pieces is Val\u00e9riane Ayayi, Phoenix\u2019s biggest new signing. Ayayi, 32, had a brief stint in the WNBA back in 2015 and has been a versatile and successful player internationally ever since. The French forward has averaged double figures in points and at least five rebounds<\/a> in every season she\u2019s played in the EuroLeague since 2018, three of which were with Thomas as a teammate.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe actually were neighbors in Prague, too, so we\u2019re very familiar with each other,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cDefinitely one of my favorite teammates. Super versatile. She\u2019s a three-four swing that shoots the three, loves to defend. Both of us together \u2014 we\u2019re fiery \u2014 so just excited with what she brings to this team.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ValerianeFrance small forward Val\u00e9riane Ayayi (11) cheers after Team France scores in a women\u2019s basketball semifinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena in Paris, France, on Aug. 9, 2024. (Photo Credit: Kyle Terada | USA TODAY Sports)<\/p>\n

Ayayi\u2019s makeup as a player who can do a little bit of everything, with an emphasis on defending and shooting the 3-pointer, is exactly the prototype that Tibbetts likes to give opportunity to in his system. During the 2024-25 EuroLeague season<\/a>, Ayayi shot a solid 34% from beyond the arc on 5.5 attempts per game. With Thomas playmaking, she will have plenty of opportunities to get her shot up. Whether she starts or comes off the bench, her versatility is a perfect example of how Tibbetts plans to replace Sabally\u2019s role in the aggregate.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a player we\u2019ve tried to get over the last couple years,\u201d Tibbetts said. \u201d \u2026 I think she can play a lot of different positions. She kind of reminds me a little bit of [Bonner]. Obviously [Bonner] is bigger, but [Ayayi] is very versatile \u2014 she can play the two, the three, four, maybe even some small five.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another returning piece expected to take on a larger role is Mack, whose energy and interior presence has become increasingly important since arriving to Phoenix in 2024. While her ability to play alongside Thomas in the frontcourt for extended minutes has been difficult at times due to both players\u2019 lack of outside shooting, Mack has doubled down on what makes her effective \u2014 adding on 10 to 15 pounds of muscle over the offseason.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mack has also made strides in her offensive game during her time playing in Athletes Unlimited over the offseason. She averaged 10.8 points and 12.7 rebounds<\/a>, which are numbers that would be career highs in the WNBA even if she was half as productive.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust being more confident when I have the ball,\u201d Mack said of what her Athletes Unlimited season taught her. \u201cBeing able to make decisions too, like I don\u2019t always have to catch and get rid of it so easily. Like, survey, look \u2014 if I have a shot, take it, and be confident in what I do, because I know why I\u2019m here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

That growth showed itself in the Mercury\u2019s second and final preseason game against the Japanese National Team, when Mack scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds on 5-for-6 shooting in 22 minutes, finishing in the box score +20 on the night. On several occasions, Mack was able to completely overpower her defender for easy conversions at the rim.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a credit to her and the work that she\u2019s put in,\u201d Tibbetts said postgame. \u201cShe\u2019s done a great job in the weight room and an even better job with her conditioning. Our group really likes playing with her because she does all the little things, and I\u2019ve just been very impressed with her approach, her professionalism and her growth. She has to be extremely proud of herself and how far she\u2019s come in the last two years.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Guard Kiana Williams<\/a> is a potential seventh returner from the 2025 roster. Although she\u2019s still on a training camp contract, she\u2019s been one of the most impressive players this preseason. Williams was a late-season pickup a season ago and played sparingly, but used the experience gained from watching on the bench, along with a productive offseason, to put herself in a favorable position to make the team.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know what to expect, I know what Nate wants \u2026 \u201d Williams said. \u201cJust using my voice, picking up full court, small things like that. And knocking down open shots \u2014 I\u2019m going to be the fifth option on offense, but I don\u2019t want to be a liability.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the Mercury\u2019s first preseason game against the Chicago Sky, Williams poured in 16 points, including four 3-pointers, while captaining the second unit as the lead guard. If she can translate that poise into the regular season, she can be a vital option off the bench as a backup point guard who can do a little bit of everything \u2014 again, exactly the type of player Tibbetts likes.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s gonna coach in our league someday, if she wants to,\u201d Tibbetts said of Williams. Later adding, \u201cShe knows what we\u2019re about. She came in last year, didn\u2019t get a bunch of playing time, but like always, did a good job in the practices. She had a good offseason. She started off overseas, and then came back and was on the Unrivaled player development team, and I can tell she\u2019s in great shape. You got to have players that understand who they are, and she knows who she is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"KianaPhoenix Mercury guard Kiana Williams (23) is defended by Team Japan guard Mai Yamamato (23) during their preseason game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 29, 2026. (Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas | Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

Finally, as weird as it sounds, it\u2019s safe to say Copper is also a candidate to have a breakout season even considering what she\u2019s already accomplished in the league. The loss of Sabally opens up even more scoring responsibility for the high-usage wing, and with an injury-free offseason of constant work in the gym, Copper has been able to hone that skill while also developing more in a new area of her game.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlaymaking,\u201d Copper said when asked what she focused on in the offseason. \u201cThat\u2019s something that me and Nate worked on in the offseason. Me and Mack worked together a lot within our workouts. Just being able to find people around me, it\u2019ll just open up my game a lot better. I\u2019m drawing crowds, so being able to spray and being able to make the right decisions, and then I\u2019m confusing defenses.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The ability to be a better passer will prove to be useful if Copper continues to score the way she has in the preseason. The 31-year-old was on fire in both preseason games, scoring 36 points in 37 minutes on 58.3% 3-point shooting and 56.5% total shooting from the field.<\/p>\n

With Copper now tasked with carrying more of the scoring load while also becoming a more complete facilitator, she could be the one that adds another dynamic dimension to the Mercury offense that was missing at times last season. The early signs suggest she is ready for it. And if that growth holds, Phoenix has a chance to be better this season, even without Sabally.<\/p>\n

Rounding out the edges<\/p>\n

The 2026 Mercury\u2019s remaining roster spots will likely go to a collection of undrafted rookies currently on training camp contracts. After Thursday\u2019s cuts<\/a> and assuming Williams is a lock to make the team, that leaves the following players vying for four active roster spots:<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s tough to tell exactly what combination of players the front office will eventually select \u2014 especially with several of them not yet in camp from overseas \u2014 Carter, Ciezki, Dunn, Jensen, Maly and Prechtel have been early frontrunners.<\/p>\n

Carter played the most preseason minutes of the group and showed a tangible ability to guard anyone on the floor. Cieski, Dunn and Jensen are guards who have shown flashes of solid shooting ability. Maly is another do-it-all forward who can bring needed depth. Prechtel is a 6\u20195 big who can shoot the 3-pointer \u2014 a fascinating piece to potentially put alongside Thomas in the frontcourt.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think all of them are doing a really good job of just trying to play our style coming from college or different organizations overseas,\u201d Tibbetts said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of newness to that group, so I think offensively they did a pretty good job of understanding the spacing.\u201d<\/p>\n

More answers will reveal themselves in the next week and, however the final roster shakes out, it will be tested immediately. The Mercury open the 2026 season on May 9 in a rematch of last year\u2019s WNBA Finals against the Las Vegas Aces \u2014 a measuring-stick matchup that arrives with familiar stakes, even if the personnel around Phoenix\u2019s core has changed.<\/p>\n

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