{"id":205804,"date":"2025-10-11T19:30:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-11T19:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/205804\/"},"modified":"2025-10-11T19:30:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T19:30:09","slug":"phoenix-mercurys-wnba-playoff-run-falls-short-but-future-remains-bright","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/205804\/","title":{"rendered":"Phoenix Mercury\u2019s WNBA Playoff Run Falls Short, But Future Remains Bright"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"2025<\/p>\n

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 10: Alyssa Thomas #25, Kalani Brown #21 and DeWanna Bonner #14 of the Phoenix Mercury react in the fourth quarter against the Las Vegas Aces during Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Getty Images<\/p>\n

Every story isn\u2019t promised a magical ending. And not every team can have their moment of glory, raising the championship trophy with confetti raining from the rafters.<\/p>\n

The Phoenix Mercury were unequivocally the best story of the 2025 WNBA season, climbing from below .500 last year to immediate title contenders with a major roster overhaul.<\/p>\n

They just didn\u2019t have enough left in the tank during the WNBA Finals, falling 4-0 to the Las Vegas Aces on Friday night.<\/p>\n

Sports can be cruel sometimes. Nothing is a guarantee, no matter how much work you pour into your craft.<\/p>\n

You can have the most connected team possible, overflowing with chemistry and good vibes throughout the whole season.<\/p>\n

Yet, all it takes is a perfect storm to halt the momentum. The wrong opponent. The wrong superstar standing in your path. Untimely injuries as an unfortunate byproduct of the hard-nosed, physical style that helped rally the team and guide you to this stage.<\/p>\n

Nothing can prepare you for running into a buzzsaw. Once the best player on Earth stomps through the door, all bets are off. A\u2019ja Wilson and the Aces were the final boss, and both proved too dominant to take down.<\/p>\n

Always classy in defeat, Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts acknowledged how Vegas had one glaring advantage that wasn\u2019t possible to replicate: Time together.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe ran into a really good team,\u201d Tibbetts said. \u201cWe ran into a team that has been through it together. We ran into a team that had the ultimate belief and trust they could get it done as a unit, with a great coach that has been through this.”<\/p>\n

He\u2019s right. If anything, his praise of Las Vegas was mild compared to the reality.<\/p>\n

The Aces are a well-oiled machine. They are flooded with deep playoff experience and otherworldly stars that consistently find ways to mask any of the team\u2019s weaknesses.<\/p>\n

It was the top-end talent that allowed Vegas to cap off the wildest midseason turnaround in WNBA history. The Aces were 14-14 in early August, searching for answers and losing faith in their defense.<\/p>\n

From that point forward, they finished with a 25-3 record to claim their third championship in four years. In many ways, the Aces were destined for this type of coronation.<\/p>\n

Still, this WNBA Finals was closer than a 4-0 sweep indicates.<\/p>\n

Game 1 was hanging in the balance with 24 seconds remaining. Alyssa Thomas had two free throws with a chance to take the lead and steal homecourt, but couldn\u2019t capitalize.<\/p>\n

Game 3 was tied with one minute left on the clock before the Mercury missed a layup and set up Wilson for an all-time dagger.<\/p>\n

But those are the breaks. Series are often won and lost on the margins, and that includes four-game sweeps.<\/p>\n

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Nate Tibbetts of the Phoenix Mercury before Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs semifinals at PHX Arena on September 28, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Getty Images<\/p>\n

Adversity became the calling card for Phoenix this year. They might not have invited it, but they didn\u2019t run away from it. The Mercury personified resilience from start to finish.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no other explanation for their achievements, or the manner in which they reached the Finals.<\/p>\n

Phoenix was written off after losing Game 1, at home, to the New York Liberty. No way they were going to fly across the country and steal a road game from the defending champions to force a Game 3.<\/p>\n

They did.<\/p>\n

Even fewer people believed in them a week later. The Minnesota Lynx had a comfortable lead in Game 2 of the semifinals, and were only minutes away from leading the series 2-0. Phoenix outscored them by 22 the rest of the way and kept hope alive.<\/p>\n

When times got tough and the odds were stacked against them, such as Game 4 of the Minnesota series, nobody batted an eye.<\/p>\n

Phoenix trailed by 13 entering the fourth quarter, which is almost a death sentence during any playoff game. Historically, teams were 2-106<\/a> under those circumstances. Still, the Mercury knew it was possible if they dug deep and defended their tails off in the final 10 minutes.<\/p>\n

And they did.<\/p>\n

For a Mercury team that wasn\u2019t on anybody\u2019s radar five months ago, simply reaching the Finals should be considered a success. Internally, they will view this season as an important stepping stone.<\/p>\n

After the loss, Tibbetts repeatedly mentioned the insurmountable heart and fight that Phoenix displayed all year long. While disappointed they couldn\u2019t finish the job, there was a sense of pride \u2013 and excitement for what these lessons can teach them moving forward.<\/p>\n

Thomas reinforced that sentiment at the podium. She remained an extension of the her coach, just like she\u2019s been on the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a great season and nobody expected us to even be here,” Thomas said of the Mercury\u2019s journey. “Of course it didn\u2019t go the way that we wanted to end. But we have a lot to build on.\u201d<\/p>\n

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 10: Kahleah Copper #2 and Alyssa Thomas #25 of the Phoenix Mercury speak to the media following Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Las Vegas Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 to win the championship. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Getty Images<\/p>\n

Thomas has now played in 13 WNBA Finals games. She\u2019s yet to get over the hump, losing to the Mystics in heartbreaking fashion in 2019 and falling to Las Vegas two separate times.<\/p>\n

As the Mercury\u2019s leader \u2013 both vocally and by example \u2013 she knows how to take a defeat and use it as a building block for the following year. While it was never going to be easy limiting the Aces\u2019 firepower, Phoenix knows it let a couple of these games slip away.<\/p>\n

Whether it was uncharacteristic turnovers or slight lapses on the defensive end, Thomas knows they didn\u2019t perform up to their standard.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we relaxed when we got to the Finals,” Thomas admitted. “I think what made the run so special in the first and second round is how we played together. We moved the ball. We didn\u2019t complain or let anything bother us. But the Finals are hard for a reason. I\u2019ve been saying, every stage gets harder. It\u2019s definitely a learning experience for a lot of players in our locker room that have never been on this level. But still super proud of how our team fought and competed and never gave up.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a brand new roster and multiple players who didn\u2019t have playoff experience, you understand how that could happen. The Lynx were the WNBA\u2019s cr\u00e8me de la cr\u00e8me all season. They boasted the highest Net Rating<\/a> in basketball by a wide margin. Once the Mercury defeated them, it\u2019s only natural for some players to take their foot off the gas \u2013 even just a little.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what separates championship teams from the pack, however.<\/p>\n

Nobody understands that line of demarcation more than Kahleah Copper. Her dynamic scoring run in the 2021 playoffs led the Chicago Sky to their first WNBA title, and she had to lift her team over multiple powerhouses along the way.<\/p>\n

Since arriving in Phoenix two years ago, she\u2019s been evolving into a stronger leader and becoming one of the primary voices in the locker room. Many people around the Mercury are quick to credit Copper for how naturally their chemistry developed. She was more vocal this year than any other season in her career.<\/p>\n

One thing should be clear: Players don\u2019t evolve into superstars without having a solid foundation of leadership qualities. It just doesn\u2019t happen. Leadership is baked into the formula of becoming great, which she already was in Chicago.<\/p>\n

But for Copper, there was still another gear to reach. She knew it, and Tibbetts knew it as well. That\u2019s why he pushed her from day one in training camp, and she appreciated the challenge.<\/p>\n

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 10: Kahleah Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury drives to the basket against A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces in the fourth quarter during Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Getty Images<\/p>\n

Copper is carrying that mentality into next season, too. Immediately after the buzzer sounded and Vegas was jumping for joy, she brought all of her Mercury teammates together for a quick huddle. <\/p>\n

She believed it was important for them to soak in the moment. As painful as it would be for everyone involved, she wanted the team to embrace the agony before walking off. For her, it was about making sure those visual and audible senses lingered during the offseason as they prepare for redemption.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted us to feel it and I wanted us to hear the celebrations,\u201d Copper said. \u201cTo really feel that moment, feel the hurt, and let it fuel us for the future. But I\u2019m just proud of this group and how we continuously responded to adversity all year. I wouldn\u2019t want to do it with any other group. I\u2019m proud of what we were able to accomplish in just a short period of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Copper continued showing throughout the playoffs why she\u2019s made for the big stage. She had an up-and-down season, fighting off injuries and gradually rediscovering her rhythm as a scorer. In the moments Phoenix needed her most, though, she delivered. <\/p>\n

Without her 11 consecutive points in the fourth quarter of Game 3, including her absurd stretch of nine points in only 39 seconds, the Mercury don\u2019t have a chance to force overtime on the final possession.<\/p>\n

The Mercury never stopped clawing back. Even after they were dealt a bad hand with Satou Sabally suffering a concussion, they kept chipping away and being the type of nuisance Las Vegas couldn\u2019t wait to get rid of.<\/p>\n

It happened again in Game 4 after Phoenix let the tempers flare a little too hot.<\/p>\n

Tibbetts was ejected late in the third quarter following a rapid double-technical that most people agreed was an overreaction. As he was escorted off the floor, the Mercury had no choice but to rally together.<\/p>\n

At that point, it was like pouring gasoline on the fire.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he was gone, it was just another form of adversity on the year,” Copper said with a smile. “Let\u2019s just add on to it. Let\u2019s just play harder. I think that\u2019s what we\u2019re about. When you talk about Mercury basketball and when you talk about the Phoenix Mercury period \u2026 we\u2019re never going to quit. We\u2019re going to get after it. And we can handle whatever you throw at us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ultimately, it wasn\u2019t enough to overcome Vegas and their mission to cement the dynasty.<\/p>\n

Phoenix is still set up nicely for the future, and that\u2019s what the organization is focused on. The Mercury have plenty to look forward to in 2026 \u2013 if the WNBA season isn\u2019t compromised because of CBA negotiations.<\/p>\n

The rookies have already started to blossom as Phoenix attempts to strike the right balance between veteran talent and youth on the rise. Monique Akoa Makani is on her way to becoming a two-way machine that opposing teams should fear for the next decade.<\/p>\n

Sabally, who turns 28 before the start of next season, is entering her prime. She\u2019s fresh off a career year, scoring 22 points per 36 minutes and improving as a defender.<\/p>\n

Thomas wants to remain in Phoenix and build a legacy with an organization that already proved its commitment to women<\/a> and smart roster-construction. She will be 34 when next season begins. As she gets older, though, her physical strength and pass-first tendencies will keep her in the WNBA\u2019s upper-echelon until she hangs it up.<\/p>\n

One thing is for certain \u2013 Thomas\u2019s teammates won\u2019t let her go anywhere. Copper emphatically said she will never be on the other side again:<\/p>\n

Tibbetts is also growing as a head coach. That storyline isn\u2019t getting enough attention. <\/p>\n

He has only been around the WNBA for two years, and the progress is already miles ahead of what people envisioned the Mercury would look like after Diana Taurasi exited.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just told the team, this was a special year \u2026 it\u2019s one of the funnest years I\u2019ve ever had in basketball,” Tibbetts said. “For a new group to come together the way we did and competed, it says a lot about who\u2019s in our locker room. Everyone involved. Everyone bought into the vision and the restructuring of the group. I think the X-factor [the Mercury\u2019s fanbase], the city of Phoenix and state of Arizona have really gotten behind our group because we play the right way, play together, and play tough.\u201d<\/p>\n

He knows there are still things to learn and implement before next season arrives. For now, it\u2019s about relishing what they just accomplished.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to remember this year forever,” he concluded.<\/p>\n

So will the fans and the Phoenix community, who have thoroughly enjoyed and resonated with this new iteration of the Mercury.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 10: Alyssa Thomas #25, Kalani Brown #21 and DeWanna Bonner #14 of the Phoenix…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":205805,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[629],"tags":[49,48,3460,82,630,15457],"class_list":{"0":"post-205804","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wnba","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-las-vegas-aces","11":"tag-sports","12":"tag-wnba","13":"tag-wnba-finals"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=205804"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205804\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/205805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=205804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=205804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=205804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}