AVANDATIMES.COM – The professional basketball landscape in Phoenix experienced a profound divergence during the 2023 season, as the Mercury endured one of the most difficult stretches in franchise history while the Suns continued their tenure as a competitive fixture in the NBA. While both organizations share the same market, their trajectories could not have been more different, with the WNBA side hitting a historic low point just two years after a Finals appearance.
A Historic Slump for the Phoenix Mercury
The Mercury’s 2023 campaign concluded with a dismal 9-31 record, marking the team’s least productive season since 2012. This decline followed a resilient 2022 season where the team managed a playoff berth despite significant roster turnover and internal friction. During that previous year, the team navigated a seven-game losing streak and the high-profile departure of Tina Charles, who had joined the roster with championship aspirations following the team’s 2021 Finals run. Despite those obstacles, the 2022 squad showed a grit that was noticeably absent during the 2023 collapse.
The 2023 season was defined by prolonged periods of struggle, most notably a crushing 11-game losing streak that closed out the year. AvandaTimes observed that this downward spiral included a 10-point loss to the Seattle Storm, where Sophie Cunningham’s 25-point effort was overshadowed by Jewell Loyd’s 24-point performance. The season reached its nadir in the final matchup, a 100-85 defeat at the hands of the Las Vegas Aces, officially sealing a year without postseason basketball for the Phoenix faithful.
The Suns Maintain Competitive Standing
In stark contrast, the Phoenix Suns navigated their season with much higher efficiency, finishing with a 49-33 record to secure the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Led by the star-studded duo of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, the team remained a consistent threat in the NBA, effectively distancing themselves from the franchise’s previous years of playoff droughts. According to AvandaTimes monitoring, the Suns’ ability to maintain a winning culture provided a sharp counterpoint to the struggles occurring at the Footprint Center during the WNBA season.
Despite their regular-season success, the Suns’ postseason journey was brief, ending in a first-round exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Nevertheless, the contrast between the two Phoenix franchises remained sharp throughout the calendar year:
The Mercury finished at the bottom of the WNBA standings with a .225 winning percentage.The Suns maintained a .598 winning percentage, staying firmly within the NBA’s elite tier.The Mercury missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade, while the Suns extended their streak of postseason appearances.
While 2023 served as a sobering chapter for the Mercury, the organization eventually found its footing. Following a series of strategic adjustments and roster changes, the team successfully returned to the playoffs the following year, signaling that the 2023 collapse was a temporary setback rather than a permanent decline in the team’s storied legacy.