Starting 40 of 41 games as a rookie is the kind of stat that turns heads — and for Phoenix Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani, that number tells only part of the story of an impressive first WNBA season.
Rookies rarely walk into a professional basketball lineup and earn a starting role from almost the opening tip. Akoa Makani did exactly that, carving out a consistent presence in a Mercury rotation that leaned on her energy, decision-making, and scoring ability throughout the season.
Her numbers — 7.7 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game — reflect a player who contributed in multiple ways, not just as a scorer. For a first-year player still learning the speed and physicality of the professional game, that kind of all-around production matters.
How Monique Akoa Makani’s Rookie Season Took Shape
First games can be nervy, low-output affairs for rookies still finding their footing. Akoa Makani’s debut was modest — two points, a rebound, an assist, and a steal — but it showed enough to suggest she belonged on the floor.
What followed was more telling. In her second game, she poured in 11 points while adding three assists and two rebounds. The Mercury beat the Los Angeles Sparks in that contest, and Akoa Makani was one of three players to score 10 or more points. Satou Sabally led the way with 25, and Alyssa Thomas contributed 19, but the rookie held her own in quality company.
From there, she built momentum rather than fading. Strong performances against the Seattle Storm, the Washington Mystics, and the Chicago Sky followed, with the Mercury winning two of those games. By the time June arrived, Akoa Makani was already an established piece of the lineup rather than an experiment.
Breaking Down the Numbers That Define Her Season
The raw statistics offer a clean picture of what Akoa Makani brought to Phoenix across her 41-game debut season.
Stat Category
Season Average
Points Per Game
7.7
Assists Per Game
2.7
Rebounds Per Game
2.2
Games Played
41
Games Started
40
Those assist numbers are worth noting specifically. Nearly three assists per game from a rookie guard signals court vision and the kind of unselfish play that coaches value, especially on a team that needs contributors who make others better rather than just hunting their own shot.
Key highlights from her season include:
Scored in double figures in her second career WNBA game
Was one of three Mercury players to score 10-plus points in a win over the Los Angeles Sparks early in the season
Scored 10 points in a June rematch against the Sparks, a game Phoenix won 85–80
All five Mercury starters scored in double figures in that June Sparks victory
Sabally led that game with 24 points, with Akoa Makani contributing as part of a balanced attack
What Her Role Meant for the Mercury This Season
Phoenix leaned on Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas as their primary offensive engines — that much is clear from the scoring lines in the games described. But a team that wants to compete night after night needs depth and reliability beyond its stars, and that is where Akoa Makani’s consistent presence mattered.
Starting in 40 of 41 games is not a coaching accident. It reflects trust — a coaching staff deciding, game after game, that this rookie gives them the best chance to win. That kind of confidence is earned, not handed out.
The fact that all five starters scored in double figures in the June win over the Sparks speaks to how Akoa Makani fit into a functioning offensive system. Her 10-point contribution in that game was part of a collective effort, which is exactly the role a first-year player needs to embrace before expanding it.
The Bigger Picture for a First-Year Player
Rookie seasons in the WNBA are rarely linear. The physical and mental adjustment from college — or international basketball — to the professional level trips up even highly touted prospects. Akoa Makani’s ability to start consistently and produce meaningful numbers suggests she absorbed those adjustments faster than most.
Her assist average in particular points toward a player who understands how to play within a team structure. Scoring is the easiest thing to chase as a young player trying to prove herself. Facilitating — reading the floor, making the right pass, keeping the offense moving — takes a different kind of maturity.
The Mercury also benefited from having veterans like Sabally and Thomas around Akoa Makani. Playing alongside established professionals who demand the ball in the right spots has a way of accelerating a young guard’s development quickly.
What Comes Next for Akoa Makani and Phoenix
A rookie season like this one sets expectations. Akoa Makani has shown she can handle a starting role at the WNBA level, score consistently, and contribute across multiple statistical categories. The natural next question is how she builds on that foundation.
If her trajectory through the season — from a two-point debut to a reliable starter who contributes double-digit scoring games — is any guide, the development curve is pointed firmly upward. The Mercury will be counting on that growth continuing as she enters her second year with a full season of professional experience behind her.
For a franchise looking to build around young talent while competing in the present, Akoa Makani’s rookie season offered exactly the kind of early return that makes future planning easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many games did Monique Akoa Makani start in her rookie season?
She started 40 of the 41 games she played during her rookie season with the Phoenix Mercury.
What were Akoa Makani’s scoring averages as a rookie?
She averaged 7.7 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game across her 41 appearances.
When did she first score in double figures?
Akoa Makani scored 11 points in her second career game, a Mercury win over the Los Angeles Sparks.
Who were the Mercury’s leading scorers alongside Akoa Makani?
Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas were the team’s primary offensive leaders, with Sabally recording 25 points and Thomas adding 19 in one early-season win over the Sparks.
Did the Mercury win games in which Akoa Makani had strong performances?
Yes — Phoenix won games against the Los Angeles Sparks, the Seattle Storm, the Washington Mystics, and the Chicago Sky during stretches when she performed well, though the source confirms wins in two of the Storm, Mystics, and Sky games specifically.
What was the final score of the June game against the Sparks where she scored 10 points?
The Mercury won that game 85–80, with all five starters scoring in double figures and Sabally leading with 24 points.