In a postseason of attrition, it seemed possible that a tough-nosed squad led by Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper could win it all. The Phoenix Mercury tore through the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx, proving they could topple\u2026well, almost anyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Almost, of course, is the operative word here. Phoenix went from looking like near favorites to win the 2025 WNBA Finals to a swept, injured, and somewhat questionable team that was left in the dust in a 4-0 sweep by the Las Vegas Aces.<\/p>\n
It was the Aces\u2019 third championship in four years. A dynasty created at the hands of Phoenix on their home court. The same dynasty Phoenix has hungered to begin since acquiring Copper, Satou Sabally, and Alyssa Thomas over the last two seasons.<\/p>\n
Phoenix is now in an unfortunate spot headed into the offseason. It\u2019s a spot all WNBA teams are headed into beginning October 31, the day the current CBA expires, and the day that many feel could come and go without an agreement on a new deal. A large gap between what the WNBPA is seeking from the league and what the league wants to cover in turn may delay this new deal.<\/p>\n
The list of free agents the Mercury are seeing hit the market include:<\/p>\n
DeWanna Bonner (UFA)
\nKahleah Copper (UFA)
\nSatou Sabally (UFA)
\nAlyssa Thomas (UFA)
\nSami Whitcomb (UFA)
\nMonique Akoa Makani (Reserved)
\nLexi Held (Reserved)
\nKitija Laksa (Reserved)
\nNatasha Mack (Reserved)
\nKathryn Westbeld (Reserved)
\nKiana Williams (Reserved)<\/p>\n
Unrestricted free agents, or UFAs, are free agents who can\u2019t be protected by their previous team with a matching offer. They\u2019re free to sign wherever they want. A reserved free agent is a player with three or less seasons logged in the WNBA whose contract has expired.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Phoenix thankfully shouldn\u2019t be too hard of a sell to impending free agents, new and old. Updated facilities of their own in addition to the fact that they were, at least, in the Finals and an obvious contender should be persuasive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But, what else can Phoenix do to prove they have a sustainable core headed into 2026, assuming at least Copper, Sabally, and Thomas stay on board for another run?<\/p>\n
The answers could lie in what went wrong in the very series that made them look like paper tigers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
All postseason, Thomas was an absolute force for Phoenix despite her limitations as a shooter. Averaging 16.9 points per game along with nine rebounds, 8.8 assists, and 1.7 steals, she was every bit of \u201cThe Engine\u201d for the Mercury.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the Finals? Thomas\u2019 averages dipped slightly, with two key games\u2014Game 2 and 3\u2014seeing her drop just 10 and 14 points, respectively, and being held to just three rebounds in Game 2. She did not as easily slice through the paint for easy kick out opportunities, but was instead seeing a court featuring a ton of space for herself in the midrange and three point line, while her teammates were draped defensively. Thomas has taken an average of less than one three point shot per season in her career, with her work on offense coming primarily in the post for the last 11 seasons.<\/p>\n
It was a key adjustment made by the Aces that forced others, especially Phoenix\u2019s bench, to have to step up. The Mercury\u2019s Big 3 could only be dominant if all three could do what they did best, and with Thomas figured out, that was impossible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Mercury\u2019s bench was also simply not reliable in the Finals when put up against the suddenly scorching bench unit of the Aces led by Jewell Loyd and Dana Evans. Those two guards stepped up in key moments for Las Vegas and Phoenix\u2019s bench of Whitcomb, Westbeld, and Bonner just couldn\u2019t match their effort.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Again, there\u2019s plenty of talent,starting and bench,to go around in 2026 given the abnormally long list of free agents coming up. Phoenix can certainly shore the bench up this way, adding more goodwill to their pitch for Copper, Thomas, and Sabally to stick around.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also a matter of one small, but present, elephant in the room, and that\u2019s head coach Nate Tibbett\u2019s. He did a great job of leading this squad to a Finals berth, and has shaken off some of the (extremely warranted) criticism he drew from his initial pitch to fans when being introduced as the new skipper.<\/p>\n
Yet he was thoroughly outcoached by Becky Hammon in this championship series. It was obvious who was hungry for their third chip in four years, and who was looking to just join the club. He\u2019s still waiting just outside the door, hearing A\u2019ja Wilson\u2019s pink tambourine provide the rhythm of the night for Las Vegas.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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See Also<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a symbol of just the joyfulness we have right now, and I\u2019m grateful to be with this bunch.\u201d<\/p>\n A\u2019ja Wilson on the importance of her pink tambourine after winning the WNBA finals \ud83c\udfc6 pic.twitter.com\/WKKqRcKI41<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Playoffs25_R2_Preview_MINvPHX_16x9.jpg\")
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