PHOENIX — When Nate Tibbetts became the Phoenix Mercury’s head coach in October 2023, he brought along zero coaching experience in the women’s game and was tasked with building a culture that could survive the final year of franchise legend Diana Taurasi.
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.
“Part of building a culture and a team to me is establishing continuity,” Tibbetts said on Day 1 of 2026 training camp. “We’ve had consistent change the first two years … it’s great to have six returners out there today. Not everything we’re talking about is new. Obviously, we’re doing some new stuff, but just seeing them play together, there’s a vibe that we didn’t have early in the year last year.”
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’s 2025 leading scorer Satou Sabally 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 season ago (seventh in offensive rating).
Additionally, the Mercury didn’t necessarily have the “splashiest” 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’Ren chose to take chances on international veterans and undrafted rookies.
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.
Embracing the underdog, again
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.
It was a season Tibbetts described as the most fun of his entire career, but also one that doesn’t guarantee anything for this season.
“[There’s] excitement for what we did, but also an understanding that we didn’t get the job completely done,” Tibbetts said. “There’s a chip on our shoulder for that. It’s a new year. Every year is different. There’s change throughout the league, there’s change within your team, there’s change in your staff.”
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.
Kahleah Copper, Phoenix’s emotional heartbeat, stayed on the court after the final buzzer sounded, taking in an image with her teammates — hoping that it would stick with them as the WNBA was about to dive into the unknown.
“Just take a couple seconds — feel it, hear it,” Copper said after Game 4 of the 2025 WNBA Finals. “You 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.”
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.
“I think it’s super important, especially having that Finals experience, big-time playoff experience,” Copper said. “Having us together, being able to pour into the young players and then continue to grow our chemistry together.”
That mindset isn’t unique to Copper. Across the locker room, the finals loss still lingers — but not as a burden, more as a baseline. Forward Alyssa Thomas found a new home in Phoenix in 2025 after 11 seasons and five All-Star appearances with the Connecticut Sun.
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’t stop for the future hall-of-famer.
“For me, nothing changes,” Thomas said. “I think that’s the goal each and every season. First and foremost, it’s just about starting day one, laying the foundation for us. We let one go in the finals, something we definitely don’t forget. But, you know, we got a new season, different team, and the goal is to get back there.”
Alongside her again is DeWanna Bonner, 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’s Finals run — 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’t able to practice as much with the team during 2025.
“Of course [the finals loss] is on the back of your mind, but as a vet it’s like, ‘It’s time to change now, it’s a whole new team,’” Bonner said. “The champions got a whole new team, we got two new teams. So you never know what could happen. So, [we’re] just focused on the work and building from ground zero to build the foundation from day one.”
That sense of “ground zero” might sound like a step backward for a finals team. Inside the Mercury locker room, it’s closer to the point. That’s because even after a run that exceeded expectations, the message from the top hasn’t changed: the standard has been set, now it’s about re-establishing it with a different group. While the Mercury might still be underdogs, they’ve gained at least some respect across the league for the foundation they’ve built — they won’t be able to catch opponents off guard anymore.
“You lean into the things that made us successful a year ago and how we can tweak some other areas that were weaknesses for us,” head coach Nate Tibbetts said. “We’ll continue to evolve. We’re 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’ll be overlooked probably, like we were a year ago, and that’s fine.”
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Continuity is key
The massive positive going for the Mercury into 2026 is their continuity. Aside from Sabally and Kathryn Westbeld, 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.
The preseason starting lineup of Thomas, Copper, Bonner, Natasha Mack and Sami Whitcomb 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’ superb court vision and downhill playstyle, and Mack has been able to do all the dirty work from the center spot.
When point guard Monique Akoa Makani returns from overseas, the Mercury will have another familiar face in the building who can provide above-average playmaking, shooting and defense.
“Last year coming in with only two returners, that’s kind of unheard of,” Thomas said. “And 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.”
Thomas later added when asked about losing Sabally, “We’re going to continue to do what we do. I think we showed last year with people in and out the lineup, we’re capable of a lot of things, and we’re just going to continue to move forward, and wish her best of luck.”
Structurally, the loss of Sabally effectively changes Phoenix from having a “Big Three” to having a “Big Two” with Thomas and Copper. While replacing Sabally by committee may not seem like an optimal solution on paper, it’s worth noting that having a star-studded top three hasn’t 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.
“Any time you have a team with Alyssa Thomas on it, you’re going to be an elite-level defensive team,” Tibbetts said. “You’re going to compete every night. And then offensively with the things that have happened this offseason, we’re going to have to get into some more movement stuff offensively and playing to the second and third side…”
“…Obviously, collectively as a group it will be a big hole to fill from losing [Sabally], but that’s how teams evolve and grow,” he said.
“I’m 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.”
Potential breakouts
If Phoenix is going to replicate last season’s success, it likely won’t come solely from its established core. Instead, much of the Mercury’s 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.
One of those intriguing pieces is Valériane Ayayi, Phoenix’s 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 in every season she’s played in the EuroLeague since 2018, three of which were with Thomas as a teammate.
“We actually were neighbors in Prague, too, so we’re very familiar with each other,” Thomas said. “Definitely one of my favorite teammates. Super versatile. She’s a three-four swing that shoots the three, loves to defend. Both of us together — we’re fiery — so just excited with what she brings to this team.”
Ayayi’s 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, 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’s role in the aggregate.
“She’s a player we’ve tried to get over the last couple years,” Tibbetts said. ” … 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 — she can play the two, the three, four, maybe even some small five.”
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’ lack of outside shooting, Mack has doubled down on what makes her effective — adding on 10 to 15 pounds of muscle over the offseason.
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, which are numbers that would be career highs in the WNBA even if she was half as productive.
“Just being more confident when I have the ball,” Mack said of what her Athletes Unlimited season taught her. “Being able to make decisions too, like I don’t always have to catch and get rid of it so easily. Like, survey, look — if I have a shot, take it, and be confident in what I do, because I know why I’m here.”
That growth showed itself in the Mercury’s 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.
“It’s a credit to her and the work that she’s put in,” Tibbetts said postgame. “She’s 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’ve just been very impressed with her approach, her professionalism and her growth. She has to be extremely proud of herself and how far she’s come in the last two years.”
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Guard Kiana Williams is a potential seventh returner from the 2025 roster. Although she’s still on a training camp contract, she’s 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.
“I know what to expect, I know what Nate wants … ” Williams said. “Just using my voice, picking up full court, small things like that. And knocking down open shots — I’m going to be the fifth option on offense, but I don’t want to be a liability.”
During the Mercury’s 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 — again, exactly the type of player Tibbetts likes.
“She’s gonna coach in our league someday, if she wants to,” Tibbetts said of Williams. Later adding, “She knows what we’re about. She came in last year, didn’t 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’s in great shape. You got to have players that understand who they are, and she knows who she is.”
Finally, as weird as it sounds, it’s safe to say Copper is also a candidate to have a breakout season even considering what she’s 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.
“Playmaking,” Copper said when asked what she focused on in the offseason. “That’s 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’ll just open up my game a lot better. I’m drawing crowds, so being able to spray and being able to make the right decisions, and then I’m confusing defenses.”
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.
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.
Rounding out the edges
The 2026 Mercury’s remaining roster spots will likely go to a collection of undrafted rookies currently on training camp contracts. After Thursday’s cuts and assuming Williams is a lock to make the team, that leaves the following players vying for four active roster spots:
- Center Jillian Alleyne
- Forward Noemie Brochant
- Wing Sha Carter
- Guard Shay Ciezki
- Guard Kara Dunn
- Guard Lauren Jensen
- Guard Lee Seul Kang
- Center Kyara Linskens
- Forward Morgan Maly
- Guard Jovana Nogic
- Center/forward Ashten Prechtel
While it’s tough to tell exactly what combination of players the front office will eventually select — especially with several of them not yet in camp from overseas — Carter, Ciezki, Dunn, Jensen, Maly and Prechtel have been early frontrunners.
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 6’5 big who can shoot the 3-pointer — a fascinating piece to potentially put alongside Thomas in the frontcourt.
“I think all of them are doing a really good job of just trying to play our style coming from college or different organizations overseas,” Tibbetts said. “There’s a lot of newness to that group, so I think offensively they did a pretty good job of understanding the spacing.”
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’s WNBA Finals against the Las Vegas Aces — a measuring-stick matchup that arrives with familiar stakes, even if the personnel around Phoenix’s core has changed.
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