The air in the Valley feels different because playoff basketball has arrived. It’s either that or the fact that we’ve hit September and the 115° days, at least in theory (please, no more this year…please?), are behind us. But it’s playoff time, baby.
The Phoenix Mercury, battle-tested and scarred from a 27–17 campaign, stand tall with the fourth-best record in the WNBA. Fourth place, despite stumbling in their final three games, is still a ticket to the dance. And the dance begins today.
Tipoff is
at 2PM as Phoenix squares off against the defending champion New York Liberty, a team they’ve already seen four times this season, taking three of those contests. Confidence is earned, and the Mercury have earned theirs.
After today, the best-of-three series heads to New York for Tuesday’s 4:30PM matchup. Should a deciding game be necessary, the teams will come storming back to Phoenix on Thursday to settle it under the PHX Arena lights. Every moment will be broadcast; ESPN for Game 1 and 2, ESPN2 if it all comes down to a winner-take-all finale.
Banners aren’t handed out in September. They’re taken, and the Mercury are ready to take theirs.
It was a season worth remembering for the Mercury, It was one that produced the second-highest win total in franchise history. They were powered by Satou Sabally, who led the team with 16.3 points per game, and by Kahleah Copper, who added 15.6 a night while drilling 37.7% from deep on 5.4 attempts per game. But make no mistake. This was Alyssa Thomas’ year.
Thomas didn’t just show up to give her input. She rewrote the script. Averaging 15.4 points, 9.2 assists, and 8.8 rebounds, she planted herself firmly in the MVP conversation. Her 9.2 dimes per game weren’t merely the best in the league; they made history. She dished out 357 assists this season, the most ever in the WNBA, reclaiming the crown from Caitlin Clark, who had snatched it last year, breaking Thomas’ own record from her Connecticut Sun days.
This wasn’t a season of standing pat. It was one of reinvention.
After the retirement of Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner’s decision to take her talents to Atlanta, GM Nick U’Ren and owner Mat Ishbia tore the roster down and rebuilt it in their own image. They swung big. A ten-team trade that sent Sophie Cunningham, Rebecca Allen, and Natasha Cloud out the door, and brought in Thomas from the Sun, plus Kalani Brown and Sabally from Dallas. Add that to Copper, acquired a season prior from Chicago, and Phoenix forged its own “Big Three” with Copper, Sabally, and Thomas.
A year ago, this team limped to a 19–21 finish. This year? They’re knocking on the door of a championship. And it all begins today.
