The Phoenix Mercury lost two legends going into the 2025 season. After 20 years in Phoenix, Diana Taurassi retired as one of the GOATs. Along with that, Brittney Griner left the city she grew up in because ‘they (Phoenix) want to do something different’. The franchise started with a fresh slate, bringing in Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally. These two, with Kahleah Copper, formed a formidable big three in Phoenix.
The Mercury, despite a dramatic offseason overhaul, has carved out a formidable 15-8 record, a testament to their strength and talent. But for a team with championship aspirations, there’s little room for error. Two straight defeats, limited by a stinging loss to the Dream, have exposed cracks in their armor. The latest stumble felt particularly bitter as franchise icon Brittney Griner returned to inflict damage, racking up 17 points and eight boards for Atlanta. Phoenix looked out of sync throughout the contest, and veteran leader DeWanna Bonner didn’t mince words about the root of the problem.
“Definitely a rhythm thing,” Bonner told the media after the game. “Everything changes when you add pieces, and pieces come back. Where you get your shot normally in the game before, you probably won’t get that same shot, and just trying to figure out where you fit on this team. It’s going to take us a little bit of time to gel.”
This complaint was considered acceptable at the beginning of the season, but after 23 games, on the outset it seems to be a lazy excuse. However, the fact of the matter is this team has not shared the court enough. Copper played her first game in mid-June, while Thomas had her calf injury in early May and returned only after five games.
Sabally was a constant in the team with these two out, averaging 21 points per game in May. Even Sabally was injured and missed a few games earlier this month. The return of DeWanna Bonner brought some energy to Phoenix, but the fact is she has only played four games so far, and 3 of them had Copper and Sabally missing.
The big three of Thomas, Copper, and Sabally, who are supposed to carry the torch forward from Taurasi and Griner, have only played 78 minutes together so far this season. Phoenix’s matchup against Atlanta marked the first time Thomas, Copper, Sabally, and Bonner all shared the floor. Even with a stop-start season for their stars, they are still the third-best team in the league, and their bench is the primary reason for that. The rising superstars are the best in the league with 26.1 points per game. The likes of Kathryn Westbeld and French rookie Monique Akoa Makani have stepped up to provide the Phoenix with much-needed depth.
Bonner concluded her statement with a simple message saying, “Just be patient with us, we’re going to be okay.”
Considering what they have achieved so far this season, they are going to be more than okay. Two losses aren’t a cause to panic, and with their core back in full fitness. The Mercury is not a well-oiled machine yet, but the fact that, with an injury crisis every few days, they are still where they are signals that the Nate Tibbets-coached side can do much better. They will have the chance to prove that with the upcoming schedule, which is set to test them to the limit.
Can the Mercury Withstand the Storm Ahead?
It’s not like the Mercury have been terrible away from their home court. Half of their losses so far have come from home, and half of them have come on the road. A 6-4 record away from home means they are more than ready to face a hostile crowd. Their last road trip was a smashing success as the Mercury went unbeaten in a four-game run. It involved wins over Liberty and the Aces. But with two relatively easier games against the Sky and the Sun sandwiched in between.
This time around, they have four consecutive games with the New York Liberty, Washington Mystics, and Indiana Fever on the horizon. While they managed to go past the Liberty in the last two games, they are proving to be invincible in recent games. They are on a four-match winning run, which has involved two dominating wins over the Indiana Fever. Liberty made a light work of the Dream and the Aces. They are the joint best attacking team in the league with a net rating of +10.1 and seem to have left their difficult patch in the rearview mirror. Liberty is back to being the champion team they were last year.
Jul 14, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Phoenix Mercury huddle during the second quarter against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
The Mystics are no slouch either with Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, and Brittney Sykes. They have proved that they can beat anyone. By the time they face the Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark could be back, and we know how she can affect the comeback games. If Clark can put up a performance like against the Liberty when she came back from injury last time around, then the Mercury will be in trouble.
Their historic fitness issues make these games even worse, as these games will demand full intensity. And their bench can’t hold up this record for more long time. Things can go one of two ways: the Tibbets-led side would overcome this hurdle and prove to be genuine title contenders. Or, they can stumble again and concede their position to the Atlanta Dream or Seattle Storm.
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