A waning offense, the departure of a legend, and an uncertain future are what loom over the Mercury. The Phoenix Mercury face a rebuild so challenging, even the addition of a 5x WNBA All-Star might not be enough to steer them around. Are their rumored draft picks capable of leading them to WNBA glory?

Phoenix Mercury’s woes lingered until the end of last season when they lost both playoff games to the Minnesota Lynx. 7th seed Mercury set themselves an unwanted record: this was the second time they lost in the first round of the Playoffs in three seasons. Despite the overall disappointment, Kahleah Copper’s valiant efforts shone the brightest individually as Mercury suffered another heartbreak. But that was about it when it came to the positives from the season.

Despite her relentless performances, Mercury struggled to make it past the playoffs. With the projected departures of the team’s players, history might just repeat itself in 2025. But the Mercury may have another trick up their sleeve. The Phoenix-based franchise will now witness the arrival of 5x NBA All-Star Alyssa Thomas to their ranks.

WNBA analyst Meghan McKeown has doubts about the team’s depth rather than the talent it already has. Speaking on her podcast Got Next with Meghan and Zora, McKeown acknowledges the hype around Thomas and Copper, dubbing their incoming partnership as “elite.” Despite the hype the two have generated for the upcoming season, McKeown believes that the team must resolve the uncertainty surrounding Taurasi’s future – “There’s still no word on what Taurasi is doing. I’d like to see them get, like, probably some more shooting consistently…Just having some more shooters can open up so much on the inside for Phoenix.”

Alyssa Thomas, last season’s second-highest assist provider, brings a new dimension to Phoenix’s game, and options such as Sophie Cunningham aid with Mercury’s backbone, McKeown believes adding a couple more shooters can make them solid playoff contenders. There is no denying Thomas’ elite playmaking and defensive capabilities when she delivers—10.6 PPG, 7.9 APG, 8.4 RPG, and 1.6 SPG. The former Connecticut Sun forward brings a more versatile dimension to the Mercury’s repertoire. 

Taurasi’s Potential Exit Adds Uncertainty to Mercury’s Rebuild

As McKeown mentioned, uncertainties are hanging around Diana Taurasi. Taurasi, 10x WNBA All-Star and Mercury player since 2004, is nearing the end of her contract at Phoenix. However, there is still no word about her future move. In addition, Brittney Griner, Copper’s partner in crime, left Mercury for the Atlanta Dreams as a free agent after 11 years of service.

The Center averaged 17.8 PPG for the Mercury last season. Griner served the franchise for more than a decade and leaves a hole in the team’s offense as she leaves. And if rumors are to be believed, she might not be the only departure from the Footprint Center. Mercury lost another offensive option in Sophie Cunningham, trading her with Satou Sabally from Dallas Wings. This leaves us with the question of who leads the offense with Kahlea Copper.

Well, the straightforward answer would be the 5x WNBA All-Star the team already has at their disposal, right?

However, the Arizona-based team might struggle without the experienced leadership and morale that Taurasi brought to the locker room. While the 42-year-old hasn’t officially announced her retirement, she hinted at it at the tail-end of the season. “If it is the last time, it felt like the first time,” the six-time Olympic gold medallist stated. Taurasi emerged as a beacon of consistency for Mercury in the last few seasons. Her absence in the locker room might affect the team in a broader context.

We believe that Mercury fans must temper their expectations. The team has indeed shown tons of potential in the previous few seasons. But it is also true that they are becoming the WNBA’s “maybe” team—a team that has the potential to go all the way but falters at crucial moments, as they have since 2015.

With the recent shakeups, the 2025 season will be a litmus test for this new-look Mercury squad. With the apt blend of experience and creativity, Phoenix bears the potential to rival the competition’s best offenses.