Five-time All-Star forward Alyssa Thomas takes the stage Tuesday at her introductory press conference with the Phoenix Mercury and is ready to lead the team into a new era. (Photo by Daniella Trujillo/Cronkite News)
PHOENIX – As new Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas sat in front of the media at her introductory press conference Tuesday, she was asked a curious question from another new face in the Valley.
“How many triple-doubles can we expect this season?” new teammate Satou Sabally asked jokingly.
While the connection between the two newly-acquired All-WNBA forwards is only weeks old, Thomas and Sabally, along with returning leading scorer Kahleah Copper, will spearhead a new era in Mercury history.
Thomas, the WNBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles with 15, was acquired by Phoenix in a four-team trade on Jan. 28 as a part of the team’s aggressive offseason to overhaul the roster. While both were traded, each signed off on Phoenix as the destination. Thomas is a five-time All-Star and two-time All-WNBA First Team selection with six All-Defensive team nods and earned an Olympic gold medal with the 2024 USA Basketball team.
Copper, Thomas and Sabally will form one of the league’s premier “big threes,” and the trio was acquired in the last two offseasons. After three straight losing seasons, Mercury coach Nate Tibbets and general manager Nick U’Ren have overhauled the roster into a title contender by acquiring one of the most versatile players in the league in Thomas.
“One of the things that excites me the most about these three is just how well they complement each other,” U’Ren said at the introductory press conference. “It’s really easy to envision any of them grabbing a rebound, pushing it in transition themselves … I think they’ll play really well off each other.”
New Phoenix Mercury Satou Sabally jokingly asked Alyssa Thomas how many triple-doubles fans can expect during the 2025 WNBA season at Tuesday’s introductory news conference. (Photo by Daniella Trujillo/Cronkite News)
As a part of the Mercury’s roster overhaul, six of their top seven scorers from the previous season are not on the current roster, including a departure announced hours after Thomas’ introduction that took over the sports world.
Mercury legend Diana Taurasi announced her retirement from the WNBA after spending all 20 years of her professional career in Phoenix. After months of speculation, the player many recognize as the greatest WNBA player of all time officially called it quits at the age of 42.
While Taurasi’s retirement was expected, it marks the end of an era for the franchise that has played more than twice as many seasons with Taurasi on the roster (20) than without (eight). Thomas now has the most career games played of anyone on the Mercury roster and will look to lead the team to its fourth championship, while also seeking her first.
“We all come from different winning backgrounds, and now we get a chance to be together and accomplish something different,” Thomas said. “It’s time to get back to the playoffs, and I’m still chasing the championship.”
Thomas has made her name as one of the most versatile players in the league. At 6-foot-2, she has averaged 13.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists over the past three seasons, earning an All-WNBA selection each season. She spent the first 11 years of her career with the Connecticut Sun and made the WNBA Finals in 2022.
Known as one of the WNBA’s premier distributors, her playstyle was something U’Ren couldn’t pass up.
“I’m a sucker for high-level passing, especially bigs who can pass,” U’Ren said. “It’s a rare skill. It’s something that opens up the floor for everybody. She’s elite at it.”
Not to be outdone, Sabally is also a prominent playmaker at 6-feet-4. The 2023 All-WNBA First Team selection has averaged 18.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists over her past two seasons.
Phoenix Mercury general manager Nick U’Ren shares how Alyssa Thomas fits the team’s vision for a title-contending season in 2025 at Tuesday’s introductory news conference. (Photo by Daniella Trujillo/Cronkite News)
The departures of Taurasi and guard Natasha Cloud, who was dealt to the Sun in the Thomas deal, leaves a hole in the backcourt alongside Copper. The team reserved cap space in the event that Taurasi returned, but now has room to sign other talent.
Regardless of who plays point guard, U’Ren says Phoenix will play fast and positionless basketball where multiple players can take the ball up the floor despite losing multiple starters.
“The way that the (WNBA) is moving now, it’s not really so much position basketball,” Thomas said. “It’s free flowing … it’s about how you can all work together and come to a style, making it difficult for teams.”
Even though the Mercury are approaching uncharted territory without Taurasi and center Brittney Griner, who left this offseason for the Atlanta Dream, the team may have its most promising future in years. With last season’s third-leading scorer in Copper surrounded by versatile bigs in Thomas and Sabally, a star-studded title contender is back in the Valley.
The most exciting part, according to U’Ren? The team has potential to improve.
“I think all of them can get better,” U’Ren said. “With Nate and his coaching staff and the work ethic (Thomas) is willing to put in, across our roster people are capable of getting better. That’s the best way to improve your own team, if your own players can get better.”
