Mercury to select last in 1st round of 2025 WNBA Draft after pick swap with Liberty

Sep 17, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi (3) and guard Sophie Cunningham (9) celebrate against the LA Sparks in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The WNBA Draft Lottery saw the Dallas Wings land in the pole position of selecting UConn sensation Paige Bueckers with the No. 1 overall pick, and the Phoenix Mercury now knows where they will choosing.

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In April 2025, the Mercury were slotted with the No. 7 pick in the draft after being swept by the Minnesota Lynx in the first round of this year’s playoffs. Because of a previous deal, however, the 2024 WNBA Champions New York Liberty had pick swap rights with Phoenix and will exchange their No. 12 pick for the No. 7, resulting in the Mercury picking last in the first round.

1. Dallas Wings
2. Los Angeles Sparks
3. Chicago Sky
4. Washington Mystics
5. Golden State Valkyries
6. Washington Mystics (From Atlanta Dream)
7. New York Liberty (From Mercury)
8. Indiana Fever
9. Seattle Storm
10. Chicago Sky (From Connecticut Sun)
11. Minnesota Lynx
12. Phoenix Mercury (From Liberty)

Even though there are now 13 teams in the league with the addition of the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA powerhouse Las Vegas Aces lost their first-round selection due to a league investigation finding violations involving workplace policies and player benefits.

Phoenix has just Kahleah Copper, Rebecca Allen, Natasha Cloud and Sophie Cunningham signed for the 2025 season, with others like Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner currently being free agents. Taurasi has yet to announce whether she will retire or continue her iconic WNBA career.

On Dec. 6, the Valkyries will construct the first-ever roster as a franchise with the expansion draft. Out of the players who were on the Mercury last season, Natasha Mack and Celeste Taylor are the two most likely to be targetted by Golden State when deciding who to take from Phoenix.

The Mercury has a lot of work to do in the offseason with multiple players leaving and joining, so expect a reshaped roster to take to the court next season in the Valley.

Former Mercury coach Sandy Brondello wins second WNBA title, guiding Liberty to first-ever championship

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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Mercury, Suns and ASU Athletics for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini