PHOENIX — As the WNBA continues to expand its reach, the Phoenix Mercury celebrated Inspiring Girls Day on Sunday to motivate the next generation of female athletes.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!From vision to reality!
A vibrant new Mercury mural now stands outside @phx_arena , celebrating the storied past, dynamic present, and inspiring future—brought to life through a creative mentorship. pic.twitter.com/7lzL16kxdI
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) August 9, 2025
To celebrate, guard Sami Whitcomb threw out the first pitch at the Arizona Diamondbacks game on Aug. 4 for Girls in Sports Day. The team also collaborated with local artists to paint a mural outside of PHX Arena.
The mural features All-Star Kahleah Copper and Mercury legend Diana Taurasi. The mural says, “Women who lead inspire girls to dream,” including a Jr. Mercury Legacy League athlete beside them.
Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper interacts with and signs a fan’s basketball during a meet and greet event. Credits – Phoenix Mercury
“It’s super exciting, this is a great time for the W,” Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said on Sunday before the game. “A lot of our players, when they were young, especially our older players, didn’t have W players to look up to in the same way that they are.”
Jul 9, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury fans in the crowd celebrate the shot by forward Alyssa Thomas against the Minnesota Lynx during the second half at PHX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
For two-time WNBA Champion DeWanna Bonner, inspiring the next generation means motivating young athletes so that one day, today’s players will be the ones watching from the stands as they take the court.
“From young girls watching and inspiring them to want to be on that court one day, we encourage them to come out,” Bonner said. “And hopefully we get to meet them, and we see the look on their faces when they do get to meet us. Just as much as we are a light for them, they are a light for us.”
Aug 10, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; MLB umpire Jen Pawol (95) before the Atlanta Braves play the Miami Marlins at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
Coincidentally, this weekend marked the first time a woman, Jen Pawol, umpired regular-season MLB games. Fans in the stands brought signs and facemasks to celebrate the historic achievement.
Similar to the little girls who watched those games in support, Tibbetts hopes that little girls coming to Mercury games will find that spark and motivation.
“I think it’s just so cool and to have these kind of days where hopefully, girls can come and watch a game and find a player that they look up to, a player that they can say I can be that someday, you know.”
Jun 30, 2024; Phoenix, Ariz., U.S.; A young fan is held up during a timeout between the Phoenix Mercury and the Indiana Fever during the fourth quarter at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow-Arizona Republic
The Mercury hope to continue to pave the way for the next generation of female athletes so that one day, they’ll find themselves where their favorite players once were.
*Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, and exclusive content. SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*
Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
