PHOENIX — A season removed from a surprising run to the WNBA Finals, the Phoenix Mercury enter 2026 with more questions, as reflected in ESPN’s No. 7 preseason ranking.
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Apr 29, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) against Japan during a WNBA preseason game at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
On the surface, the ranking seems rather conservative. Phoenix is coming off a 27-win season and was just shy of its fourth championship, eliminating top-tier opponents in the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx.
The placement, however, signals a shift in expectations for where the franchise stands compared to just one year ago. Last May, it was about a rebuild. This May, it is about whether the pieces added in the offseason, combined with several returning players and the loss of a few who were crucial to the Finals run, can keep the team among the league’s top contenders.
Apr 29, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4) against Japan during a WNBA preseason game at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
With Satou Sabally moving on from Phoenix after just one year in the Valley and Kathryn Westbeld out with an ACL injury, it now comes down to who will be able to replace that production. Sabally, in particular, provided not just scoring but versatility as a secondary creator and floor spacer — elements that helped unlock Phoenix’s offensive rhythm during its postseason surge. Replacing that kind of impact is less about plugging in a single player and more about redistributing responsibilities across the roster.
That is where some of ESPN’s skepticism likely takes shape. Phoenix did not replace Sabally with an equal, stabilizing veteran presence, and the current roster leans on internal development rather than proven, high-usage veterans. In a league where top teams are increasingly defined by multiple All-Star-level players, Phoenix’s shot creation hierarchy is less certain entering the season.
Apr 29, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2) moves the ball against Japan guard Nanako Todo (75) during a WNBA preseason game at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
There are still ways for the Mercury to outperform the No. 7 ranking. Alyssa Thomas, the centerpiece of the team, re-signed, while Kahleah Copper, DeWanna Bonner, Sami Whitcomb, Monique Akoa-Makani, Natasha Mack and Kiana Williams have also returned, building an identity of continuity. That veteran continuity, paired with players who have performed on the league’s biggest stages, could help offset the lack of splashy additions.
Compared to teams like New York and Minnesota — which feature concentrated star power and more clearly defined offensive engines — Phoenix enters the season with more variability in how its offense will be generated each game. Questions around secondary scoring, spacing consistency and bench production all contribute to a narrower margin for error.
Our favorite camp essential? ENERGY.
Training Camp | @MountainAmerica pic.twitter.com/7c7Lu79FS4
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) May 1, 2026
Ultimately, the ranking reflects a view of the Mercury not as a team coming off a Finals run, but as a team that needs to once again “prove” they can compete at the highest level.
Still, the Mercury will have the opportunity to answer those questions as the season unfolds, beginning with whether continuity and internal growth can outweigh the losses that reshaped their roster.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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