Phoenix Mercury highlight new faces, new coach and big expectations

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A day before the second preseason game, the Phoenix Mercury held their media day on Thursday morning at the Footprint Center, where most of the talk was about the new faces on the team and high expectations.

The team is pretty excited about the season, especially with new head coach Nate Tibbetts. Like the Phoenix Suns, this season is a championship-or-bust.

Diana Taurasi is entering her 20th year with the team as the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer.

She’s joined by nine-time All-Star Brittney Griner in her second full season since being released from a Russian prison, and Sophie Cunningham.

Other than that, it’s a lot of new names on this Phoenix squad. One of the biggest is guard Kahleah Copper, who has been an All-Star for the last three years with the Chicago Sky and was on the team that beat the Mercury in the WNBA Finals in 2021.

But the team gave up a lot for her and the rights to Morgan Bertsch, sending Michaela Onyenwere, Brianna Turner, the 2024 No. 3 pick, a 2025 second-round pick, a 2026 first-round pick, and the right to swap a 2026 second-round to Chicago.

Former WNBA assists leader Natasha Cloud is also a newcomer to Phoenix after spending eight years with the Washington Mystics.

Both players are eager to be a part of building a new culture within this organization.

“The roster, I thought it was the perfect fit. And also just, organization-wise, very professional and something I had never experienced. So very excited to be here,” Copper said.

“I didn’t think that our team chemistry would be what it was so early. But we really love coming in and being around each other every single day. And when you enjoy coming into work every single day with the people you enjoy working with, that’s going to translate onto the court. And that’s the most exciting thing about it,” Cloud said.

Tibbetts is another new name in the looker room. His hiring was somewhat controversial since he has zero experience coaching women’s basketball and is now the highest-paid coach in WNBA history.

But Taurasi said on Thursday she’s excited to see how far this team can go under the new coach.

“There’s this thing about this team that can be really special, but the only way to do that is obviously to get in the gym and to work, and uh, that’s one thing this team doesn’t have a problem doing, which is refreshing,” said Taurasi.

Last year, the Mercury fired second-year head coach Vanessa Nygaard after starting the season 2-10. Nikki Blue was named interim head coach, but the team finished the season 9-31.

It was their second-worst losing percentage in franchise history and the first time the team had missed the playoffs since 2012.

“I think you’ll see a different Mercury out there. I’m ready for the second preseason game so we can work on it even a little bit more now. And show y’all here at home,” said Griner.

The Mercury’s second and last preseason game is on Friday against the Los Angeles Sparks at 7 p.m., which can be seen on Arizona’s Family Sports network.

The team will be looking to start fresh when the regular season tips off on Tuesday against the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces.

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