Phoenix Mercury Faces New Era Without Taurasi and Griner

PHOENIX, Arizona — The Phoenix Mercury are entering their first season in 21 years without Diana Taurasi, who is enjoying retirement after an illustrious career. This season also marks the first time since 2012 that Brittney Griner will not be on the roster, as she signed with the Atlanta Dream in free agency.

With the departure of these two legendary players, the Mercury are focusing on building a new era for the franchise. “I came here with a lot of new faces, a lot of hungry people,” said new forward Alyssa Thomas during the team’s media day on Wednesday. “It’s just going to be fun to be part of an organization that’s known for winning and has multiple championships.”

Taurasi, selected first overall by the Mercury in the 2004 WNBA draft, achieved greatness with six Olympic gold medals and three league championships. Griner, a transformative center, spent over a decade with Phoenix, where she was critical to the team’s success.

In preparation for the changing landscape, general manager Nick U’Ren has already made moves to revamp the team. Thomas was acquired in a trade with Connecticut, adding a versatile, experienced player who holds the record for the most triple-doubles in WNBA history. Additionally, the team traded for Satou Sabally, an All-WNBA first-team forward who brings skills and experience following a recent shoulder injury.

“Pushing through uncomfortable times really makes us stronger,” Sabally said. “I think I’ve been through a lot in my life, but it just really makes you appreciate times like this even more.”

Joining Thomas and Sabally is Kahleah Copper, a dynamic scorer who was previously an All-Star with the Chicago Sky. Last season, she was the league’s third-leading scorer, averaging over 21 points per game. As the void left by Taurasi and Griner looms large, Copper is poised to take on a leadership role within the team.

<p“I think you’re really going to see her kind of like spread her wings and take pride,” second-year coach Nate Tibbetts commented. With the roster largely revamped, the Mercury are hopeful that their new lineup can maintain the franchise’s commitment to winning.