Midseason Check-In: Mercury Far Better Than Last Year

The Phoenix Mercury have achieved notable success early in the WNBA season, nearing last season's win total and matching their 2022 playoff-bound record with half of the 44-game schedule remaining. Their current 68.2% win rate ranks second only to the franchise's dominant 2014 championship team and surpasses other title-winning squads from 2007 and 2009.

This performance defies preseason expectations amid significant roster upheaval—only Kahleah Copper and Natasha Mack returned from 2023—and limited availability of their "Big 3" (Copper, Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally), who have played just six games together. ESPN had projected Phoenix as the eighth-best team, predicted to miss playoffs with under 20 wins, but they now hold the league's third-best record at 15-7, comfortably exceeding projections and leading fourth-place Seattle by 1.5 games.

The Mercury have demonstrated exceptional depth, going 4-2 with their full star trio but maintaining an 11-5 record when at least one is absent. Thomas and Sabally have formed a complementary duo, combining defensive versatility across the frontcourt with offensive synergy between Sabally's shooting and Thomas's interior scoring. Role players like Monique Akoa-Makani, Kitija Laksa, and Kathryn Westbeld perfectly support Thomas's playmaking through reliable three-point shooting and midrange options, creating defensive dilemmas for opponents.

Despite occasional offensive miscommunications, the team's cohesion has surpassed expectations. With key victories over contenders Seattle, New York, and Minnesota, the Mercury appear positioned as legitimate championship contenders if they regain full health and continue developing chemistry, potentially challenging for their first title since 2014.