The Phoenix Mercury may have lost GOAT Diana Taurasi and one of the best players in the game in Brittney Griner, but they return All-WNBA second teamer Kahleah Copper and have added superstars Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally, giving them a legitimate Big 3. With the 2025 season approaching, here are three predictions regarding Thomas and Sabally in their debut seasons in the desert.
1. Thomas' ability to drive will lead to lethal kick-out 3-point shooting from Sabally and Copper
Thomas is one of the best drivers in the WNBA, and certainly the best transition weapon in the league. In both half-court offense and transition, she will be able to penetrate the paint and force multiple defenders to collapse on her. She is also one of the best passers in the world, and will be able to kick it out to the perimeter in these situations, where Sabally and Copper will be waiting to knock down 3-pointers.
Sabally struggled with her 3-point shot over her first three seasons, only making 41 of her first 164 attempts from deep (25 percent). But in her first full season in the W (2023) she improved drastically to 36.1 percent with 66 makes. Her improvement last year was just as drastic, and 36.1 percent is already very good.
In 2024, she connected on an astounding 45.2 percent of her treys, albeit with just 38 makes because she only played in 15 games. Still, that's 2.5 makes per game -- good for eighth in the league. Her newfound 3-point shooting prowess will pair perfectly with Thomas' point-forward abilities.
2. Thomas will remain a Top 3 player in the WNBA, and may even make another run at MVP
Thomas arguably should have won the MVP award in 2023, instead finishing in second place by razor thin margins behind Breanna Stewart and ahead of A'ja Wilson. It was a historic individual season with Thomas averaging 15.5 points, 9.9 boards, 7.9 helpers and 1.8 steals, going for seven triple-doubles and becoming the first player in WNBA history to lead the league in both total rebounds and total assists.
She followed it up last year with four more triple-doubles, phenomenal averages once again and a fifth-place finish in MVP voting. Expect her to finish in at least third this year because she has a chip on her shoulder after falling just short of a championship so many times with Connecticut. In fact, she is so fired up and determined that I could see her actually winning the award for the first time in her career.
3. Sabally won't make the All-WNBA First Team like she did in 2023, but will make the Second Team
Sabally was drafted second overall in 2020, after obvious No. 1 pick, her Oregon teammate, Sabrina Ionescu. Through five years, she has proven to be a great No. 2 pick, even finishing fifth in MVP voting in her fourth season. With all the competition at the top of the league, the 2025 All-WNBA First Team may be reserved for Wilson, Stewart, Thomas, Napheesa Collier and Caitlin Clark.
But expect Sabally, like Thomas, to be energized by the change of scenery and have a phenomenal season. Another thing to remember is that the Mercury's lack of depth will force Sabally, Thomas and Copper to have great seasons.