February 7, 2025
Locked On Women’s Basketball: Phoenix Mercury free agency updates
Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas signal new era in Phoenix
On Friday’s episode of Locked On Women’s Basketball, The Next’s Phoenix Mercury beat reporter Tia Reid joins host Natalie Heavren to discuss what free agency has looked like so far for the Mercury. The pair discuss the blockbuster four-team trade that sent Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas to Phoenix.
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The Phoenix Mercury are entering a new era filled with fresh energy, thanks to significant investments from owner Matt Ishbia and his team. This includes a new practice facility and a focus on both business and player development. With the addition of Thomas and Sabally, the shift from long-time stars like Brittney Griner and possibly Diana Taurasi is underway, creating excitement and curiosity about the team’s future.
Griner has moved on to Atlanta, while speculation remains about the retirement of the Mercury’s 20-year veteran guard Diana Taurasi. One theory, based on Griner’s departure to Atlanta, suggests that if Taurasi were planning to come back for a 21st season, she would have likely discussed it with Griner first.
“The fact that Brittney Griner left — to me — says that Diana is probably not coming back,” Tia says on the podcast. “I think if [Taurasi] were going to return for a 21st season, she would have had a conversation with Griner [and] been like, ‘hey, I’m coming back.’ And I could easily have seen a situation where Griner says, ‘okay, let’s run it back.'”
“The fact that Griner not only announced that she was going to explore free agency and then went and signed somewhere else, I think, is really a proving factor that Diana probably is not coming back this next season.”
Reid and Heavren also take a step back to discuss who’s new and who has left the Mercury, what the team might look like on the court this season and what to be excited about in 2025.
