The Phoenix Mercury are among the teams to watch most as 2025 WNBA Free Agency officially begins on Saturday.

Things kicked off early and in shocking fashion with a blockbuster acquisition when the Mercury traded for all-world forward, Alyssa Thomas.

Natasha Cloud, Rebecca Allen, and the Mercury’s 2025 1st round pick (#12) went to the Connecticut Sun in return.

Phoenix also brought in guard Ty Harris from Connecticut.

With the dust settled on the trade details, Phoenix presently has the 5th highest availability in cap space, with $698,953, per Spotrac. In theory, that means they have two max contract slots available to fit on their cap sheet.

One move can be presumed following the addition of Alyssa Thomas via trade, I’ll let you all connect the dots there.

There’s also the looming decision regarding Diana Taurasi’s future to keep an eye on.

Phoenix had a meeting set with restricted free agent Satou Sabally earlier this week as well, whose decision is reported to be between New York and Phoenix.

Of note, because Sabally is under “cored player designation” by Dallas, the Wings hold exclusive negotiating rights as they work with Sabally to get her to her preferred destination while setting themselves up to receive something in return.

Three operative words seem to be aligned with the Mercury’s desires headed into this free agency period: versatility, size and shooting. All three of those boxes were checked with the additions of Thomas and Harris via trade.

Specifically with Thomas, the trade signals that Phoenix is aiming to be firmly intertwined with the upper echelon of the WNBA, in the contending realm with the likes of New York, Minnesota and Las Vegas.

What those three teams all have in common are versatile, MVP and DPOY caliber forwards spearheading their franchises. New York has it in the form of Breanna Stewart, Las Vegas in the form of A’ja Wilson, and Minnesota in the form of Napheesa Collier.

Phoenix now has that tier of player to go in tandem with former Finals MVP Kahleah Copper, which offers unique opportunity as the roster context has shifted to stake their claim as the newest member to that exclusive company atop the league.

If they play their cards right, both in big-fish hunting for more max-level talents, as well as filling the gaps with complementary role players on their margins, they could set themselves up quite well.

The looming CBA negotiations and the short-term spending nature of many contracts also greatly benefit the Mercury in an “all in” approach to the 2025 season, while also potentially keeping their book clean to be aggressive in free agency in 2026 as well.

Of note on the assets front, Phoenix having both a state-of-the-art practice facility matched with an owner in Mat Ishbia whose desires to win have been both verbalized and demonstrated by actions, is sure to have depths of attraction for the Mercury to have choices regarding the talents they can pick from.

Additionally, they also have their 2027 1st round pick that I’m sure will be of good use in the potentially not too distant future, as well as their 2027 2nd round pick to aid their efforts of bringing in win-now talent to contend.

Nonetheless, the Mercury are set up to make another splash or two.