The Mercury just went to the WNBA Finals, returned two thirds of the core of that group, and somehow STILL feel like an afterthought in a lot of national conversations heading into 2026.

Phoenix already showed flashes during preseason play, but the biggest thing people continue to underestimate is the impact Alyssa Thomas has on winning. And when you pair that with continuing to pressure defenses downhill and Phoenix having more lineup versatility than people give them credit for, it’s hard to understand why this team keeps getting counted out. Today we’re talking about why the Mercury still don’t seem to get the respect they deserve, why Alyssa Thomas remains one of the most impactful players in basketball, how Kahleah Copper raises the ceiling of this team, and why Phoenix might be getting overlooked AGAIN heading into the 2026 WNBA season.

Welcome to PHNX Mercury, where we make it more fun to be a Mercury fan!

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 – Marta Suarez and More Mercury news and notes

19:00 – Erika is BACK?!

20:50 – Noémie Brochant

23:00 – Can we just talk basketball?

26:22 – Alyssa Thomas at media day

41:15 – Kahleah Copper Shined at Media Day

58:00 – ESPN pre-season rankings