Where will the Mercury go after disappointing 2026 season?
What the Phoenix Mercury said about the 2026 season and Kelsey Plum's future on exit day.
The Phoenix Mercury faced a challenging 2026 season, finishing with a 16-28 record and ranking fifth in both defense and offense. Despite this, two stars, Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper, set career-best records with Thomas recording 358 assists and Copper averaging 21.5 points. General manager Nick U’Ren expressed optimism about retaining Thomas and Copper, as well as All-Star guard Kelsey Plum, but acknowledged that Plum will make a significant decision about her future.
Plum, who showed flashes of her elite scoring ability in the final five games, is likely to earn at least $1 million next season. The Mercury may also explore trading one of their contracts, as center Natasha Mack is a key defender who dealt with a foot injury during the season. The team aims to improve defensively by acquiring bigger players.
Overall, the upcoming offseason presents an opportunity for the Mercury to enhance their roster and continue growing the WNBA.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
