Is it just a catchy slogan or a warning shot to the league? Ever since “Mercury vs Everybody” shirts took over arenas and timelines, the message has been loud. To Natasha Mack, though, it’s more than merch. With Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas leading the charge, the Mercury have shattered expectations in the West. Losing legends like Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi was supposed to sink them, but it lit a fire instead. And now, with Mack calling out the doubters, the message is clear: doubt them at your own risk!

According to Natasha Mack, the six-foot-three forward for Phoenix, the fans have to show receipts to wear these shirts. “Everybody was talking sh-t about us… And now they wanna be with us. No, it’s us vs them, where was y’all at the beginning?” Mack said, and honestly? It makes a lot of sense. The shirts have become a symbol of defiance, worn proudly as the Mercury silence critics and surge up the Western Conference.

Bandwagon fans dismissed the Mercury with haste as soon as their roster began to falter, and now that they’re looking like champs, people want to hop back on the Phoenix train. Well, it’s not going to be so easy this time around! The Phoenix Mercury are here to play, and there’s no keeping them down anymore.

However, it hasn’t been a smooth road to success for Alyssa Thomas and company. After all, they’ve faced some key injuries: Satou Sabally hasn’t been fully fit, and Kalani Brown is also going through some struggles with her knee. Regardless of the obstacles, however, the tight-knit Phoenix unit has been locked in at all times.

In the last ten games, the Mercury have won 7, which is a testament to just how dedicated this group is towards winning a title this year. And let’s be real—they have an honest to god chance. The only team in their way is Minnesota, which is 3-1 against them this season, but if they can conquer the West? We may be getting a parade in Phoenix soon.

Natasha Mack and the Phoenix Mercury get ready for a second-half push!

If we had just one word to describe Phoenix’s first half of the season, it would be ‘phenomenal’. Nate Tibbett’s team defied all expectations and pulled off a brilliant comeback to what was a poor post-season showing last year. ESPN had them pegged as #7 in power rankings while wnba.com had them at #6. Instead, halfway through the season, they have the third-best record in the entire league!

Not only that, but the Mercury have blown away teams with their tight defense and insane shooting from beyond the arc. There have been games where Sami Whitcomb has drowned teams in a barrage of threes by herself, and Kahlea Cooper and Alyssa Thomas have also been playing at an MVP level. But the sharpshooting is where the team has progressed the most.

And a large part of that is simply intent! “We want to shoot 3s,” Whitcomb explained. “We know that we want to, that’s been our M.O.: defense, 3s, at the rim – and the coaches and the organization put together a team that’s got phenomenal shooting. When we can play defense well enough that we can get those stops and get running … that’s kind of how we’re going to generate those threes.” After all, with the strong interior presence of Alyssa Thomas, it makes sense to surround her with shooters.

The defense is always going to collapse around the veteran All-Star, and Tibbett’s team is taking advantage of every opening they’ve been given. It will be interesting to see whether the Mercury can continue their streak of excellent basketball, and if their sharpshooting strategies will pan out in the long run. But right now? Sit back, and enjoy the show! Stay tuned for more updates.