Phoenix Mercury might yet be leading the race for teams that best do the “something big is coming” impression. First, it was Nate Tibbetts’ smile followed by a no comment that gave it away. Then, they waived Murjanatu Musa in a bid to secure DeWanna Bonner’s place. Now, everyone sort of saw that coming – with how sparingly the coach used her and how she sat out the last three games because of an injury and didn’t return in the one she was supposed to. The logic behind her being waived? Simple. Phoenix had maxed out its roster at 12, and with six players on unprotected contracts – aka waiver-friendly before July 13 – some tough calls were inevitable.

With the WNBA’s midseason cutdown deadline closing in, teams are racing against time. By July 13, just a day before the season’s halfway mark, all 13 franchises must finalize any decisions regarding players on unprotected deals. These contracts, which don’t offer financial guarantees, allow teams to waive players without repercussions. But once that date passes, they’re locked in and fully guaranteed. And even before the transactions began, it was clear that free agent forwards like DeWanna Bonner and Emma Meesseman would shape multiple front offices’ strategies. That’s exactly what seems to be unfolding. So now the question lingers – did Phoenix make this latest cut with Meesseman in mind?

At this point, no one truly knows what major move, if any, the Phoenix Mercury are gearing up for. But one thing is certain: they’ve got a plan in motion, and that’s what likely triggered the decision to part ways with Kiana Williams. What exactly are they plotting? The possibilities are wide open.

The Mercury are now down to 11 players on their roster. Williams had inked a prorated, unprotected contract worth $43,312 back on June 26. Because the deal wasn’t guaranteed, the team is only responsible for paying her salary during the 14 days she spent on the roster, that amounts to around $6,062. Clearly, the Mercury weren’t looking to let that full $44K lock in once the July 13 deadline passed. Before letting Williams go, Phoenix had about $41,041 in available cap space. Now, that number has jumped to approximately $78,291, just enough to offer someone like Emma Meesseman a prorated veteran minimum deal, which totals $78,831. If Meesseman were to sign this Thursday, for instance, she’d be eligible for a prorated salary of around $62,855.

First off, it’s still uncertain whether Emma Meesseman is fully set on making a return, and second, if she does, the New York Liberty may have a much more compelling offer than the Mercury. They currently hold the fourth-largest cap space in the league and could bring her in on a prorated max contract worth $118,946. Add to that how nearly every Liberty player has been laying down the charm like seasoned PR reps. “As much as I want her here, Emma has always moved to the beat of her own drum … And hopefully she makes the decision that she’s most comfortable with, and hopefully that’s Liberty Biberty,” Natasha Cloud said. Even breanna stewart weighed in, in a rather straightforward manner, saying, “she should come”. 

Then, there is the curious case of Lexi Held also. After taking a hard hit against the New York Liberty on June 19, she was diagnosed with a partially collapsed lung (pneumothorax) and forced to exit the game. Recovery for such injuries is unpredictable; mild cases may heal in 1–2 weeks. Even if it was more severe, the recovery time is generally 3-4 weeks, and we have touched the 3-week mark. So, until held is back they need another ball handler. Possible candidates? Someone like Odyssey Sims, who recently cleared waivers after being released by the Sparks. But if Held is nearing a return, does that clear the path for Meesseman?

 Well, Held recently posted a story of her on a cycling machine in the Phoenix facility, so she might be on her way back from her injury, for which they had to empty a roster spot. There is no official update yet, and coach Nate Tibbets has earlier said that he “doesn’t know how long” the recovery will take. 

Still and all, the mercury seems to be doing well and they will do everything to be more than half a game ahead of the New York Liberty in the standings.

Phoenix Mercury’s Defense Emerging as a Formidable Wall

Mercury made a statement by beating the Minnesota Lynx as the team celebrated De Wanna Bonner’s return with a strong performance without some key players. The team had Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper out, but still went band-for-band against a fellow title contender. The team had a 19-4 run to end the game and defeated the heavyweight Lynx in a 79-71 win. 

In those final five minutes, the best attack in the league looked suffocated and out of sorts, which highlighted the key reason the Mercury are succeeding. It is their defense. It is still not the best in the league with a defensive rating of 98.4; but it has only three better competitors. Coming on the back of a season where they finished No.9 with a 105.4 defensive rating, this is a massive improvement. Also, holding Lynx to 71 points, a team which averages over 80 points a game, is a big deal in itself. 

It makes sense why their defense is improving. Since the first day of training camp, players and coaches have emphasized playing positionless basketball, focusing on the defensive end and pace.

“What we want is a team that’s gritty and tough defensively,” Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said before the season. “We want to fly around. It fits who [Alyssa Thomas] is. It fits who [Kahleah Copper] is. It fits who I am. We want to be disruptive. Create turnovers, and that allows us to play fast.”

Mercury’s defense has largely succeeded in doing that. The team is tied with the New York Liberty regarding steals per game at 8.8. It also concedes only 14.2 points per game off its turnovers, which is the second-least in the league. Along with that, it also concedes the fewest second-chance points and second-fewest points in its paint. So, while they do occasionally give up points on an off night, their defense is generally solid, just in need of steadiness. This win over the Lynx might be the launch pad for that rhythm.

With DeWanna Bonner back, defensive intensity slowly coming back, and players buying into a gritty, positionless identity, the Phoenix Mercury increasingly look like title-contenders. Despite roster reshuffles and injuries, they’ve held firm on one end of the floor that defines champions: defense.