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What Mercury must address this offseason after 2026 disappointment
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PHOENIX– A few questions circled everyone's minds heading into the Phoenix Mercury 2026 offseason. Would Kelsey Plum re-sign? How would a potential Big 3 work? What truly led to whiffing on perceived expectations of heading back to the WNBA Finals, or at least the playoffs?
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Following the interviews, the franchise feels to be in a bit of a limbo. Even with Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas still being under contract, a majority of the team around them is unknown.
They had rookies like Shay Ciezki and Kara Dunn step up to the plate during the tail end of the season. But would they have truly had an opportunity if there was success instead of regression?
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Perhaps.
It still doesn't solve the ongoing internal conflict about what the team should look like moving forward. Both general manager Nick U'Ren and head coach Nate Tibbetts frequently reference that there is a "championship standard" of making the playoffs every season.
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That ruined Thomas's streak of postseason ball, marking the first time she missed since 2016. Same goes for Copper, who hasn't missed out in eight seasons.
However, their respective mentalities were different. There was an obvious frustration from Thomas, whose main objective is winning at whatever cost. Contrarily, Copper sought it as an opportunity to pour into the younger crop of players.
Meanwhile, Plum was traded to the Mercury at the trade deadline, even with Phoenix being on the verge of missing the playoffs. It was a chance to get a leg-up in free agency and try to recreate a Big 3, a la the 2025 season.
"We certainly hope this is her home moving forward. We're committed to doing that. It's the reason we brought her in," U'Ren explained on Friday.
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Kelsey Plum is the Mercury's biggest question mark
Phoenix had only a five-game sample size with one of the most dynamic guards in the league. She was having a career season with the Los Angeles Sparks until a lower left leg injury kept her out through the All-Star break.
Trading her felt like pulling the trigger on a move that could happen anyway, considering she is an unrestricted free agent.
Just about every team can throw the monetary house at her and make her an offer she can't refuse. But at this stage in Plum's career, it can be about emphasizing winning yet taking on a leadership role while winning.
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There were glimpses of that with Los Angeles , but missing out on the playoffs during her two-year tenure could've left a sour taste. Also, the Sparks' philosophy of simply scoring more than your opponent can only go so far.
That made the move to Phoenix make some sense, but it had to be done with a sense of discernment. They have to know that she will re-sign. Otherwise, it will make the organization look like a laughing stock after trading away a promising defensive guard in Monique Akoa Makani and sending another first-round pick away.
Progress would've been made had Plum been a part of the FIBA World Cup along with her new head coach. Since she missed that time with the same injury, some of those conversations were missed. Nonetheless, Tibbetts has the same vision as his general manager on the matter of the All-WNBA guard staying in the valley.
"Those conversations I'll keep between her and I," he explained on Friday. "We'll have another one today. I'm sure we'll have plenty more before the decision is made. She's someone that we wanted to go get. We went and got her. She's got a decision to make. We would love to have her here for the long haul."
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Would a Mercury Big 3 be in the works for 2027?
The small sample size with those three doesn't justify if it will truly manifest into something captivating. But that idea might not come to fruition after Thomas's comments of "that's not for me to decide" make it all the more bleak.
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Ironically enough, Copper felt a lot more encouraged by Plum re-signing. After all, the two share a close bond after the 2024 Olympic Run where they captured a Gold Medal for USA Basketball.
Both Thomas and Copper are under contract for at least the next season. DeWanna Bonner and Valeriane Ayayi's contracts expire, as well as Kyara Linskens and some other overseas players that didn't play this season.
There's more than enough money for Plum to get the money she desires. Rebuilding with youth, yet complimentary players will prove to be a greater challenge.
Star power can only take a team so far, as evidenced by 2026. And if they don't address the elephant in the room, 2027 could turn into another forgettable year.
