Phoenix Mercury form new Big 3 with Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas

Mighty Mercury!

The Phoenix Mercury are building their team.

On Friday, the Merc acquired Satou Sabally to create a “Big 3” with Kahleah Copper, who was a second-team All-WNBA pick last season, and Alyssa Thomas, among the candidates for the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player award in 2024 and a top-five MVP finalists in each of the last three years. Thomas, who is a tremendous facilitator, should be an impactful player for the Mercury, who traded for her on Tuesday.

I covered the Phoenix Mercury this past season. For readers, I want to reiterate how special a group this was. Natasha Cloud, who is now with the Connecticut Sun, had a tremendous personality and spirit. Even though she was here for just one year, she will be missed.

Bec Allen, who had a great shooting touch, is also now in Connecticut. But the biggest loss felt by fans will arguably be Sophie Cunningham, who had played her entire career with the Mercury. Sophie was awesome with me last year and she will thrive next to Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever.

Let’s take a look at each trade, and preview what Phoenix could do for next season!

Satou Sabally move

Sabally is a former No. 2 pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft. She is a two-time WNBA All-Star and in 2023 with the Dallas Wings, was the WNBA’s Most Improved Player.

Sabally played college basketball at Oregon, where she was a two-time All-Pac-12 selection while playing with New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, who just won a championship. Sabally’s 6-foot-4 frame will provide great length for Phoenix, which struggled to have a wing defender this past season. For reference, Cloud was an all-defensive second-team selection because she had to guard one through five.

I have some work to do when it comes to analyzing Sabally, so stay tuned here at Bright Side for more content.

Alyssa Thomas

This is a FIRE move for the Merc. Thomas starred this past season with the Sun, ranking second in the league and one spot above Cloud in assists per game (7.9). Thomas is someone who has gotten better with age and has a Mercury connection with her fiance and former two-time Phoenix champion DeWanna Bonner.

I’ve heard some news that Bonner, who was honored alongside the 2014 Mercury championship team this past season, could also return to Phoenix. That’d be a tremendous thing since they’d have four capable starters, including three who have been All-WNBA picks in one of the last two years (Copper, Sabally, Thomas).

Thomas competed for the WNBA MVP award and was recognized as an All-WNBA first-team selection for the second straight season, as well as a second-team WNBA All-Defensive selection. Previously, she has been a WNBA rebounding champion (2023) and steals leader (2020).

Goodbye to Mercury favorites

We’ll also have to move on from some of our fan favorites, Cunningham and Cloud. Sophie was also a sideline host and analyst for the Suns and was not afraid to hold the team to the truth about how it was playing.

Sophie will be next to CC and should have a monster season as a catch-and-shooter.

Cloud, who was not afraid to be herself, is someone who people and myself adored. She was always very inviting in media settings, and she really embraced being a part of the Phoenix Mercury. I will miss covering each of them along with Allen, who unfortunately was injured for much of the year and I didn’t get to know her as well.

I’m excited to bring more Mercury coverage for y’all! Thank you, Bright Side, and John for everything!

Go Merc!