Even though the Las Vegas Aces dominated the WNBA Finals and swept to the title, the Phoenix Mercury’s journey to the Finals was impressive. The team was heavily reliant on veteran stars and built its roster through trades. The team also had the smallest player usage, with just seven players averaging over 10 minutes per game.
Star player Kahleah Copper sent heartfelt motivation to Phoenix Mercury teammates after WNBA Finals loss, and they will be ready to take their shot at the championship once again, adding some fresh talent from the draft.
Phoenix Mercury’s Second Round Dream Picks From Past
In the 2026 WNBA draft, the Phoenix Mercury has two picks, including the 27th. Many fans might see this as a ‘missed opportunity’ considering the talent available in the first round. The top five picks of the 2026 WNBA draft are nearly potential franchise players, while the next 10 are also of All-Star-level players.
Interestingly, though the Mercury themselves found some gems in their past, selecting players in the second round. The first name that made an impact from the second-round selection is Nancy Lieberman, who was their second-round pick in a special draft. Then, early in the league, the Mercury side drafted Andrea Kuklová, who spent two seasons with the franchise and had decent overall game attributes.
Mercury legends in the building 💜 Welcome back Bridget Pettis, Jennifer Gillom, Le’Coe Willingham & Adrian Williams-Strong! pic.twitter.com/1LOL8PwlUP
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) May 18, 2025
The first All-Star from the second round was Adrian Williams-Strong. Though she had a slow start to her career, she eventually became the fourth All-Star from the Mercury team. In 2003, she averaged 9.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.7 steals, which was her career high.
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Though the Phoenix side might find it difficult to repeat the magic with another second-rounder, they are focusing on retaining their current finalist squad and Core that made it all possible.
Phoenix Mercury Will Retain Its Core For Upcoming Season
Based on reports following the 2025 WNBA season, the Phoenix Mercury are prioritizing continuity, with general manager Nick U’Ren expressing a commitment to retaining the core that led them to the 2025 WNBA Finals.
The team intends to keep its new “Big 3″—Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally, and Kahleah Copper—together to build on the success of the 2025 season, which saw the team reach the Finals after a major roster overhaul.
Following the 2025 Finals loss to the Las Vegas Aces, there was a strong indication that key players like Thomas and Cooper were “bought in” on their partnership and planned to return.