One thing Mercury and Valkyries had in common? Rosters stacked with lesser-known players. Whether they’re from under-the-radar college programs or overseas leagues, they’ve all found their moment in the WNBA spotlight. And when you think about the Mercury, it was supposed to be the Kahleah Copper, Alyssa Thomas, and Satou Sabally show. But it’s not just about the big names anymore. Kathryn Westbeld, Kitija Laksa, Monique Akoa Makani, and Lexie Held have straight-up become core pieces in this whole operation.
So, before we dive into what went down in this matchup, let’s get one thing clear that Phoenix is no longer just a top-heavy team. The stars are still doing their thing, but the depth is real. This squad has transformed, while Golden State’s Valkyries are still laying the foundation for that kind of consistency. Until that’s fully in place, well, the Valkyries just couldn’t pull off the win in Phoenix.
They almost had it, though. The Valkyries were up in the fourth, looking like they were about to snatch a road win. When Veronica Burton hit a layup with just over four minutes to play, Golden State led by eight. But then came the storm. Phoenix turned it up with a wild 18-1 run to close it out. Valkyries couldn’t buy a bucket as they went 0-for-7 from the field and turned it over twice in the last 17 seconds, both while trying to inbound the ball. Head coach Natalie Nakase couldn’t hide the frustration.
But on the other end, Mercury HC Nate Tibbetts was feeling’ very different about his group. Even with a decision that could’ve easily backfired and was a tough one – keeping both Sabally and Sami Whitcomb in the game with five fouls each – he trusted his players. Sure, Whitcomb fouled out in the last quarter, but Sabally became the difference-maker down the stretch. When asked about the risk, Tibbetts admitted, “Yeah, I mean, we wanted them to keep playing. I think sometimes coaches get nervous, obviously I was nervous too. I didn’t want them to foul out.”
Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts on the decision to leave Satou Sabally and Sami Whitcomb in the game with five fouls:
He admitted he was “nervous” but ultimately trusted them.#WNBA https://t.co/ajPV4uzMRJ pic.twitter.com/dV87Nq51A8
— Desert Wave Media (@DesertWaveCo) June 6, 2025
He added “But you want to trust them. You let them continue to play. And they did, and they were smart with it. We needed them out there. Just because, obviously, Sami’s experience and Satou’s size, and skill. She made some beautiful plays down the stretch.” Rightly so. With 5:27 left and five fouls already on her, Sabally checked back in. At that point, the Mercury were down 76-68 with just over four minutes to go. Then the game flipped.
Lexie Held gave Phoenix the lead with a deep three at the 1:11 mark. After Golden State split their free throws, Sabally grabbed her own miss, put it back up and got fouled. She nailed the free throw, giving Phoenix an 80-77 lead with 33.3 seconds on the clock. By the time the final buzzer hit, Sabally had racked up 19 points and 5 rebounds. Vet Whitcomb, who went undrafted back in 2010, added 9. But the real wild card has to be Haley Jones. Signed under a hardship contract, she came off the bench and absolutely lit it up with 24 points.
Eventually, Phoenix walked away with an 86-77 win, climbing to 6-3 on the season. And considering how many injuries this team has had to deal with, that’s no small feat.
Satou Sabally steering the ship without Copper and Thomas
The Mercury were always going to have something of a transformation feel in the post-BG and DT era. After all, it was a full-on reboot this offseason. Out went the decade-defining duo of Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner. In came a new identity built around Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas. DT officially retired. Griner headed to Atlanta. Just like that, Phoenix was different.
But the transformation really shows when neither Copper nor Thomas is on the floor. Kahleah Copper is expected to return before the All-Star break, but until then, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. Coach Nate Tibbetts seemed optimistic early on, and sure, there was hope that they’d start strong. But then came more injuries. And now, Satou Sabally’s out there doing everything she possibly can and she’s doing a pretty great job.
Sure, her three-game 20-point streak got snapped with a 15-point outing in a tough loss to Minnesota, where she played a season-low 22 minutes. But up until then, she had logged at least 26 minutes in all seven of Phoenix’s opening games, and over 31 in the five before Minnesota. Her 20.5 points per game this season are not just a career-high, they’re sixth-best in the league right now. While players like Kitija Laksa and Monique Akoa Makani are steadily carving out names for themselves, Sabally is taking the charge as a leader.
And why is she pushing her limits? Simple because she likes how she is being used. “I would truly say that this is the first time I’ve been coached to my limits. I’m grateful that I’m being put in those positions … I like to handle the ball, get off screens like a guard,” Sabally said. For a major offseason acquisition to say that this early into her time with a new team is big.
Mercury forward Satou Sabally holds her jersey with general manager Nick U’Ren along with coach Nate Tibbetts, guard Kahleah Copper and Josh Bartelstein, CEO Suns and Mercury, during a news conference at the Phoenix Mercury Practice Facility after signing as a free agent in Phoenix on Feb. 4, 2025.
Satou Sabally’s been thriving, and she’s giving Tibbetts his flowers for helping unlock her game. If this is what they look like short-handed, just wait until they’re back at full strength. Until then, we’ll see just how far Sabally can keep carrying them.
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