Why The Mercury Found The Right Lineup

The Phoenix Mercury had an exceptional 2025 season, making history by reaching the WNBA Finals for the sixth time in franchise history, during which they have won three championships in their previous appearances.

The season featured both great moments and obstacles, including injuries to key players such as Satou Sabally, who was out with an ankle injury, and Kahleah Copper, who dealt with a knee injury early on and a hamstring injury later in the season.

Due to these injuries, head coach Nate Tibbetts had to adjust and experiment with different lineups, starting with a lineup of Monique Akoa Makani, Sami Whitcomb, Alyssa Thomas, Kathryn Westbeld, and Sabally in the first game, which resulted in an 81-59 victory over the Seattle Storm.

As the season progressed, the lineup changes generally led to wins, with the most frequently used lineup featuring the star trio, rookie Akoa Makani, and Natasha Mack, which appeared in 21 games and had a record of 12-9.

The only lineup with more wins was the initial one from the first game, which had a record of 13-5, highlighting its effectiveness in the team's blowout victory over the Storm.

Towards the end of the season and into the playoffs, Phoenix utilized a lineup of Akoa Makani, Copper, Mack, Sabally, and Thomas, which helped them reach the Finals; during this period, players like Westbeld, Kalani Brown, Kitija Laksa, and Kiana Williams received increased minutes as the team prepared for the postseason.

This lineup was instrumental in the playoffs, and the Mercury developed a rhythm with it, suggesting it may be the preferred starting lineup for the next season.