2024 Phoenix Mercury season

WNBA team season
2024 Phoenix Mercury season
CoachNate Tibbetts
ArenaFootprint Center
Attendanceper game
Results
Record16–17 (.485)
Place4th (Western)
← 2023 season
2025 season →

The 2024 Phoenix Mercury season is the 27th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the first season under new general manager Nick U'Ren and head coach Nate Tibbetts. Prior to the season, interim coach Nikki Blue's contract was not renewed, and Tibbets was hired on October 18, 2023.[1]

The season tipped off on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, against the Las Vegas Aces in Las Vegas.[2]

Transactions

WNBA draft

Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country
3 25 Charisma Osborne  United States UCLA
3 29 Jaz Shelley  Australia Nebraska

Transactions

Date Transaction
October 28, 2023 Hired Nate Tibbetts as Head Coach[1]
January 17, 2024 Extended a Qualifying Offer to Sug Sutton[3]
January 27, 2024 Signed Sug Sutton to a Training Camp Contract[3]
February 1, 2024 Signed Natasha Cloud[4]
February 3, 2024 Acquired Rebecca Allen in exchange for Moriah Jefferson[5]
Signed Christyn Williams to a Training Camp Contract[3]
February 6, 2024 Acquired Kahleah Copper and the rights to Morgan Bertsch in exchange for Michaela Onyenwere, Brianna Turner, the third pick in the 2024 draft, Chicago's second round pick in the 2025 draft, Phoenix's 2026 first round pick, and the right to swap 2026 second round picks.[6]
February 8, 2024 Signed Mikiah Herbert Harrigan to a Training Camp Contract[3]
February 9, 2024 Signed Natasha Mack to a Training Camp Contract[3]
February 13, 2024 Signed Amy Atwell to a Training Camp Contract[3]
March 7, 2024 Signed Mya Hollingshed to a Training Camp Contract[3]
March 15, 2024 Waived Kadi Sissoko[3]
March 30, 2024 Re-Signed Brittney Griner[7]
April 16, 2024 Signed Charisma Osborne and Jaz Shelley to Rookie Contracts[3]
April 24, 2024 Signed Air Hearn, Bella Murekatete, and Desi-Rae Young to a Training Camp Contracts[8]
April 28, 2024 Waived Desi-Rae Young[3]
May 11, 2024 Waived Amy Atwell, Air Hearn, Mya Hollingshed, Bella Murekatete, Charisma Osborne, Jaz Shelley, and Christyn Williams[9]
Signed Liz Dixon to a Training Camp Contract from waivers
June 10, 2024 Waived Morgan Bertsch[10]
June 13, 2024 Signed Charisma Osborne[11]
July 2, 2024 Waived Liz Dixon
July 5, 2024 Signed Liz Dixon to 7-day contract[3]
July 12, 2024 Released Liz Dixon (contract ended)
Signed Celeste Taylor to 7-day contract[3]
August 16, 2024 Released Celeste Taylor (contract ended)[3]
August 18, 2024 Signed Monique Billings to 7-day contract[12]
August 20, 2024 Acquired the rights the rights to Klara Lundquist from the Washington Mystics in exchange for Sug Sutton and a 2025 3rd round pick[13]
August 23, 2024 Signed Celeste Taylor to a second 7-day contract
August 25, 2024 Signed Monique Billings to a rest-of-season contract[14]
August 30, 2024 Signed Celeste Taylor to a third 7-day contract

Roster changes

Additions

Personnel Signed/Trade Former Team
Rebecca Allen Trade Connecticut Sun
Morgan Bertsch Trade Chicago Sky
Natasha Cloud Signed Washington Mystics
Kahleah Copper Trade Chicago Sky
Liz Dixon Signed Connecticut Sun
Mikiah Herbert Harrigan Signed —
Natasha Mack Signed —
Charisma Osborne Draft UCLA
Jaz Shelley Draft Nebraska

Subtractions

Personnel Reason New Team
Morgan Bertsch Waived –
Skylar Diggins-Smith Free Agency Seattle Storm
Liz Dixon Waived –
Megan Gustafson Free Agency Las Vegas Aces
Moriah Jefferson Trade Connecticut Sun
Michaela Onyenwere Trade Chicago Sky
Shey Peddy Free Agency —
Jaz Shelley Waived —
Kadi Sissoko Waived —
Brianna Turner Trade Chicago Sky
Sug Sutton Trade Washington Mystics

Roster

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PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G/F11AustraliaAllen, Rebecca Injured6' 2" (1.88m)162 lb (73kg)1992-11-06Australia8
F25United StatesBillings, Monique6' 4" (1.93m)192 lb (87kg)1996-05-02UCLA6
G0United StatesCloud, Natasha5' 9" (1.75m)160 lb (73kg)1992-02-22Saint Joseph's8
G/F2United StatesCopper, Kahleah6' 1" (1.85m)165 lb (75kg)1994-08-28Rutgers8
G9United StatesCunningham, Sophie6' 1" (1.85m)170 lb (77kg)1996-08-16Missouri5
C42United StatesGriner, Brittney6' 9" (2.06m)205 lb (93kg)1990-10-18Baylor10
F21AnguillaHerbert Harrigan, Mikiah6' 2" (1.88m)152 lb (69kg)1998-08-21South Carolina2
F4United StatesMack, Natasha6' 3" (1.91m)182 lb (83kg)1997-11-03Oklahoma State1
G24United StatesOsborne, Charisma Injured5' 9" (1.75m)166 lb (75kg)2001-06-03UCLAR
G/F3United StatesTaurasi, Diana6' 0" (1.83m)163 lb (74kg)1982-06-11Connecticut19
G12United StatesTaylor, Celeste5' 11" (1.8m)167 lb (76kg)2001-06-20Ohio StateR
Head coach
United States Nate Tibbetts (South Dakota)
Assistant coaches
United States Kristi Toliver (Maryland)
United States Megan Vogel (South Dakota State)
United States Michael Joiner (Florida State)
Athletic trainer
United States Hannah Wengertsman (Boston University)
Strength and conditioning coach
United States Annalise Pickrel (Michigan State)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured
  WNBA roster page
East
ATL
CHI
CON
IND
NY
WAS
West
DAL
LV
LA
MIN
PHO
SEA

Depth

Pos. Starter Bench
PG Natasha Cloud Charisma Osborne
SG Diana Taurasi
SF Kahleah Copper Rebecca Allen
PF Sophie Cunningham Monique Billings
Mikiah Herbert Harrigan
C Brittney Griner Natasha Mack

Schedule

Pre-season

2024 pre-season game log
Total: 0–2 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–2)
May: 0–2 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 7 @ Seattle L 59–85 Diana Taurasi (10) Natasha Mack (7) Brittney Griner (3) Climate Pledge Arena
 0–1
2 May 10 vs. Los Angeles L 85–98 Kahleah Copper (16) Natasha Mack (4) Sug Sutton (5) Footprint Center
4,598 		0–2
2024 pre-season schedule

Regular season

2024 game log
Total: 16–17 (Home: 9–7; Road: 7–10)
May: 3–5 (Home: 2–1; Road: 1–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 14 @ Las Vegas L 80–89 Diana Taurasi (23) Natasha Cloud (8) Natasha Cloud (7) Michelob Ultra Arena
10,419 		0–1
2 May 18 Atlanta W 88–85 Kahleah Copper (38) Natasha Mack (11) Natasha Cloud (5) Footprint Center
10,251 		1–1
3 May 21 @ Las Vegas W 98–88 Kahleah Copper (37) Sophie Cunningham (9) Natasha Cloud (10) Michelob Ultra Arena
10,374 		2–1
4 May 23 Washington W 83–80 Copper, Taurasi (20) Natasha Mack (9) Natasha Cloud (10) Footprint Center
7,474 		3–1
5 May 25 Dallas L 92–107 Kahleah Copper (32) Diana Taurasi (5) Natasha Cloud (12) Footprint Center
8,339 		3–2
6 May 28 @ Connecticut L 47–70 Natasha Cloud (9) Sophie Cunningham (9) Kahleah Copper (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,489 		3–3
7 May 29 @ New York L 78–81 Kahleah Copper (20) Kahleah Copper (9) Sug Sutton (7) Barclays Center
9,182 		3–4
8 May 31 @ Minnesota L 71–95 Kahleah Copper (21) Natasha Mack (10) Natasha Cloud (7) Target Center
7,035 		3–5
June : 6–4 (Home: 5–2; Road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
9 June 2 Los Angeles W 87–68 Diana Taurasi (31) Natasha Mack (12) Natasha Cloud (12) Footprint Center
10,207 		4–5
10 June 4 @ Seattle L 62–80 Kahleah Copper (19) Kahleah Copper (7) Natasha Cloud (5) Climate Pledge Arena
8,133 		4–6
11 June 7 Minnesota W 81–80 Kahleah Copper (34) Natasha Mack (7) Natasha Cloud (10) Footprint Center
9,052 		5–6
12 June 9 @ Dallas W 97–90 Kahleah Copper (29) Brittney Griner (7) Cloud, Taurasi (7) College Park Center
5,568 		6–6
13 June 13 Las Vegas L 99–103 Brittney Griner (25) Brittney Griner (9) Cloud, Sutton (6) Footprint Center
9,325 		6–7
14 June 16 Seattle W 87–78 Kahleah Copper (30) Brittney Griner (9) Natasha Cloud (8) Footprint Center
9,444 		7–7
15 June 18 New York W 99–93 Griner, Taurasi (19) Diana Taurasi (9) Kahleah Copper (7) Footprint Center
9,824 		8–7
16 June 22 @ Minnesota L 60–73 Natasha Cloud (14) Brittney Griner (7) Natasha Cloud (5) Target Center
8,769 		8–8
17 June 28 Los Angeles W 92–78 Kahleah Copper (24) Brittney Griner (11) Natasha Cloud (7) Footprint Center
14,363 		9–8
18 June 30 Indiana L 82–82 Brittney Griner (24) Rebecca Allen (9) Natasha Cloud (7) Footprint Center
17,071 		9–9
July : 4–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 3–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
19 July 1 Connecticut L 72–83 Copper, Griner (21) Kahleah Copper (6) Natasha Cloud (10) Footprint Center
8,445 		9–10
20 July 3 @ Dallas W 104–96 Kahleah Copper (34) Brittney Griner (8) Natasha Cloud (10) College Park Center
6,129 		10–10
21 July 7 @ Los Angeles W 84–78 Natasha Cloud (31) Kahleah Copper (10) Cloud, Copper (5) Crypto.com Arena
11,618 		11–10
22 July 10 Dallas W 100–84 Kahleah Copper (32) Kahleah Copper (5) Natasha Cloud (6) Footprint Center
11,601 		12–10
23 July 12 @ Indiana L 86–95 Kahleah Copper (36) Natasha Mack (9) Celeste Taylor (5) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
17,274 		12–11
24 July 14 @ Connecticut L 69–96 Kahleah Copper (17) Brittney Griner (9) Natasha Cloud (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
8,910 		12–12
25 July 16 @ Washington W 96–87 Brittney Griner (23) Natasha Cloud (9) Natasha Cloud (10) Capital One Arena
12,586 		13–12
August : 3–4 (Home: 1–2; Road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
26 August 15 @ Chicago W 85–65 Kahleah Copper (29) Brittney Griner (9) Cloud, Griner (6) Wintrust Arena
9,025 		14–12
27 August 16 @ Indiana L 89–98 Kahleah Copper (32) Kahleah Copper (8) Kahleah Copper (6) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
17,274 		14–13
28 August 18 Chicago W 86–68 Diana Taurasi (23) Sophie Cunningham (10) Diana Taurasi (5) Footprint Center
14,267 		15–13
29 August 21 @ Atlanta L 63–72 Kahleah Copper (22) Cloud, Griner (8) Diana Taurasi (4) Gateway Center Arena
3,260 		15–14
30 August 23 @ Atlanta W 82–80 Brittney Griner (22) Sophie Cunningham (7) Natasha Cloud (7) Gateway Center Arena
3,260 		16–14
31 August 26 New York L 70–84 Brittney Griner (22) Cloud, Griner (6) Natasha Cloud (7) Footprint Center
10,299 		16–15
32 August 28 Minnesota L 76–89 Cunningham, Taurasi (16) Griner, Mack (7) Natasha Cloud (8) Footprint Center
9,482 		16–16
September: 0–1 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
33 September 1 Las Vegas L 79–97 Brittney Griner (24) Kahleah Copper (6) Diana Taurasi (7) Footprint Center
13,981 		16–17
34 September 3 Atlanta Footprint Center
35 September 5 Washington Footprint Center
36 September 7 @ Seattle Climate Pledge Arena
37 September 13 Connecticut Footprint Center
38 September 15 @ Chicago Wintrust Arena
39 September 17 @ Los Angeles Crypto.com Arena
40 September 19 Seattle Footprint Center
2024 season schedule

Standings

# Team P W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1 x – New York Liberty 33 27 6 .818 — 15–3 14–2 13–4 5–0
2 x – Connecticut Sun 32 24 8 .750 2.5 13–6 13–3 11–5 4–1
3 cx – Minnesota Lynx 33 24 9 .727 3 14–5 15–3 9–6 4–1
4 x – Las Vegas Aces 32 20 12 .625 6.5 10–8 10–7 10–5 2–3
5 x – Seattle Storm 32 19 13 .594 7.5 8–6 12–5 7–8 4–1
6 Indiana Fever 33 17 16 .515 10 10–8 9–5 8–11 3–2
7 Phoenix Mercury 33 16 17 .485 11 9–8 9–7 7–10 3–2
8 Chicago Sky 32 11 21 .344 15.5 5–12 4–12 7–9 1–4
9 Atlanta Dream 32 11 21 .344 15.5 4–11 6–10 5–11 1–4
10 Washington Mystics 32 9 23 .281 17.5 4–11 4–12 5–11 1–4
11 Dallas Wings 32 9 23 .281 17.5 6–12 7–9 2–14 0–5
12 Los Angeles Sparks 32 7 25 .219 19.5 4–12 5–11 2–14 2–3
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Notes

(#) – League Standing
c – Commissioner's Cup winners
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings


Statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage  TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per game Team leader League leader

Regular season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG


‡Waived/Released during the season
†Traded during the season
≠Acquired during the season

Awards and honors

Recipient Award/Milestone Date awarded Ref.
Kahleah Copper Western Conference Player of the Week May 28, 2024 [15]
WNBA All-Star July 2, 2024 [16]
Brittney Griner Western Conference Player of the Week June 18, 2024 [17]
WNBA All-Star July 2, 2024 [16]
Diana Taurasi WNBA All-Star July 2, 2024 [16]

References

  1. ^ a b "PHOENIX MERCURY NAME NATE TIBBETTS HEAD COACH". mercury.wnba.com. October 18, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  2. ^ "2024 Schedule - Phoenix Mercury". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "WNBA Transactions". acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  4. ^ "PHOENIX MERCURY SIGNS WNBA CHAMPION NATASHA CLOUD". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. February 1, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  5. ^ "PHOENIX MERCURY ACQUIRES REBECCA ALLEN IN SIGN-AND-TRADE WITH CONNECTICUT SUN FOR GUARD MORIAH JEFFERSON". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. February 3, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  6. ^ "Chicago Sky Trade Copper, Bertsch to Phoenix, Acquire Onyenwere, Turner, Draft Picks". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  7. ^ Weinfuss, Josh (2024-03-30). "Free agent Brittney Griner returning to Mercury, league says". ESPN. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  8. ^ "Phoenix Mercury Finalizes Training Camp Roster". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. April 24, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  9. ^ @PhoenixMercury (May 11, 2024). "The Phoenix Mercury today waived center Bella Murekatete, forward Mya Hollingshed and guards Amy Atwell, Air Hearn, Charisma Osborne, Jaz Shelley and Christyn Williams" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ^ LaCertosa, Justin (June 10, 2024). "Morgan Bertsch waived by Phoenix Mercury, according to WNBA transactions page". burncitysports.com. Burn City Sports. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  11. ^ "Mercury sign 2024 draft pick Charisma Osborne, waive forward Morgan Bertsch". arizonasports.com. KMVP-FM. June 13, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  12. ^ "PHOENIX MERCURY SIGNS VETERAN FORWARD MONIQUE BILLINGS TO A SEVEN-DAY CONTRACT". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  13. ^ @WashMystics (August 20, 2024). "Trade Alert: We have acquired Sug Sutton and a 2025 third round draft pick from the Phoenix Mercury for the rights to Klara Lundquist" (Tweet). Retrieved August 20, 2024 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ @PhoenixMercury (August 25, 2024). "The Phoenix Mercury today announced the signing of forward Monique Billings to a rest-of-season contract! 🌵" (Tweet). Retrieved August 26, 2024 – via Twitter.
  15. ^ Scott, Dana (May 28, 2024). "Phoenix Mercury's Kahleah Copper named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  16. ^ a b c "Rosters Set for AT&T WNBA All-Star 2024 on July 20". WNBA (Press release). July 2, 2024.
  17. ^ LaCertosa, Justin (June 18, 2024). "Brittney Griner named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week". burncitysports.com. Burn City Sports. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
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