The Phoenix Mercury beat the Japan National Team 86-60 in the preseason finale Wednesday at Mortgage Matchup Center.
Even though the preseason game against Japan wasn’t an accurate assessment of the size and skill in the WNBA, it was a decent showing by the Mercury’s starters.
With the season opener on May 9, coach Nate Tibbetts took advantage of the conditioning opportunities by using starters Kahleah Copper, Sami Whitcomb, DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas and Natasha Mack through the end of the third quarter.
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas looks to pass the ball as Team Japan guard Minami Yabu defends during their preseason game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on April 29, 2026.
At times, the Mercury showed some rust. Copper picked up four fouls in the first 13 minutes of the game. Thomas committed three fouls in under three minutes to start the first half.
But there were also times when the offseason improvements showed up. Mack, who got stronger in the offseason, found herself in more offensive situations than in the past season. Mack’s strength helped her get more involved in pick-and-rolls early on.
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“Our group really likes playing with her because she does all the little things,” Tibbetts said. “I’ve been very impressed with her approach and professionalism and her growth. She has to be extremely proud of herself and how far she’s come in the last two years.”
There were still key players missing in the preseason finale due to overseas commitments: starting point guard Monique Akoa Makani and French forward Valeriane Ayayi, who signed with the team in the offseason.
The roster suffered a shakeup on April 28, when it was announced that forward Kathryn Westbeld tore her right ACL in the final game of her season in Hungary. Westbeld was a key role player throughout the 2025 campaign and helped the Mercury reach the WNBA Finals.
After the game, the Mercury waived guards Yarden Garzon and Aisha Sheppard and forwards Maggie Doogan and Jaime Nared.
With Westbeld out for the season, a fifth non-guaranteed spot opens on the 12-player roster. Tibbetts made it clear that the open spots are based on how the role players work with his established group.
Tibbetts kept it to an eight-player rotation for the first three quarters, putting in guard Kiana Williams, forward Morgan Maly and forward Ashten Prechtel as reserves.
Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2) moves the ball against Japan guard Nanako Todo (75) during a WNBA preseason game at Mortgage Matchup Center April 29, 2026, in Phoenix.
Williams took over point guard duties while on the floor, showing that the team’s 3-point shooting can still be a strength with two 3-pointers on five attempts. She’ll presumably make the cut as she has the most experience under Tibbetts with 11 games in 2025.
Prechtel, Williams’ teammate at Stanford, could be the true center that the Mercury need. At 6-foot-5, she blocked shots easily and got involved in the offense with some well-timed passes.
“AP has done a really good job. The physicality of our league is going to challenge her at times,” Tibbetts said. “But she can really shoot it. She’s done a great job with verticality at the rim. I think the last three or four days, she’s settling in and getting more comfortable.”
Other hopefuls who got minutes in the fourth quarter include guard Shay Ciezki, forward Jillian Alleyne, forward Maggie Doogan, guard Lauren Jensen and guard Sha Carter.
But there are still four players who are overseas and are expected to come to Phoenix in the next few days. Their arrivals will help clarify the tough decisions the front office will make before the WNBA’s opening day on May 8.
“We’re getting closer, and we got some veterans from Europe that are coming this way, and we’re going to welcome them with open arms and get ready for Game 1,” Tibbetts said.
