The 2024 Phoenix Mercury season was the 27th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association , and their 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] Atlanta and Washington . However, they lost their final four games of the month, including a game against Connecticut where they scored only 47 points. They ended May 3–5. They began June by defeating Los Angeles at home. They lost in Seattle before winning their next two games. They would lose to Las Vegas before winning their next two games. The Mercury lost two of their last three games in June to finish to month 6–4. They opened July with a loss before winning their next three matches, including two against Dallas . THe would lose two games, before winning the final game before the Olympic break against Washington. They finished July 4–3. Their up and down season continued after the Olympic break as they alternated wins and losses for the first five games of the month. They finished the month by losing two games to finish 3–4. They entered September in the hunt for a playoff spot and lost four of their first five games in the month. However, they defeated Chicago and Los Angeles before losing the final game of the season to Seattle. The Mercury finished the month 3–5 and the season 19–21.
Their record saw them finish seventh in the WNBA, which qualified them for the playoffs. They faced off against the second seeded Minnesota Lynx in the First Round of the playoffs. They lost both games in Minnesota to lose the series two games to zero. The first game was closer as it finished 95–102, while the second was 88–101. Their nineteen wins more than doubled their win total from a season ago. It was the second time they qualified for the playoffs and were swept in the First Round in the past three years.
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 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
September 5, 2024
Signed Amy Atwell to a 7-day contract[ 15]
September 6, 2024
Signed Celeste Taylor to a rest-of-season contract[ 16]
2024 Phoenix Mercury roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Nat.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB From
Yrs
G/F 11
Allen, Rebecca
6' 2" (1.88m)
162 lb (73kg)
1992-11-06
Australia
8
G 8
Atwell, Amy
6' 0" (1.83m)
165 lb (75kg)
1998-06-30
Hawaiʻi
1
F 25
Billings, Monique
6' 4" (1.93m)
192 lb (87kg)
05-02-1996
UCLA
6
G 0
Cloud, Natasha
5' 9" (1.75m)
160 lb (73kg)
1992-02-22
Saint Joseph's
8
G/F 2
Copper, Kahleah
6' 1" (1.85m)
165 lb (75kg)
1994-08-28
Rutgers
8
G 9
Cunningham, Sophie
6' 1" (1.85m)
170 lb (77kg)
1996-08-16
Missouri
5
C 42
Griner, Brittney
6' 9" (2.06m)
205 lb (93kg)
1990-10-18
Baylor
10
F 21
Herbert Harrigan, Mikiah
6' 2" (1.88m)
152 lb (69kg)
08-21-1998
South Carolina
2
F 4
Mack, Natasha
6' 3" (1.91m)
182 lb (83kg)
11-03-1997
Oklahoma State
1
G 24
Osborne, Charisma
5' 9" (1.75m)
166 lb (75kg)
06-03-2001
UCLA
R
G/F 3
Taurasi, Diana
6' 0" (1.83m)
163 lb (74kg)
1982-06-11
Connecticut
G 12
Taylor, Celeste
5' 11" (1.8m)
167 lb (76kg)
06-20-2001
Ohio State
R
Head coach
Nate Tibbetts (South Dakota )Assistant coaches
Kristi Toliver (Maryland ) South Dakota State ) Florida State )Athletic trainer
Boston University )Strength and conditioning coach
Michigan State )Legend (C) Team captain(FA) Free agent(IN) Inactive(S) Suspended
2024 game log
May: 3–5 (Home: 2–1; Road: 1–4)
June
: 6–4 (Home: 5–2; Road: 1–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
9
June 2
Los Angeles
W 87–68
Diana Taurasi (31)
Natasha Mack (12)
Natasha Cloud (12)
Footprint Center 4–5
10
June 4
@ Seattle
L 62–80
Kahleah Copper (19)
Kahleah Copper (7)
Natasha Cloud (5)
Climate Pledge Arena 4–6
11
June 7
Minnesota
W 81–80
Kahleah Copper (34)
Natasha Mack (7)
Natasha Cloud (10)
Footprint Center
5–6
12
June 9
@ Dallas
W 97–90
Kahleah Copper (29)
Brittney Griner (7)
Cloud, Taurasi (7)
College Park Center 6–6
13
June 13
Las Vegas
L 99–103
Brittney Griner (25)
Brittney Griner (9)
Cloud, Sutton (6)
Footprint Center
6–7
14
June 16
Seattle
W 87–78
Kahleah Copper (30)
Brittney Griner (9)
Natasha Cloud (8)
Footprint Center
7–7
15
June 18
New York
W 99–93
Griner, Taurasi (19)
Diana Taurasi (9)
Kahleah Copper (7)
Footprint Center
8–7
16
June 22
@ Minnesota
L 60–73
Natasha Cloud (14)
Brittney Griner (7)
Natasha Cloud (5)
Target Center 8–8
17
June 28
Los Angeles
W 92–78
Kahleah Copper (24)
Brittney Griner (11)
Natasha Cloud (7)
Footprint Center
9–8
18
June 30
Indiana
L 82–82
Brittney Griner (24)
Rebecca Allen (9)
Natasha Cloud (7)
Footprint Center
9–9
July
: 4–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 3–2)
August
: 3–4 (Home: 1–2; Road: 2–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
26
August 15
@ Chicago
W 85–65
Kahleah Copper (29)
Brittney Griner (9)
Cloud , Griner (6)
Wintrust Arena 14–12
27
August 16
@ Indiana
L 89–98
Kahleah Copper (32)
Kahleah Copper (8)
Kahleah Copper (6)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 14–13
28
August 18
Chicago
W 86–68
Diana Taurasi (23)
Sophie Cunningham (10)
Diana Taurasi (5)
Footprint Center 15–13
29
August 21
@ Atlanta
L 63–72
Kahleah Copper (22)
Cloud, Griner (8)
Diana Taurasi (4)
Gateway Center Arena 15–14
30
August 23
@ Atlanta
W 82–80
Brittney Griner (22)
Sophie Cunningham (7)
Natasha Cloud (7)
Gateway Center Arena
16–14
31
August 26
New York
L 70–84
Brittney Griner (22)
Cloud, Griner (6)
Natasha Cloud (7)
Footprint Center
16–15
32
August 28
Minnesota
L 76–89
Cunningham, Taurasi (16)
Griner, Mack (7)
Natasha Cloud (8)
Footprint Center
16–16
September
: 3–5 (Home: 1–4; Road: 2–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
33
September 1
Las Vegas
L 79–97
Brittney Griner (24)
Kahleah Copper (6)
Diana Taurasi (7)
Footprint Center 16–17
34
September 3
Atlanta
W 74–66
Kahleah Copper (28)
Brittney Griner (8)
Diana Taurasi (5)
Footprint Center
17–17
35
September 5
Washington
L 77–90
Brittney Griner (15)
Natasha Mack (9)
Celeste Taylor (6)
Footprint Center
17–18
36
September 7
@ Seattle
L 66–90
Diana Taurasi (18)
Brittney Griner (8)
Natasha Cloud (6)
Climate Pledge Arena 17–19
37
September 13
Connecticut
L 69–88
Brittney Griner (26)
Brittney Griner (9)
Natasha Cloud (7)
Footprint Center
17–20
38
September 15
@ Chicago
W 93–88
Brittney Griner (26)
Brittney Griner (10)
Natasha Cloud (11)
Wintrust Arena 18–20
39
September 17
@ Los Angeles
W 85–81
Cunningham, Griner (14)
Celeste Taylor (5)
Natasha Cloud (12)
Crypto.com Arena 19–20
40
September 19
Seattle
L 70–89
Brittney Griner (11)
Brittney Griner (8)
Copper, Taylor (5)
Footprint Center
19–21
2024 season schedule
Phoenix Mercury Regular Season Team Statistics
Player
GP
GS
MPG
FG%
3P%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
TO
PF
PPG
Kahleah Copper 37
37
32.4
.435
.314
.807
4.5
2.3
0.8
0.1
3.0
3.3
21.1
Brittney Griner 30
30
28.7
.579
.500
.777
6.6
2.3
0.5
1.5
1.8
1.9
17.8
Diana Taurasi 36
36
29.0
.400
.333
.857
3.8
3.4
0.6
0.3
1.9
2.6
14.9
Natasha Cloud 38
38
33.3
.397
.308
.826
4.1
6.9
1.4
0.6
3.0
2.7
11.5
Sophie Cunningham 40
21
27.8
.429
.378
.870
3.9
2.0
1.0
0.3
1.0
2.3
8.4
Rebecca Allen 18
18
24.8
.417
.352
.667
3.9
1.1
0.9
0.7
1.0
1.9
7.4
Monique Billings ≠ 13
2
18.1
.434
.286
.800
4.2
0.5
0.9
0.5
1.1
1.9
4.9
Natasha Mack 40
11
15.5
.573
.000
.579
5.0
1.1
0.7
1.2
0.7
1.4
3.8
Celeste Taylor ≠ 15
4
20.0
.317
.200
.563
1.8
1.8
1.0
0.6
1.4
1.1
3.5
Mikiah Herbert Harrigan 31
3
10.8
.412
.327
.550
1.5
0.3
0.5
0.4
0.5
0.9
3.2
Sug Sutton † 22
0
14.9
.306
.270
.692
1.1
2.4
0.6
0.0
1.3
1.1
2.9
Morgan Bertsch ‡ 8
0
9.8
.222
.143
.875
1.5
0.3
0.0
0.1
1.1
1.3
2.6
Amy Atwell ≠ 6
0
9.8
.267
.231
.800
1.0
1.0
0.0
0.2
0.3
0.5
2.5
Liz Dixon ‡ 17
0
9.4
.379
—
.800
2.4
0.5
0.1
0.5
0.5
0.8
1.8
Charisma Osborne ≠ 2
0
5.0
.500
—
—
0.5
0.5
0.0
0.0
1.0
0.5
1.0
‡ Waived/Released during the season
† Traded during the season
≠ Acquired during the season
Phoenix Mercury Playoff Team Statistics
Player
GP
GS
MPG
FG%
3P%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
TO
PF
PPG
Natasha Cloud 2
2
36.5
.543
.462
.833
5.5
10.0
1.0
0.5
3.0
4.0
24.5
Brittney Griner 2
2
29.5
.520
.500
.700
5.5
0.0
0.5
2.0
2.0
3.0
17.0
Diana Taurasi 2
2
29.5
.423
.389
1.000
3.0
2.5
1.0
0.0
3.5
4.5
15.5
Kahleah Copper 2
2
29.5
.407
.364
.600
4.5
2.5
1.0
0.0
3.5
5.0
14.5
Natasha Mack 2
0
13.0
.636
—
.000
3.5
0.5
0.0
0.5
0.0
1.0
7.0
Sophie Cunningham 2
2
31.5
.500
.429
—
4.5
3.5
1.5
0.5
0.5
4.5
6.5
Monique Billings 2
0
14.0
.800
—
.000
3.5
0.5
0.5
0.0
0.0
1.0
4.0
Celeste Taylor 2
0
14.0
.667
.500
—
1.0
2.5
0.0
0.5
0.0
0.5
2.5
Mikiah Herbert Harrigan 2
0
1.5
—
—
—
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Amy Atwell 1
0
1.0
—
—
—
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Recipient
Award/Milestone
Date awarded
Ref.
Natasha Cloud
WNBA All-Defensive Second Team
September 29, 2024
[ 17]
Kahleah Copper
Western Conference Player of the Week
May 28, 2024
[ 18]
WNBA All-Star
July 2, 2024
[ 19]
2024 Olympic Gold Medalist
August 11, 2024
[ 20]
AP All-WNBA Second Team
September 22, 2024
[ 21]
All-WNBA Second Team
October 16, 2024
[ 22]
Brittney Griner
Western Conference Player of the Week
June 18, 2024
[ 23]
WNBA All-Star
July 2, 2024
[ 19]
2024 Olympic Gold Medalist
August 11, 2024
[ 20]
Diana Taurasi
WNBA All-Star
July 2, 2024
[ 19]
2024 Olympic Gold Medalist
August 11, 2024
[ 20]
^ a b "PHOENIX MERCURY NAME NATE TIBBETTS HEAD COACH" . mercury.wnba.com . October 18, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2024 .^ "2024 Schedule - Phoenix Mercury" . mercury.wnba.com . WNBA . Retrieved March 3, 2024 .^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "WNBA Transactions" . acrossthetimeline.com . Across the Timeline. Retrieved 20 April 2024 .^ "PHOENIX MERCURY SIGNS WNBA CHAMPION NATASHA CLOUD" . mercury.wnba.com . WNBA . February 1, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024 .^ "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 .^ "Chicago Sky Trade Copper, Bertsch to Phoenix, Acquire Onyenwere, Turner, Draft Picks" . sky.wnba.com . WNBA . February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024 .^ Weinfuss, Josh (2024-03-30). "Free agent Brittney Griner returning to Mercury, league says" . ESPN . Retrieved 2024-03-30 . ^ "Phoenix Mercury Finalizes Training Camp Roster" . mercury.wnba.com . WNBA . April 24, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2024 .^ @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 . ^ 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 . ^ "Mercury sign 2024 draft pick Charisma Osborne, waive forward Morgan Bertsch" . arizonasports.com . KMVP-FM . June 13, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024 .^ "PHOENIX MERCURY SIGNS VETERAN FORWARD MONIQUE BILLINGS TO A SEVEN-DAY CONTRACT" . wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved 18 August 2024 .^ @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 . ^ @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 . ^ "Phoenix Mercury sign Australian Olympian Amy Atwell to 7-day contract" . arizonasports.com . KMVP-FM . September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .^ @PhoenixMercury (September 6, 2024). "The Phoenix Mercury has signed guard Celeste Taylor to a rest of season contract!" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . ^ Maloney, Jack (September 29, 2024). "WNBA Defensive Player of the Year: Lynx's Napheesa Collier edges Aces star A'ja Wilson for first honor" . CBS Sports . Retrieved September 29, 2024 . ^ 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 . ^ a b c "Rosters Set for AT&T WNBA All-Star 2024 on July 20" . WNBA (Press release). July 2, 2024.^ a b c "Paris 2024 women's basketball: Team USA rides its luck in roller-coaster final to win eighth consecutive Olympic gold" . Olympics . August 11, 2024.^ Feinberg, Doug (September 22, 2024). "A'ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark are unanimous choices for WNBA AP Player and Rookie of the Year" . Associated Press . Retrieved September 22, 2024 . ^ "Fever's Caitlin Clark, Aces' A'ja Wilson named All-WNBA" . ESPN . October 16, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2024 .^ LaCertosa, Justin (June 18, 2024). "Brittney Griner named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week" . burncitysports.com . Burn City Sports. Retrieved June 18, 2024 .