After Mercury Advance to WNBA Finals, Suns Are on the Clock

The Mercury are meeting Mat Ishbia's goals and the Suns must do so next.

Sep 28, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani (8) and forward Alyssa Thomas (25) celebrate after defeating the Minnesota Lynx during game four of the second round for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at PHX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Phoenix Suns and Mercury majority owner Mat Ishbia has not been shy about his championship aspirations. You may recall that he put forth a goal for his franchises to be the best in professional sports during his introductory press conference as owner/governor.  

The Mercury took a huge step toward Ishbia’s goals with their 86-81 victory over the No. 1 seed in the WNBA playoffs, the Minnesota Lynx, to reach the WNBA Finals for the sixth time in franchise history.

On Planet Mercury, we’re going to the @WNBA Finals. pic.twitter.com/ORpRqFXKu6

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 29, 2025

The Mercury's Alyssa Thomas, Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally combined for 57 of the team's 86 points in the victory. Phoenix will face either the No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces or No. 6 seed Indiana Fever in Game 1 of the Finals on Friday.

Your turn, Suns. 

Suns and Mercury Have Had Different Success 

Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2) and forward Alyssa Thomas (25) cheer on their teammates in the final minutes of their 80-63 win against the New York Liberty at PHX Arena, Aug. 30, 2025, in Phoenix. | Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Mercury have backed what many felt would be a successful “Big 3” with their trio of Kahleah Copper, Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas. On Sunday night, they overcame a 14-point deficit to take down the Lynx, who had not lost three games in a row since 2023. 

Ishbia posted the following on X: 

Love this team! Never give up and constantly competing. Toughness, grit and togetherness... so fun to watch! WNBA Finals here we come! https://t.co/OgqGvPHGkl

— Mat Ishbia (@Mishbia15) September 29, 2025

Phoenix Suns Big 3 Failed to Win Together 

Jan 8, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) and guard Bradley Beal (3) and forward Kevin Durant (35) stands on the floor during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal formed a formidable trio in Phoenix, yet it did not work out. 

The Suns, who were expected to be championship contenders with their star power, were poor on defense and unable to put together a cohesive group next to their stars. Booker, who is the Suns’ franchise player, and Durant, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, did not advance to the Western Conference Finals in their 2 ½ years together.

The Suns traded Durant to the Houston Rockets and opted to buy out Beal's contract.

Ishbia, Suns Working on New Culture, Identity

Dec 19, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia sits courtside against the Indiana Pacers at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Mercury are one of the most successful franchises in the WNBA. But the team made some bold moves to put itself in this position that paid off. 

Ishbia, general manager Nick U’Ren and coach Nate Tibbetts came together to form a 3-point heavy offense to try and increase the team’s offensive scoring. Brittney Griner, who signed a free agent deal with the Atlanta Dream, and retired guard Diana Taurasi were at the end of the road in terms of their partnership, and the moves were under heavy scrutiny. 

U’Ren, a former special assistant to Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, made a controversial decision to trade the team’s point guard, Natasha Cloud, to acquire Alyssa Thomas, a two-time reigning All-WNBA first-team pick. The gamble paid off, as Thomas was an MVP candidate this season.

Tibbetts had NBA assistant coaching experience, but his hiring to the WNBA was heavily scrutinized. His leadership and relatability to his players has proved to be critical to the Mercury’s success. 

Suns Building Championship Culture

The Suns have yet to win an NBA championship in their history. After they failed to advance back to the NBA Finals with Durant, Booker, and Beal, they are trying to start from scratch.

Booker, who is 28 years old, signed a two-year max extension to keep him under contract through the 2029-30 season. Booker is the Suns' all-time leading scorer and is focused on bringing a title to Phoenix.

Ishbia was not afraid to admit he built the wrong roster for the Suns last week. However, he must find the right ingredients for his NBA team to have the same results as his WNBA franchise.

"We made a lot of changes from the front office, to the coaching staff [and] to the players," Ishbia said.

"But more importantly, we set the right identity and the vision and the culture. And so it starts with me and I told you, I took the blame. When I bought the team, I didn't set the right identity and culture on the men's basketball side."