Mercury Remain, Conference Rival Changes Name

The Phoenix Mercury have been around since the WNBA's first season, and they faced a team who has relocated since then.

Phoenix Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner (14) battles for position with Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) in Game Four of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on Oct. 10, 2025, in Phoenix. / Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Phoenix Mercury have been tied to the WNBA since the beginning. There were eight teams in the league's inaugural season, and the Mercury was one of them.

They played alongside teams such as the Charlotte Sting, the Cleveland Rockers and the Los Angeles Sparks. Phoenix is still going strong, while some of those teams have disappeared. The Mercury have had ups and downs, over the years, but this was one of their successful seasons.

The Phoenix Mercury huddle up before their WNBA Finals game against Las Vegas Aces at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Oct. 8, 2025. / Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Phoenix reached the WNBA Finals this year, and they faced the Las Vegas Aces. The Aces won the series, as they swept the Mercury and won their third championship.

The Aces made their debut in 2018, but they have ties to the WNBA's first season. Before moving to Las Vegas, the team was known as the San Antonio Silver Stars. Their named was later shortened to the Stars, and they were a team the Mercury had their share of battles with.

Aug 17, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; Members of the Phoenix Mercury players (from right) Diana Taurasi (3), and Brittney Griner (42), and Candice Dupree (4), and Briana Gilbreath, and Phoenix Mercury, and DeWanna Bonner (24) wait to come back on to the floor during a time out against the San Antonio Silver Stars at the AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images / Soobum Im-Imagn Images

Going back even further, the Silver Stars had a similar situation, as they headed to San Antonio after being somewhere else. The team was known as the Utah Starzz, and they were one of the original teams in the league before they moved to Texas.

Utah had a rough start, as they finished the season with a record of 7-21. In that first season, they met the Mercury multiple times, and in the first game, Phoenix beat them 77-55. The Starzz won the next meeting, and they beat the Mercury by one.

After that, the Mercury won the last two games. These teams met throughout the years, but they did not meet in the playoffs. Utah missed the playoffs from 1997 to 2000, and when they made it 2001, they were knocked out by the Sacramento Monarchs.

Starzz return to playoffs, find new home

Then, the Starzz made the playoffs the following year, and while they beat the Houston Comets to advance, they were knocked out by the Sparks. The team moved to San Antonio the following year, and the Silver Stars were born.

Aug 17, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Silver Stars forward Danielle Adams (23) drives to the basket during the first half against the Phoenix Mercury at the AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images / Soobum Im-Imagn Images

When they moved to San Antonio, they saw the Mercury multiple times in the playoffs. Now, they are the Aces, and they recently beat the Mercury to win it all. Phoenix is a history franchise, and as their recent run shows, they are still going strong.

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