The Phoenix Mercury can’t seem to escape the headlines, but for all the wrong reasons. The latest firestorm? Alyssa Thomas’s suspension for a foul on Caitlin Clark that referees didn’t even call in real time. But while the league debates that decision, a quieter, more damning story is unfolding in Phoenix- one that a single suspension can’t explain away.

Because here’s the thing: the Mercury won that controversial game against the Indiana Fever. And they’re still 6-13. A team that reached the WNBA Finals last season is now sitting near the bottom of the standings, and analysts are starting to say what many fans have been thinking. Phoenix didn’t just fail to improve this offseason. They’ve regressed. WNBA analyst Alicia Jay isn’t mincing words about it.

“When I think about the underperforming title, I do think of Phoenix, honestly,” she said, speaking on the We Need To Talk podcast, which she co-hosts with Erica L. Ayala. “First because they were in the finals last year and they really didn’t make key offseason moves to get them anywhere. You know, to me, you don’t want to go backwards, right? and they’ve gone way backwards based on what they’ve done in the offseason.”

And true to that, last season, the Phoenix Mercury actually had an outstanding, championship-caliber year. They finished as the 2025 WNBA runners-up, securing a 27-17 regular-season record and capturing the Western Conference Championship. But that is not the same story now. Right now, they are sitting in 7th in the Conference standings. They have also endured multiple multi-game losing streaks this season, including a six-game skid earlier.

As Jay said, this can be linked to the fact that they did little or nothing to reinforce the team in the offseason beyond re-signing core veterans and adding international depth. The Phoenix Mercury only signed French National Team captain Valériane Ayayi as a notable new addition in the offseason. Their core of Alyssa Thomas, Kahleah Copper and DeWanna Bonner, alongside Sami Whitcomb and Monique Akoa Makani, however, remained with the team.

However, injuries to Sami Whitcomb and Monique Akoa Makani have also not helped matters. Whitcomb has been sidelined entirely, as she’s recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. Makani, on the other hand, has also missed critical stretches with a hamstring injury. And they also lost some players heading into the season. That, according to Jay, also contributed to one of the factors that Jay thinks decimated the team.

“They did not sign a free agent at all, which had us all scratching our heads. They lost Satou Sabally. There were a lot of different movements that kind of decimated this team in a lot of ways,” she added.

Despite that, Jay still thinks this Phoenix Mercury team has the talent it needs to get back on track, with players like Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner and Kahleah Copper.

“But they do still have talent, right?” she added. “They have Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner. They have key players on this team that could be good and could step up.” she said. 

Hopefully, these players will step up and help them string together wins, starting with their next game against the Toronto Tempo.

Alyssa Thomas Set to Sit Out Mercury’s Upcoming Game vs Toronto Tempo

In their bid to seek out another win in their next game against the Toronto Tempo, the Phoenix Mercury will be without Alyssa Thomas. The uncalled foul she had against Caitlin Clark in the Fever game has now been reviewed, and as a penalty, the WNBA handed Alyssa Thomas a one-game suspension.

Playing without Thomas will definitely make it a little more difficult for the Phoenix Mercury to win. She stepped up in the Fever game, delivering 24 points, alongside the team’s key star Kahleah Copper, who also scored 28 points.

But besides her points, they will also be missing a defensive contribution, which is very significant to the Mercury’s performance. Without it, they will definitely have their hands full on defense trying to contain Tempo guard Marina Mabrey, who is coming off a historic, WNBA-record-tying 53-point game on Thursday night against Los Angeles

Perhaps the good news is that Kahleah Copper will be available against the Toronto Tempo. Hopefully, she can lead the Mercury to a second consecutive win.

Like Jay said, “We want them to win, and we expect them to win more.”