Phoenix Mercury is cruising at a 5-3 record. Even without Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner around, there was this whole belief that the Mercury – powered by their flashy offseason signings – were going to take time but would eventually gel into a force. But it seems like they just cannot catch a break. Amid multiple injuries, Alyssa Thomas’ injury has been hanging over their heads like a dark cloud. Unfortunately, the injury report still has her name. 

Now, you know there’s a tier of teams right below the Liberty and Lynx – those two have been untouchable at the top. Then you’ve got teams like the Aces doing Aces things, the Storm trying, Atlanta surprisingly hanging around, and Indiana just out there grinding. But Phoenix, with AT, Satou Sabally, and Kahleah Copper, were supposed to climb out of that middle pack and become a real problem. This trio could have turned them into something serious. Except in this league, nothing cooks faster than an injury report.

Alyssa Thomas’ injury status

So far, that dream lineup has barely had a chance to simmer. For the fifth straight game, Alyssa Thomas is officially out with a left calf injury. The first game she missed was the win over the Sky. And this one hurts because AT hasn’t missed a regular-season game since 2021. That was the year she came back from an Achilles tear and played just three games. Tough doesn’t even begin to describe her.

And her impact was loud early this season. In her first five games, she averaged more than 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. No one in WNBA history has ever done that before. But with her sidelined, Mercury have been patching things up as best they can. They only lost their second game of the season by a tiny margin, 74-71, against the Lynx. 

But if you thought that was the worst of it, it gets worse. Phoenix is set to face the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday, and the injury list is brutal. Not just AT, but Kahleah Copper, Natasha Mack, and Megan McConnell have all been ruled out. Sami Whitcomb’s name is also floating on that list, though she’s probable to play.

Thomas (left calf) and Copper (left knee) are the real gut punches here. So what now? The Mercury will most likely go back to a smaller lineup, with Satou Sabally sliding into the power forward spot and Kit Laksa stepping up at small forward. Even with three rookies starting against the Lynx, it was the vets who had to step up and drive the offense in the third quarter. 

That’s exactly why you need your anchors like AT and Copper on the floor. The chemistry, the leadership, the control – it matters. For now, if you heard those whispers like “only two more sleeps till June 5 and AT returns”– scratch that. Not happening. So, as the Mercury takes on the Valkyries, it’s once again Sabally who’ll have to carry the weight while the rest of the core sits this one out.

As of now, there’s no official word on when Thomas will be back. Fingers crossed it won’t be too long, but for now, Mercury fans just have to wait this one out.

Alyssa Thomas out, but Mercury still eye revenge win over Valkyries

Golden State’s hot start cooled off real quick. After a promising 2-1 beginning, the Valkyries have dropped three straight – two of those to the unbeaten beasts: the Liberty and the Lynx. And just to rub it in, the combined record of their last four opponents (including this Mercury squad) is a casual 27-3. So, safe to say that they’ve been through the wringer.

Now, they’re back on the road facing a Phoenix team that’s hungry to right a few wrongs. The Mercury may have lost to the Lynx, but they’re still sitting at a confident 5-3. Moreover, this one’s personal. Phoenix hasn’t forgotten that preseason sting when the Valkyries snatched their first-ever win from them. Golden State pulled off an 84-79 upset back then, after erasing a 15-point deficit and sealing it with Julie Vanloo’s late-game free throws. That loss still lingers. In this one, though, tables might just turn. 

Sure, Phoenix is shorthanded with and it’s far from ideal. But home-court advantage, a deeper bench and pumped up rookies, and Sabally stepping up could tilt things their way. Both squads are desperate to bounce back, but Phoenix might just have the edge, even while limping. 

The Valkyries will finally get some easier matchups next week, but for now, the desert heat might be a little too much to handle.