The Phoenix Mercury are rolling into the final stretch of the WNBA regular season with all the momentum a team could ask for, and they owe much of their recent surge to a group of rookies who’ve exceeded every expectation. As they prepare to face the Washington Mystics on Thursday night, September 4, 2025, the Mercury find themselves in a prime position—not only to extend their winning streak but also to lock down a coveted homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. With a 26-14 record and five consecutive wins already under their belt, Phoenix is chasing a season-high sixth straight victory, and the energy around the team is electric.
It’s been a season defined by resilience, adaptability, and some serious breakout performances. Tuesday’s 85-79 win over the Indiana Fever was just the latest example. Alyssa Thomas led the charge with 23 points, marking the first time during the current streak that she topped the team’s scoring chart. But Thomas wasn’t alone—rookie Monique Akoa Makani, Satou Sabally, and Kahleah Copper have each taken turns as leading scorers during this dominant run. "Super dangerous," Thomas said in a postgame television interview with Arizona's Family network. "When we share the ball, it's anybody's given night. That's what makes it special. That's what makes it dangerous, and we just got to continue doing that."
The Mercury’s success isn’t just about star power. It’s about depth, and nowhere is that more evident than in the contributions of their rookie quartet: Monique Akoa Makani, Kathryn Westbeld, Lexi Held, and Kitija Laksa. These four first-year players have proven that experience isn’t everything, especially when you combine overseas seasoning with a relentless work ethic. In fact, all four will become reserved free agents in the offseason, but for now, their focus is squarely on helping Phoenix push deeper into the postseason.
Akoa Makani has been a revelation, starting 35 of the 36 games she’s played and averaging eight points per contest. Her shooting has been nothing short of remarkable—she’s hitting 40% from beyond the arc and an eye-popping 94.7% from the free-throw line. On August 22, she drained four threes in an 81-72 win over the Golden State Valkyries, a performance that contributed to the Mercury becoming the first team in WNBA history to have four rookies each make four 3-pointers in a season. Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts couldn’t be more pleased. “Mo has continued to get better,” Tibbetts said. “I think her pick and roll reads have continued to improve. And her just finding her spots and feeling comfortable with what we’re looking for.”
Kathryn Westbeld, at 29 the oldest of the Mercury’s rookies, has also made her presence felt. She’s started 24 of 38 games, averaging nearly 19 minutes per outing and drawing praise for her post defense and ability to space the floor. “Kat’s just a player that goes out and does her job,” Tibbetts said. “She can make threes, she can space the floor. She’s probably a better post defender than people give her credit for. … From a field goal percentage standpoint, she does a really great job of protecting the rim.” Westbeld herself credits her impact to consistency and readiness, especially given the unpredictable nature of playing time in the league. “I think just being pretty consistent with my defense and just being ready when my name is called,” Westbeld told The Next. "It’s unpredictable how many minutes we’re going to have. … And just doing the little things. You’re not always going to get on the scoreboard and I’m not going to score 20 points a game and I’m completely ok with that. I just want to do whatever I can to help this team be successful.”
The mutual respect among these rookies is palpable. Akoa Makani admires Westbeld’s mental toughness and patience. “I feel like she’s just patient with herself,” Akoa Makani said. “Like she would miss one – it’s not going to get in her head. She’s going to keep shooting and that’s something I’m learning from her because sometimes to me when I miss like one or two … let me just switch to go to something else. But as long as it’s like good shots because it’s always good shots for her, she just keep shooting it. And that’s really inspiring.”
Of course, there’s always room to grow. Westbeld wants to bring more aggression on offense, while Akoa Makani is working on becoming a better defensive leader. Yet Alyssa Thomas offered high praise for Akoa Makani’s defensive prowess: “She gets after it defensively,” Thomas said. “We stay on her. We know what she’s capable of. Not too many guards are able to fight over screens and just guard the player 1-on-1. So, definitely credit to her. You don’t see a lot of young players that are willing to come in the league and do that. Hopefully she just continues to grow in that and I know we’re going to push her but she has a chance to be on all-defensive teams.”
Lexi Held and Kitija Laksa may have seen their minutes dwindle as the Mercury’s roster returned to health and veteran DeWanna Bonner joined the fold, but their early-season heroics were crucial. Held exploded for a career-high 24 points on June 5 against the Golden State Valkyries, while Laksa poured in 18 points on June 7 against the Seattle Storm. Both players have embraced their roles, staying ready for whenever their number is called. “Just staying ready,” Held said. “Keeping a good mindset, keeping a good attitude and just being a good teammate and letting whatever happens happens and being ready when it’s my time.” Laksa echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of preparation and self-belief. “There’s a reason why I’m here,” Laksa said. “And there’s a lot of uncontrollables for me. So yeah, it’s just staying fresh, ready, doing my things and trusting the person and the basketball player that I am.”
Coach Tibbetts has been quick to recognize the professionalism and defensive effort Laksa brings, and he’s made it clear that Held’s early-season efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. “I’m trying to reward her a little bit for playing so well early,” Tibbetts shared. “She’s still trying to find her way. I think she can continue to play better. … We’re going to need the players that aren’t playing to stay ready because you never know what happens. And that’s just part of learning how to be a professional.”
As for the Mercury’s Thursday opponent, the Washington Mystics, the contrast couldn’t be starker. The Mystics, eliminated from playoff contention after an 81-78 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on August 31, are mired in a seven-game losing streak. Their average margin of defeat during this slide is a hefty 14.3 points. Still, there have been bright spots: Kiki Iriafen scored 22 points in the loss to the Sparks, her sixth 20-plus point game of the season, and Sonia Citron’s 12 points set a new WNBA rookie record for games with at least 10 points in a season. “We’re out of the playoffs, but we still want to play Mystics basketball,” Stefanie Dolson said. “We just want to continue to play together and have fun.”
With Phoenix having already clinched a playoff berth, Thursday’s matchup is less about the Mystics’ postseason hopes and more about the Mercury’s quest to keep the good times rolling. A win would tie their longest streak of the year and keep the pressure on their rivals for playoff seeding. The Mercury’s blend of veteran leadership and rookie exuberance has turned them into one of the league’s most dangerous teams—just as the playoffs loom. The action is set, and all eyes will be on Washington to see if Phoenix’s remarkable run continues.
