Satou Sabally trade moves Phoenix Mercury one step closer to contending for a title

The trade is between the Mercury, the Dallas Wings and the Indiana Fever. In addition to receiving Sabally, the Mercury also receive center Kalani Brown and guard Sevgi Uzun from Dallas. 

In exchange for Sabally, the Mercury sent guard Tyasha Harris — who Phoenix acquired on Tuesday in the Thomas trade — and the rights to forward Mikiah Herbert Harrigan to Dallas. They also sent guard Sophie Cunningham and the No. 19 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft to Indiana.

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Sabally could be a game-changer for the Mercury. Last season, she averaged 17.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists in just 15 games. She sat out the first portion of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery and returned after the Olympic break.

Although Sabally’s return wasn’t enough to jumpstart a substantial winning streak, she still ended the season as the Wings’ second-leading scorer and most efficient 3-point shooter among players who took at least 40 threes, at 45.2%.

Sabally’s ability to shoot the ball from outside while also dominating in the paint at 6’4 is part of the reason for her “Unicorn” moniker. The Germany native has two WNBA All-Star appearances to her name along with the 2023 Most Improved Player award and a first-team All-WNBA nod in the same season.

Sabally, who is entering her sixth year in the WNBA, adds size, scoring, rebounding and defense to the Mercury’s roster. With her on the team, Phoenix now has three players who’ve been in MVP conversations in the last two seasons.

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While Sabally was the main target of this deal, there could be some untapped value in Brown. At 6’7, she’ll replace some of the height the Mercury lost when 6’9 center Brittney Griner decided to sign with the Atlanta Dream. In just 13.2 minutes per game last season, Brown averaged 5.7 points — on a team-high 58.2% field-goal percentage — and 3.1 rebounds.

With much of head coach Nate Tibbetts’ offensive philosophy predicated on shooting threes at a high volume, Brown could be a presence in the paint to assist with ball movement and screening to create opportunities for Copper and Sabally as scorers.

The expected return from Uzun, who averaged 4.4 points, 3.0 assists and 1.8 turnovers per game as a rookie last season, is low, but she does have 19 games’ worth of starting experience. 

Tibbetts will likely use a starting lineup that features Sabally, Thomas and wing Kahleah Copper. With Harris on the move and Natasha Cloud dealt in the Thomas trade, Phoenix’s projected backcourt will take a hit, with Uzun or second-year guard Celeste Taylor likely to start at point guard. For the fifth spot in the lineup, Tibbetts could elect to go big with Brown and use Copper as more of a two-guard, or he could start forward Natasha Mack, who showed flashes of potential as Griner’s backup.

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Of the pieces traded away in this deal, Harris’ absence may be felt the most, even though she didn’t play a second in a Mercury jersey. Thomas’ ability to see the floor and direct traffic is a welcome asset that can take pressure off Uzun and Taylor to be the Mercury’s floor general. Still, without Harris, the Mercury’s long-term answer at point guard will be much harder to find.

The Mercury will also say goodbye to Cunningham, who has spent all six years of her career in the Valley. Fans will miss her trademark passion and intensity, and she finished her time in Phoenix as a reliable role player who stepped up and took on a heavy load despite playing through a shoulder injury.

Cunningham’s most useful weapon was her spot-up 3-point shooting, which fit well in Tibbetts’ offensive scheme. Behind Griner, who was 9-for-18 on the year, Cunningham was the team’s best 3-point shooter at 37.8% on 4.5 attempts a game. 

The trade for Sabally is a net positive for the Mercury on paper. But only time will tell whether all of general manager Nick U’Ren’s hard work this offseason will pay off and turn the Mercury into legitimate WNBA title contenders.

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