Phoenix Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb (33) elevates for a jump shot during a matchup against the Seattle Storm. Whitcomb, one of only two undrafted players in WNBA history to hit 500 career three-pointers, enters the 2026 season as a veteran anchor for the Mercury. (Photo: Luis Torres | The Podium Finish)
PHOENIX — There is a specific kind of rhythm to the third day of a WNBA training camp. It is the sound of heavy breathing through defensive slides, the squeak of sneakers on a court that feels increasingly smaller as fatigue sets in, and the blunt, echoing instructions of a coach who knows the window for excellence is narrow.
The Phoenix Mercury wrapped up this grueling third day on Tuesday. They looked less like a team recovering from their 2025 WNBA Finals efforts and more like a group obsessed with the grind of the 2026 season. While the headlines during the offseason focused on the departure of Satou Sabally to the New York Liberty, the story inside the Mercury’s practice facility is about the people who stayed and the culture they are desperate to protect.
The Homecoming and the Hardship
As the team prepares to travel to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for a preseason clash with the Chicago Sky, the trip serves as more than just a warm-up. It is a homecoming for head coach Nate Tibbetts. But before the sentimentality of the Sanford Pentagon, there is the reality of the Phoenix heat.
“I’ve been really excited about how we’re playing,” Tibbetts said with a smile. “Obviously, day threes are tough. The third day is the toughest, and we were awesome today. We had really good rhythm and flow; we looked like we were in good shape.”
Tibbetts, known for a coaching style that favors transparency over fluff, did not shy away from the physical toll.
“Typically, these are the days where it gets a little. Everyone’s sore, looking for the day off tomorrow. But yeah, the continuity has been awesome, something we haven’t had the last couple of years. So we’re thankful for it.”
The Human Element: More Than Just a Body
In an era of “Superteams” and constant roster churning, the Mercury are leaning into a different identity: family. It is a word that gets thrown around in sports PR often, but for center Natasha Mack, it is the literal difference-maker in why this roster believes they can return to the Finals.
“It’s the coaches and the people around us,” Mack emphasized. “We have everything we need to get better. There’s no excuse. And they treat you like family here, and not just, ‘Hey, you’re here, just another body.’ Like everybody here is family.”
That distinction of not being just another body is vital for a team that is currently integrating a plethora of young, new faces. From drafted rookies to undrafted camp invites, the locker room is a mix of Hall of Fame resumes and players fighting for their professional lives.
The Specialist: Sami Whitcomb’s Unlikely Legacy
Known for her relentless work ethic, Sami Whitcomb (33) drives past a defender. After a decade in the league, Whitcomb continues to embrace the physical “grind” of training camp to help mentor a roster filled with new faces. (Photo: Luis Torres | The Podium Finish)
If there is a personification of the Mercury’s underdog spirit, it is Sami Whitcomb. Now entering her tenth season in the league and her second with the Mercury, Whitcomb’s presence is a masterclass in longevity.
Her journey is the stuff of WNBA lore. She was an undrafted rookie out of Washington in 2017 who fought her way onto a Seattle Storm roster and eventually helped Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart hoist championship trophies in 2018 and 2020. Today, she stands as one of only two undrafted players in league history, alongside current Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon, to eclipse 500 career three-pointers.
For Whitcomb, returning to Phoenix was not about chasing stats. It was about the environment Nick U’Ren and Tibbetts have built.
“I don’t see it being any different than it’s been previously,” Whitcomb said regarding her role. “I’ve been an older player or an experienced one for a while now, and I always try to take the young ones under my wing, if they want it, if they need it, and just help them.”
Bridging the Gap
The Mercury’s roster is currently a fascinating experiment in chemistry. You have the “Core Four” of Whitcomb, Alyssa Thomas, Kahleah Copper, and DeWanna Bonner. These are veterans who speak a shared basketball language. Then, you have the “superpower” shooters brought in this offseason: Shay Ciezki, Yarden Garzon, Lauren Jensen, and Morgan Maly.
Whitcomb sees herself as the translator between these two worlds.
“Camp can be a high-pressure and sort of fast-paced environment, so I’m always trying to help bridge that gap,” she explained. “Obviously, being someone who is coming back and more familiar makes it a little easier to do that.”
When asked about who has stood out among the newcomers, Whitcomb’s eyes lit up.
“There’s a ton [of shooters], honestly. It’s a superpower for a lot of them. LJ (Lauren Jensen) has stood out with our shot making, Shay (Ciezki) is a phenomenal shooter, but Yarden Garzon and Morgan Maly—they brought in as we do Phoenix. We brought in a ton of phenomenal shooters.”
The 2026 Outlook: Underdogs by Choice
Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts communicates with an official during game action. Tibbetts has praised the continuity of his veteran core, including Whitcomb, as the team aims for a return to the WNBA Finals in 2026. (Photo: Luis Torres | The Podium Finish)
The 2025 season ended in heartbreak with a sweep by the Las Vegas Aces on the Mercury’s home floor. For many teams, that kind of loss results in a total teardown. Instead, Phoenix doubled down on their leadership.
By retaining the leadership values of Bonner and Whitcomb, the Mercury are betting that continuity will trump raw talent in 2026. They are embracing the underdog label even while playing like a powerhouse.
As the team boards the plane for Sioux Falls, the goal is not just to win a preseason game. It is to ensure that when the lights get brightest in the postseason, the family Mack described is strong enough to withstand the pressure.
For Whitcomb and the rest of the veterans, the grind of Day 3 is simply the price of admission for a return to the Finals.
