During the press conference of introduction to Phoenix Mercury by Sutou Sabally on Tuesday, she had two words on the new Big 3 of the team, Alyssa Thomas And Kahleah Copper.
It is if Diana Taurasi does not come back for her 21st season.
“It’s huge,” said Sabally.
The All-Star striker twice and the selection of the All-First 2023 WNBA team joined the Thomas and returned him to recently acquired Mercury in a sign and an exchange of Dallas Wings last Friday. It was the day before the official day of February 1 for free agents.
The sign and the trade also involved Indiana, which brought Sabally to Phoenix. This agreement has sent the former six -year -old veteran of Mercury Sophie Cunningham and the draft n ° 19 of 2025, Indiana fever.
The Mercury also acquired the Kalani Brown and Sevgi Uzun center. Dallas obtained Ty Harris, who was returned after being in trade at four Connecticut teams with Thomas in Phoenix, Nalyssa Smith of Indiana, the rights of Mikiah Herbert Harrigan of Phoenix and Indiana n ° 8 for 2025.
Thomas was Treaty in Phoenix in a business with four teams This sent the former starters of Mercury Natasha Cloud and Rebecca Allen to Connecticut on January 28.
Cloud, who is his unequaled Sabally teammate on Phantom BC in Miami, Helped to recruit Sabally in Phoenix Before it is exchanged at Connecticut.
The candidate for multi-year MVP Thomas and the veteran Copper goalkeeper, the best marker in Phoenix last season, appeared in the gold medals in the United States with Taurasi and the former center of Mercury Brittney Griner at the Olympic Games from Paris 2024. Toast left Phoenix for Atlanta as a free agent without restriction After 11 years with the franchise.
“We are really talented players and a large part of the free agency they can express. But I think we are going to be so dominant on the ground, versatile,” said Sabally about playing with Copper and Thomas. “We are going to be able to feed each other, to improve. What is interesting to me is not only the offensive side, but also the defensive side.
“We have so many lengths, and especially with whom is not here today, it is a force. In addition, just being able to admire someone like her, I am very excited about this”, She added.
Read Moore: Brittney Griner, joining Atlanta Dream, leaves Phoenix Mercury as the most visible star in the WNBA
The 30 -year -old copper attended the press conference and sat as a false media member. Mercury’s general manager, Nick U’Ren, was on the podium with Sabally and thanked Copper to be the tourist guide of Sabally around Phoenix and their installation of group 15 practice.
“Who are you the most excited to play?” Copper asked Sabally’s crowd and the crowd laughed. “There East A bad answer. Sabally agreed to copper.
Sabally, 26, and entering his sixth season, could have joined the defending champion New York Liberty for the reconstruction of Mercury in the free agency of the WNBA. It seemed to be obvious to the media and fans of the league who would find her sister Nyara Sabally, who plays for Liberty and is his former Oregon Ducks teammate.
New York appeared in the last two WNBA finals, was the best offense in the League and No. 3 in defense last season. Phoenix finished 19-21 last season and was eliminated by the finalist of the Minnesota Lynx championship in a sweep in the first round. In 2023, Mercury had the worst League record, 9-31.
“Obviously, New York is also a great organization, but I just felt like here my heart and my instinct told me Phoenix, Phoenix, it’s Phoenix,” said Sabally. “I guess I just had to listen and I can already feel it.”
But Sabally also explained her “development aspect” and the synergy she believes that the Mercury coach, Nate Tibbetts, brings to her game.
“I wanted to stay at the level of the entire free agency and dip in all the information,” said Sabally.
Sabally pulled more laughter from media and mercury staff at the press conference when she gleams saying: “I received a little middle finger” from her sister jokingly on FaceTime.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mercury presents the new star Satou Sabally, acquired in free agency
