The Phoenix Mercury’s already shaky season just hit a potential crisis point. Sources close to the team have confirmed that star forwards Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper are both listed on the injury report ahead of Friday’s matchup against the Portland Fire — and the news is worse than fans feared.
According to team officials, Thomas is officially questionable with a nagging left calf strain, while Copper is listed as doubtful due to a left hip issue. For a Mercury squad sitting at a dismal 3-8 record, losing their two most impactful players at the same time could be a full-blown catastrophe. One league insider told us the situation is “more serious than the team is letting on,” though no official comment has been made beyond the injury designations.
The timing couldn’t be worse. Portland is red-hot, having just seen their head coach Alex Sarama named WNBA Coach of the Month — and they’re hungry to pile on more misery for Phoenix. “This is a nightmare scenario for Mercury fans,” another source claimed. “Those two are the engine of the entire operation.”
Phoenix has struggled on both ends of the floor this season, ranking near the bottom of the league in offensive efficiency and defensive rating. If both stars sit, the Mercury will be forced to rely on a supporting cast that, while talented, has not proven it can carry the load. Rookie sharpshooter Jovana Nogić has been a bright spot from deep, and Natasha Mack has arguably been the team’s most consistent contributor. But Monique Akoa Makani’s defensive tenacity, while essential, won’t replace the scoring and playmaking of Thomas and Copper.
Insiders say Nate Tibbetts is reportedly scrambling to adjust his game plan. “He’s going to have to get creative — maybe even experimental — if both are out,” one analyst told us. “This is a gut-check moment for the locker room.”
For Thomas, calf injuries have been a recurring theme during her time in Phoenix, costing her five games last season alone. Copper, meanwhile, missed the start of the 2025 campaign due to injury, and there are whispers that the same issue might be flaring up again. “The bug is back — and it might have a more potent bite this time,” a team insider confided.
The loss of Satou Sabally — who previously helped fill gaps when stars went down — has left a void the Mercury haven’t been able to patch. One former player we spoke to called this “the kind of adversity that can either forge a team or break it completely.” With the season already on thin ice, Friday’s game could be a defining moment: either the bench rises up, or the Mercury’s playoff hopes officially go up in flames.
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