Hayden Cilley Articles - Page 2

PHOENIX– A’ja Wilson is becoming one-of-one. After Wilson helped the Las Vegas Aces win the 2025 WNBA championship, she capped an unbelievable season. Winning the MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, as well as Finals MVP, all in the same year, is unheard of. Funny enough, she joined Michael Jordan’s territory of becoming the fourth-ever […]

PHOENIX– Game 4 of the WNBA Finals had everything that could’ve gone wrong for the Phoenix Mercury. From injuries to Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts being ejected, it felt like this was the tip of the iceberg. However, the second-year man had some interesting words postgame. While he wasn’t furious when asked about the officiating, […]

UPDATE: Alyssa Thomas returned to the court for the start of the third quarter. PHOENIX– Things have gone from bad to worse for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA Finals, as Alyssa Thomas left the game with an undisclosed injury. She was holding her arm in grimacing pain after colliding with Las Vegas Aces guard […]

The Phoenix Mercury have yet another hurdle to overcome on Friday in a pivotal Game 4 of the WNBA Finals. After Satou Sabally left the game with an injury, the team announced she sustained a concussion and will miss Friday’s game. She posted 24 points and was propelling a potential comeback after the team was […]

PHOENIX — Alyssa Thomas and defense fit like a glove. It can be like the addition of chocolate to milk. In this case, defense fuels the Phoenix Mercury, and it starts with the proclaimed “engine” of the team. Despite Thomas playing like an MVP for the Mercury, she has kept one thing the same ever […]

PHOENIX– Trailing 0-3 in any seven-game series is a tall task to overcome. The Phoenix Mercury find themselves in an interesting predicament after losing 90-88 to the Las Vegas Aces in Game 3. It was another close loss, but A’ja Wilson hit the game-winner for the Aces that sent the WNBA world into a frenzy. […]

One constant throughout the 2025 Phoenix Mercury season has been Satou Sabally’s stance on the WNBA’s CBA negotiations. While other players on the team have been reserved, she hasn’t shied away from her true feelings. For instance, after a loss against the Las Vegas Aces in August, Sabally ripped the WNBA and CBA, while mentioning […]

With the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA Finals, Alyssa Thomas has been the talk of the team. In her first season, she helped the franchise reach its first Finals since 2021. Coincidentally, Diana Taurasi took the team to its last appearance. Both have been consistent competitors and two of the best when both were playing. […]

As the Phoenix Mercury wrapped up practice before Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Aces, there was one note everyone took: Zone defense. Las Vegas did a masterful job in the final two quarters of implementing the defense. It resulted in a barrage of contested shots, shot-clock violations, and inefficient basketball. However, head coach Nate […]

The Phoenix Mercury falling to the Las Vegas Aces in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals might not have been a big surprise to anyone. For people watching the game, it was strange how they squandered a lead. But it wasn’t strange to Kahleah Copper and Nate Tibbetts. Both saw the Aces switch to a […]

Although it may only be the preseason, Phoenix Suns rookie Khaman Maluach impressed many before the game began on Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers. For instance, Maluach impressed the Suns with the amount of muscle he put on. It was quite impressive, considering he was drafted nearly three months prior. That commitment could be […]

Less than 24 hours remain until the 2025 WNBA Finals, where the Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces will meet for the league’s ultimate prize. Although the Mercury have some potential concerns during this series, there are three things Phoenix might have happened that will shock everyone. Satou Sabally will be the Mercury’s WNBA Finals […]

For all of the success the Phoenix Mercury have had, they face their biggest obstacle in the 2025 WNBA Finals: the Las Vegas Aces. The latter defeated the Indiana Fever on Tuesday in an overtime thriller to advance to the final round of competition. However, the Aces hold a 3-1 season series against Phoenix and […]

One name has been a constant all year for the Phoenix Mercury. She doesn’t receive the glitz and glamour of her team’s Big 3, but this particular player has hit big shot after big shot. Not to mention, she’s shooting over 50% from the field and from beyond the three-point line in the playoffs. That […]

It goes without saying, but the Phoenix Mercury should hope for one key matchup in the 2025 WNBA Finals. As soon as Game 5 between the Las Vegas Aces and the Indiana Fever takes place, Phoenix will likely hope the latter takes it home. The reason why? It’s simply an easier route for them to […]

PHOENIX– The Phoenix Mercury versus everybody. The team’s mantra, encapsulated by head coach Nate Tibbetts, along with his talented roster, was particularly evident after the team advanced to the WNBA Finals in an 86-81 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday. And that success came from his family, both immediate and his Mercury one. Success […]

PHOENIX– DeWanna Bonner has endured as mentally taxing a WNBA season as it gets. Before Bonner signed with the Phoenix Mercury in early July, the previous two months were filled with ridicule, discontentment, and pure disdain. She was originally a member of the Indiana Fever before deciding on a contract buyout from the team. That […]

PHOENIX– Disrespect and underestimation are often common themes for any team to cling to. The same sentiments apply to the Phoenix Mercury, and specifically, star forward Satou Sabally. Although she’s been an All-Star and All-WNBA first team selection in 2023, there’s still more to her game she’s trying to reach. She has been challenged on […]

PHOENIX– Kahleah Copper and Nate Tibbetts have had a close relationship, especially with the Phoenix Mercury making the playoffs twice. As they’re taking on the Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals, the Mercury made playoff history by securing a 20+ point comeback. However, the takeover began in the second half. In the 20 minutes of play […]

SCOTTSDALE– 2025 will be a season of firsts for both Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks. The two Phoenix Suns players were once rivals, but have now turned into teammates. As Brooks was traded to the Suns in the Kevin Durant deal, he brings a certain toughness, grit, and tenacity. However, Booker and Brooks’s rivalry began […]

PHOENIX– Mark Williams has had a turbulent career plagued by injuries. Although the Charlotte Hornets took a chance on him, Williams was eventually traded to the Phoenix Suns during the 2025 NBA draft. After almost being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier in the 2024-25 season, it felt like a matter of time. Now, […]

PHOENIX– It’s not often that a role player can change a team’s dynamic. However, if you’re Dillon Brooks and the Phoenix Suns, it appears to be a match made in heaven. After Brooks was originally supposed to be traded to the Suns in 2018, the trade itself was denied because the Memphis Grizzlies offered the […]

PHOENIX– For all the talk about the Phoenix Suns and their revamped roster, one player remains the same: Ryan Dunn. But he might not be the same. Fans might see an improved offensive game. Although Dunn was one of the Suns’ star rookies last season, his offensive game needed some fine-tuning. Luckily, fans were able […]

The Phoenix Suns are reuniting with one of the franchise’s greats in Steve Nash, as they announced he will be in a senior advisor role, according to majority owner Mat Ishbia. After there were rumors of the Suns pursuing Nash as a head coach, he is with the team, but in a different role. This […]

Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas finished third in 2025 WNBA MVP voting, racking up 391 points. Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson won her record fourth MVP award with 657 points, while Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier earned 534 points to finish a close second. Wilson and Collier certainly made compelling cases for their spots […]

PHOENIX– A close-out Game 3 between the Phoenix Mercury and the New York Liberty lived up to the hype. After Satou Sabally struggled for the Mercury in Game 1, in the next two games, she was dynamic. The “unicorn” put up 23 points and 12 rebounds in the performance. As soon as the final buzzer […]

PHOENIX– With Game 3 between the Phoenix Mercury and the New York Liberty being a winner-take-all, both teams have all the star power they could have. But Phoenix might have the edge when it comes to depth. However, rookies like Kathryn Westbeld have stepped up to the plate in a big way. She started earlier […]

With everything that has happened with the Phoenix Suns, the majority team owner, Mat Ishbia, continues to keep the fans engaged. In the 2023 season, Ishbia announced the Suns would livestream their games. This was a first, considering Bally Sports previously had the rights to broadcast the games. Fans were able to watch through Suns […]

The building block for the Phoenix Mercury at the beginning of the season has become the backbone for head coach Nate Tibbetts in the 2025 WNBA playoffs. Defense. In the second half of Game 1, there was more defensive pressure on New York’s high-octane offense. Although the Mercury lost to the Liberty, they showed no […]

Leaving the 76-69 defeat at the hands of the New York, all eyes were on Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally. She was the subject of much social media criticism. While her coach, Nate Tibbetts, defended her, the scrutiny continued. However, it didn’t phase Sabally’s attitude. She’s been one to process bad performances swiftly. Simultaneously, she […]

On paper, Monique Akoa Makani hasn’t had the same caliber of season as her 2025 WNBA Draft classmates. On the other hand, the Phoenix Mercury rookie has unequivocally been a major producer for the three-time WNBA champions. She has started all but one game, typically defended the opposing team’s best perimeter player, and also been […]

PHOENIX– Game 1 of the bout between the Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty didn’t go as anyone would’ve planned. Two of the most high-octane offenses were incredibly inefficient and turnover-prone, resulting in a Liberty 76-69 win. It wasn’t the win that shocked many. Perhaps it might’ve been the end of the game, where Alyssa […]

Facing the defending WNBA champions in the opening round is no easy task for the Phoenix Mercury. Even after defeating the New York Liberty 3-1 in the regular season series and clinching home court advantage, the playoffs are a different beast. Everyone is 0-0, and everything that happened in the regular season is just about […]

PHOENIX– The atmosphere surrounding the Phoenix Mercury locker room and PHX Arena didn’t feel like a losing one, despite the 88-83 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday. Rather, it was the closed chapter on who the Mercury will play in the 2025 WNBA playoffs: The New York Liberty. After a Las Vegas Aces […]

The clock is ticking towards the start of the 2025 WNBA playoffs, and the Phoenix Mercury are in the thick of the race. A week prior, the Mercury clinched a playoff spot, as well as home court advantage. However, the further they get into the playoffs, the more scenarios they don’t want to find themselves […]

The 2025 WNBA playoffs will arrive sooner than expected, and the Phoenix Mercury will have less than one week to prepare. The WNBA will have all first-round playoff series begin on Sept. 14. With that being said, the Mercury have secured home court advantage, no matter who they play in the opening round. However, two […]

PHOENIX– DeWanna Bonner knows the ups and downs of a WNBA season. She also knows the ups and downs of a Phoenix Mercury season. From being a part of two WNBA championship-winning teams to some forgettable seasons, she’s seen everything. Because of that, her perspective on the game is as clear as the Phoenix sky […]

PHOENIX– Sami Whitcomb is all aboard the Alyssa Thomas for MVP train. The Phoenix Mercury sharpshooter has experienced the greatness up close this season and hasn’t seen anything like it. With the Mercury securing a spot in the WNBA playoffs and fighting for a higher seeding, Thomas’s impact has been unparalleled. The consistency of breaking […]

Phoenix Mercury center Natasha Mack is playing some of the best basketball of her career. In the last two games against the Chicago Sky and New York Liberty, she’s averaging 11.0 rebounds, 9.0 points, and 4.5 blocks. Those numbers are mighty impressive for the second-year center. While Mack has enjoyed her clean-up role with the […]