Hayden Cilley Articles - Page 6

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 […]

PHOENIX– One 3-point shot by Phoenix Mercury center Kathryn Westbeld with 6:15 left in the fourth quarter and a seven-point lead might not have seemed that big of a deal. But it mattered more than some ought to admit in the Mercury’s 80-63 win over the New York Liberty. The shot came right after Liberty […]

PHOENIX– Amid Alyssa Thomas’s battle for MVP, the Phoenix Mercury star has her team and the city behind her. One of those people is Phoenix head coach Nate Tibbetts. Although he’s been a major advocate ever since Thomas was traded to the Mercury, he added more fuel to her campaign. The former NBA assistant compared […]

PHOENIX– The main question on everyone’s mind: Would the Phoenix Mercury secure a playoff spot? After the franchise did so, courtesy of an Atlanta Dream win on Friday, there’s now another question on their mind– is homecourt advantage possible after playing the New York Liberty? Safe to say that it could be a reality. Granted, […]

PHOENIX– On Thursday, Kahleah Copper’s 31st birthday was quite the celebration for not only herself, but her Phoenix Mercury squad. After they took down the Chicago Sky in an 83-79 win, there was something out of the ordinary. The entire coaching staff dressed for the occasion, wearing suits. It’s the first time that Phoenix head […]

While Alyssa Thomas fueled her MVP legitimacy in the Phoenix Mercury’s 82-71 win over the Golden State Valkyries, someone else had something to say about it—Mercury owner Mat Ishbia. He has been advocating for the team ever since he took over as the majority owner. However, the 2025 season has been the best the franchise […]

PHOENIX– Another game, another historic night for Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas. She matched her record of six regular-season triple-doubles, the most in WNBA history. The last time she accomplished that feat? 2023. And in that season, she placed third in MVP voting. Two seasons later, another tightly contested race for the league’s most valuable […]

LAS VEGAS– Coming off a Phoenix Mercury loss to the Las Vegas Aces, Satou Sabally was not in a pleasant mood. However, she’s never been one to shy away from issues surrounding the WNBA. One of those is scheduling. She’s been a constant advocate for her fellow players and the league to improve. Following Thursday’s […]

LAS VEGAS– Sin City turned into literal hell for the Phoenix Mercury against the Las Vegas. The 83-61 loss was one of their worst of the season, for a myriad of reasons, as head coach Nate Tibbetts mentioned. Although the Mercury had an unsung hero on Tuesday, there was none of that on Thursday. After […]

SAN FRANCISCO– Following the Phoenix Mercury’s Tuesday morning shootaround before playing the Golden State Valkyries, Kahleah Copper and Nate Tibbetts stood at center court. The two were chatting. It’s unclear what was said, but both parties were engaged, intentional, and listening to what the other was saying. That’s been the story of the 2025 season: […]

SAN FRANCISCO– Monique Akoa Makani might not get the glitz and glamour that her teammates do. However, the Phoenix Mercury rookie has been a constant throughout the entire season. Tuesday marked the first time she came off the bench after starting every game. Following a knee issue that kept her sidelined for Sunday’s contest, it […]

PHOENIX — The standings are getting tighter and tighter, and everything is at stake for the Phoenix Mercury. Falling to the Las Vegas Aces on Friday has Kahleah Copper putting on her leadership cap. During her postgame availability, she clarified what the team’s philosophy should be down the stretch. I asked Kahleah Copper how she […]

Is a change going to come? It may be for the Phoenix Mercury, who sit at 19-12 and fourth in the WNBA standings. However, players like Kalani Brown and Natasha Mack could make a monster difference. The two centers play different, but effective, brands of basketball. Both have put their respective stamps on specific games […]

Heading into the 2025 NBA offseason, the Phoenix Suns felt like a ship lost at sea. Or in this case, stranded in the desert. After the Suns traded away Kevin Durant for a massive haul, Jonathan Kuminga slowly crept into their radar. The latter has been battling contract negotiations with the Golden State Warriors. As […]

PHOENIX– The second half of the season is closer and closer to concluding, and Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts has established his potential 8-player rotation. It’s raised some questions, due to the talent on the team. The other three players, Kalani Brown, Lexi Held, and Kitija Laksa, have seen their playing time dwindle. Even […]

PHOENIX– A season-series sweep by the Atlanta Dream left just about everyone on the Phoenix Mercury disheveled. Even though Alyssa Thomas has had an incredible season, it felt like Atlanta limited her and everyone else’s effectiveness. Following Sunday’s 74-66 loss, the All-Star forward detailed the consistent theme in the three total matchups against the Dream. […]

PHOENIX– It felt personal for DeWanna Bonner during the Phoenix Mercury’s 95-60 win over the Indiana Fever on Thursday. A plethora of storylines highlighted the game, outside of Bonner. For instance, it was Sophie Cunningham’s first return to Phoenix since being traded in the offseason. Additionally, it was Bonner’s second time playing against Indiana, following […]

PHOENIX– Not many players have the chance to play with two generational players. However, Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham has had the chance to play with Diana Taurasi. In 2025, she’s playing with Caitlin Clark. Although the two players have different styles, there is a striking similarity, Cunningham pointed out before Thursday’s game. Sophie Cunningham […]

PHOENIX– For five seasons, Sophie Cunningham was a beloved figure for the Phoenix Mercury. After Cunningham was traded to the Indiana Fever in a 3-team trade for Satou Sabally, the X-factor missed her personality, on-court presence, and toughness. During her pregame warmups, she went over to a scrum with reporters. With her bright smile, she […]

The WNBA trade deadline ends on August 7, and the Phoenix Mercury have some decisions to make. Although they have an 18-11 record, there might be some more additions they can make. Without further ado, here are three targets that the purple and orange could target. Jessica Shepard to the Mercury? Jessica Shepard would be […]

PHOENIX– Ever since DeWanna Bonner re-signed with the Phoenix Mercury, some thought she would take a step back. However, no one on the team felt that way, especially head coach Nate Tibbetts. He was as ecstatic as anyone to bring on an established veteran, champion, and top player in league history. Bonner posted 18 points […]

PHOENIX– All it took was a little bit of encouragement. At least that’s what Satou Sabally experienced during Tuesday’s 82-66 win over the Connecticut Sun. “I got to experience the family culture here and I felt like I had just tremendous support along some rough days,” Sabally said postgame. “I think it’s just going beyond […]

The previous weekend for the Phoenix Mercury was a rough one, especially for Satou Sabally. She only played one half of basketball on Friday, as head coach Nate Tibbetts benched her. One game later, she was out due to a personal absence. It’s unclear if she was with the team in Chicago. According to the […]

A 2-3 record on the East Coast road trip might not sound too horrific. But for the Phoenix Mercury, it felt like everything that could’ve gone wrong did. Those three losses were marked by disappointing defense, a lackluster offense, and for some, a perceived lack of effort. Even though the WNBA All-Star Game had a […]

Returning to Wintrust Arena once again is always nice for Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper. However, a new face of the Chicago Sky has emerged in Angel Reese. The latter has been impressive, on and off the court. From Reese making WNBA history in her rookie campaign to securing lucrative endorsement deals, she’s on her […]

Ever since signing with the Phoenix Mercury, Alyssa Thomas has been making history. Multiple games with 15 assists, as well as breaking her career-high in points per game and points scored in a single game. It’s an element that head coach Nate Tibbetts has praised since she joined the squad. However, with the second half […]

The moment she checked into Wednesday’s game, Phoenix Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner was met with boo’s from the Indiana Fever crowd. It was something that Kahleah Copper didn’t take too lightly. Following the game, she remained perplexed at why the Fever fanbase would boo someone like Bonner. Phoenix Mercury wing Kahleah Copper on DeWanna Bonner […]

Wednesday will mark DeWanna Bonner’s first return to Indianapolis since leaving the Indiana Fever earlier in the season. Since she signed with the Phoenix Mercury, head coach Nate Tibbetts has loved every moment. He’s cited her professionalism, on-court acumen, and the way Bonner carries herself as key points. During the team’s morning shootaround, Tibbetts told […]

On Wednesday, DeWanna Bonner will return to Indianapolis after a tumultuous time with the organization. After Bonner signed with the Phoenix Mercury in July, it was a full-circle moment. However, the multiple-time All-Star will have to play in front of the Fever crowd as an opponent. While that’s a majority of the storyline for Wednesday’s […]

Days are coming closer and closer to the start of the 2025-26 NBA season, and the Phoenix Suns have made a barrage of moves. Most recently, the Suns gave Devin Booker a $145 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid player in the league. Not to mention, Phoenix aced the NBA draft and landed Khaman […]

The Phoenix Mercury were in a rough spot before Sunday’s game against the Washington Mystics. They went through a 3-game losing skid, and two of the losses came against two of the Eastern Conference’s top teams. During that stretch, Alyssa Thomas emphasized that the team hasn’t been effective on the defensive side. Head coach Nate […]

During the WNBA All-Star weekend, Alyssa Thomas talked about a potential lockout ahead of CBA talks. Fast forward to Sunday, and the Mercury forward’s stance hasn’t changed. It’s only heightened, and Thomas doubled down on CBA talks. Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas said there are a lot of “non-negotiables” when it comes to CBA negotiations. […]

PHOENIX — The talk of the WNBA and the Phoenix Mercury was Brittney Griner’s return to the Valley of the Sun as a member of the Atlanta Dream. During her stay with the franchise for 11 seasons, she made an incredible mark. Griner won the 2014 WNBA title and multiple Defensive Player of the Year […]

Hours before the Phoenix Mercury take on the Atlanta Dream could be filled with pure emotion from Brittney Griner. The former Phoenix center has spent this season not wearing the purple and orange threads. Rather, she’s been in the ATL, that is, with the Dream. During the offseason, Griner left the Mercury and signed with […]

The 2025 NBA Summer League has come to an end, and the Phoenix Suns were the winners. They didn’t win the Summer League title, as did the Charlotte Hornets, but they had a nice turnaround in three months. The Suns extended Devin Booker to a $145 million contract extension. Meanwhile, the franchise traded away Kevin […]

The Bradley Beal and Phoenix Suns era is over, as the team bought him out on Thursday. However, this move felt long overdue, and one that Suns owner Mat Ishbia was ready to make. After the failed Big 3 experiment of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Beal, he pulled the eject button on the latter […]