The Phoenix Mercury came into the 2024 WNBA season with a revamped roster and a new head coach in Nate Tibbetts. So far, it's been a mixed bag as they've gotten off to a 6-6 start on the season. One of the key questions surrounding this Mercury team though has been their depth. The Mercury made an attempt to strengthen their roster by adding Charisma Osborne as per Tia Reid of The Next.

Earlier this week, the Mercury opened up a roster spot by waiving Morgan Bertsch. Bertsch was a part of the trade with the Chicago Sky that brought Kahleah Copper to the Mercury. Adding Osborne gives the team additional depth in the backcourt with a strong defensive presence.

Charisma Osborne was originally drafted by the Mercury with the N0. 25 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Osborne added training camp with the Mercury but was one of their final roster cuts ahead of the start of the season.

Osborne is coming off a highly-decorated college basketball career at UCLA. She left UCLA as the program's second all-time leading scorer. Osborne was projected as a first round WNBA Draft pick after her senior season in 2022-23, but she opted to return to the Bruins using her extra Covid year of eligibility.

Mercury looking to turn the corner this season

Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi (3) and center Brittney Griner (42) head down court after a basket in the first half against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

After a suffering a four-game losing streak, the Mercury have now won three of their last four games including beating the Western Conference leading Minnesota Lynx. They were without Brittney Griner to begin the season due to a toe injury, but she has since made her return to the lineup.

In her 2024 season debut, Griner had 11 points, four rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot in 21 minutes in the win over the Lynx. She followed that up with 24 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots in a win against the Dallas Wings.

Both Griner and teammate Diana Taurasi were recently named to Team USA ahead of next month's Olympics in Paris. This is will be Griner's third Olympic appearance while it will be Taurasi's sixth appearance with Team USA.

The Mercury's offseason additions of Kahleah Copper and Natasha Cloud gave the team a very top-heavy rotation. They lost key depth pieces in Brianna Turner and Michaela Onyenwere to the Sky in the Copper trade.

The team is also navigating a rookie head coach in Nate Tibbetts. While Tibbetts does have previous coaching experience, he is a newcomer to the WNBA. Prior to this season. Tibbetts served as an assistant coach under Jamahl Mosley in the NBA with the Orlando Magic.