Mercury finish 2026 with 100-82 loss to Aces and begin offseason evaluation

Phoenix finished 16-28, went 7-15 at home and missed the playoffs after losing to Las Vegas. Thomas’s franchise-record 358 assists and demand for results intensify scrutiny of Tibbetts, U’Ren and the 2027 foundation; U’Ren says Phoenix is not planning a rebuild. The Sparks hold Phoenix’s first-round pick, which has a 1.2% chance at No. 1 in the Nov. 15 lottery; no new roster development has emerged.