Mercury championship guard needs knee surgery right before season opener

PHOENIX– Some unfortunate news for the Phoenix Mercury right before media day, as championship guard Sami Whitcomb sustained an injury and will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery and will be evaluated in four to six weeks, according to the team.

The two-time WNBA champion was a pivotal part of the team’s success. As Whitcomb served as a mentor for the Mercury rookies, her presence will still be there, but not on the court.

Her uncanny 3-point shooting ability is at a premium, and something much of the league doesn’t have. However, this also presents another question about who the team will have available.

Starting point guard Monique Akoa Makani is still overseas competing. There’s no clear timetable for when she’ll return, and the team has only three days until the season begins.

Not to mention, Whitcomb brings championship experience to a seasoned yet young roster. Players like Kyara Linskens and Valériane Ayayi are getting their first taste of true WNBA action.

Although both are legitimate players, having that W experience is key, and it’s something the Australian guard would bring. Having that familiarity with how the offense and defense are designed is crucial.

Nonetheless, Phoenix’s depth is much improved compared to last season. So much so that the Mercury went from having two returning players to nearly triple that amount.

As always, this will be a next-man-up mentality for the team that just went to the WNBA Finals a year prior. But it seems that the injury bug continues to persist, and might put a dent in immediate success at the start of the new season.

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