PHOENIX — A new season is upon the Phoenix Mercury, and they’ll open their 2026 preseason with a blend of homecoming and international flair.
Phoenix Mercury players huddle before their WNBA playoff semifinal game against the Minnesota Lynx at PHX Arena on Sept. 28, 2025. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Phoenix is set to face the Chicago Sky on April 25 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, marking the first time a WNBA game will be played in the state. The game holds even deeper meaning for the Mercury, as head coach Nate Tibbetts has strong ties to South Dakota. Tibbetts grew up in the area and played collegiately at the University of South Dakota before starting his coaching career, including time with the NBA G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Assistant coach Megan Vogel also has regional ties, having been a standout at South Dakota State and building a legacy as a competitor.
Sep 14, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts reacts during a timeout against the New York Liberty during game one of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs round one at PHX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images
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The game also reflects the Mercury’s — and the league’s — continued effort to expand the WNBA’s footprint in smaller markets. Hosting the first game in the state is a sign that growth is working, giving more fans direct access to the sport. Not only will the club be part of the ongoing effort to put women’s basketball more prominently on the national map, but they will also face international competition before the regular season begins.
On April 29, the Mercury will face Japan’s national team in an exhibition game — an Olympic-caliber program known for its pace and precision. In a unique early test for Phoenix’s roster, this will be the third exhibition between the teams, as they previously met in 2012 and 2013.
Mercury fanes hold up an oversized photo of Alyssa Thomas as Phoenix faces the Chicago Sky for a home game at PHX Arena on Aug. 28, 2025, in Phoenix. © Megan Mendoza/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Fans have expressed their excitement about both preseason games, hoping they will generate more buzz for the league and signal good things to come for the Mercury as they aim to return to the Finals after their 2025 appearance.
After a long and emotional offseason filled with uncertainty about whether there would even be a season, the Mercury and the WNBA are going all-in to start 2026 — giving fans something to look forward to well before the regular season tips off.
