Now that there will be a 2026 WNBA season, the Phoenix Mercury will have to get to work in a compressed schedule before the WNBA’s opening day on May 8.
The Mercury’s season will begin on May 9 against the Las Vegas Aces.
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After eight days of negotiations, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement on March 23, which is described as “transformational” in a statement from the WNBPA.
However, the Mercury might have a different look since playing in the 2025 WNBA Finals.
The NCAA Women’s national championship will be held in Phoenix on April 5, and as in years past, the seniors will be preparing for the WNBA draft shortly after.
But with two expansion teams coming in, there will be even more that needs to happen before training camp begins on April 19.
How will the expansion draft affect the Mercury’s roster?
The expansion draft is scheduled for April 6, while the WNBA Draft is held on April 13.
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Per ESPN, there haven’t been any guidelines provided to the two expansion teams — the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire.
That means it remains unclear whether the expansion draft will include protections similar to previous iterations.
In the 2024 expansion draft, the 12 previously existing teams were allowed to protect five players.
For 2026, the Tempo and Fire will take turns selecting players left unprotected until each team reaches 12.
What makes this draft especially difficult for the Tempo and the Fire is that all but two veterans in the league are free agents in some shape or form. One of the veterans who isn’t a free agent is Mercury center Kalani Brown, who is signed through 2026.
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Even with Brown signed for this season, it’s unclear if the Mercury will protect her in the expansion draft.
Five players the Mercury would presumably want to retain would be Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally, Kahleah Copper, Monique Akoa Makani and Natasha Mack.
If one more player can be protected, the Mercury likely would consider Kathryn Westbeld, who played significant bench minutes in the postseason.
More WNBA: Why the Mercury could protect these players in WNBA expansion draft
When does free agency begin?
With more than 100 players set to become free agents and the salary cap expanding from $1.5 million in 2025 to $7 million in 2026, there’s going to be a lot of movement.
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Per ESPN, free agency will begin the day after the expansion draft.
From April 7-8, teams can make qualifying offers to restricted, reserved or core-eligible players. Negotiations officially begin on April 9, and players can formally sign deals on April 12.
For 2026, the average salary is expected to be $583,000 and increase to $1 million over the life of the agreement. The range for minimum salaries will be based on years of service and will be from $270,000 to $300,000 in 2026 to $380,000 by 2032.
The Mercury will have more players to sign than before, as the new CBA requires teams to have 12 players. Teams will also have two more roster spots for developmental players and salary cap exceptions for injured or pregnant players.
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Reach the reporter or send tips for stories at jenna.ortiz@arizonarepublic.com, as well as @jennarortiz on X.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Who will be on the Phoenix Mercury roster in 2026?
