At age 37, Phoenix Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb isn’t complacent with her game and is finding ways to reinvent herself.
Whitcomb played crucial minutes off the bench throughout the 2025 WNBA playoffs, averaging nearly five 3-pointers over the 11 games and logging 23.0 minutes. Her second-chance 3-point shot in Game 2 against the Minnesota Lynx was the tipping point of the WNBA semifinals.
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After the season ended with a loss to Las Vegas in the Finals, Whitcomb decided not to go back home to Australia to play in theWomen’s National Basketball League. Instead, she pushed herself to play in Turkey, which is known for its faster-paced style of play.
“(I) just tried to grow my game in other ways and continue to be a combo guard, but I got to play a lot off-ball there and be the Kah (Copper) there, for the lack of a better term,” Whitcomb said. “I got to be that person on the team for a bit where things are running through me and for me.
“It’s always nice when you go overseas to get a little bit more of those reps, even if it is limited. I can still be efficient and effective for us in those spots.”
Whitcomb had “no problem” telling the Mercury’s front office that Phoenix was her “first choice” during exit interviews, and both parties kept in contact throughout the offseason.
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When free agency officially began, she received a lot of calls and considered three other teams, but her heart remained with the structure in Phoenix.
“It was great to have the role that I had, but the people, the belief and how they pour into me,” Whitcomb said. “It was a really special year, obviously because of what we did on the court, but how we were off the court made it special too.”
This training camp has been different from Whitcomb’s first season with the Mercury in 2025, when there were just two returners. But she’s still had a mentorship with the rookies who are hopeful to make one of the few open spots.
Whitcomb has seen a lot of great shooters in training camp, including Lauren Jensen, Shay Ciezki, Yarden Garzon and Morgan Maly.
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The Mercury’s training camp roster hasn’t seen everyone come in yet as returners Monique Akoa Makani and Kathryn Westbeld remain overseas. Coach Nate Tibbetts said both won’t be back with the team in time for the first preseason game on Saturday, April 25.
But even with a few players missing, Whitcomb has noticed a difference that last year’s new team couldn’t replicate.
“We’re already starting miles ahead with where we were last year with the group that is back,” Whitcomb said. “We’re still missing some pieces and have some new faces, but the fact that there is a group that can demonstrate what it should look like will really help everybody else.”
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: Phoenix Mercury 3-point specialist Sami Whitcomb’s reasons to return
