Mercury’s Nate Tibbetts drops subtle hint about potential Sami Whitcomb return

Jun 14, 2026 - 03:30

PHOENIX– Since Sami Whitcomb has missed the Phoenix Mercury’s first 14 games, the team has missed its perennial shooter. When she was first diagnosed with her injury, it was sudden. Even head coach Nate Tibbetts felt it was extremely sudden.

Nonetheless, the Australian guard opted to have an arthroscopic procedure on her left knee. The recovery timeline was four to six weeks. As of June 17, the six-week mark will be up.

“It was great to have her on the road trip. She started some on-court activities. We don’t have a timeline or anything like that,” Tibbetts said succinctly pregame. “We just have to make sure she’s at 100%.”

That has to be the top priority given the team’s 4-10 record. The veteran is ideally the best shooter on the team, outside of standout rookie Jovana Nogić.

The Mercury can use Whitcomb’s leadership on the court. Her shooting is a major skill, but being a connector and a bridge between the young players and the proven veterans is a key advantage.

As they continue to put together consistent performance after consistent performance, they’ll have to wait for Whitcomb to return to be at full strength.

It feels as if Phoenix is playing catch-up with the rest of the WNBA. Even Alyssa Thomas mentioned that it feels like they are in a training-camp phase of the season, getting everyone acclimated.

Luckily for them, Whitcomb knows the system and understands her role. Being on the road trip was a massive boost. Now, it’s counting down the days until she makes her season debut.

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