Top Mercury free agent signing sets new career best in blowout win vs Storm

Jun 21, 2026 - 17:30

PHOENIX– When Valeriane Ayayi signed with the Phoenix Mercury, everyone was excited. Landing the captain of the French National Team is something to boast about. Her on-court chemistry with Alyssa Thomas was also a major talking point.

But as soon as the team’s struggles began, Ayayi was fizzled out of the rotation, to much surprise. Signing for a $500,000 contract should mean that she would receive playing time, but that wasn’t the case.

During those two-ish weeks of playing minimal minutes, doubts crept in. “I know how to play basketball,” she explained in part of her response postgame to reporters after Saturday’s 93-73 win against the Seattle Storm.

She is the captain of the French National Team. She knows how to play basketball. But during that dry spell, it never felt that her skill set adequately matched what Phoenix sought after in the moment.

Even though Ayayi took the Mercury’s advice from the team’s veterans, she is more than capable of being the de facto option. On Saturday against the Seattle Storm, she was all that.

In 22 minutes off the bench, she posted a career-high 18 points and 11 rebounds. Her playmaking was on display, with numerous outlet passes and crafty finds to open 3-point shooters.

This was a matter of time for a game like this to culminate, but it happened at the right time.

“Big one. It feels good. It really feels good,” Ayayi said when asked about the relief of having a game like Saturday’s. “At some point, I started doubting myself, but then I was like, I know how to play basketball.

“I know what I can bring to this team; I just need to be patient. I just need to keep working on the practices. This is what I did, and then my time came today.”

Valériane Ayayi’s performance was long overdue for the Mercury

Phoenix Mercury forward Valeriane Ayayi (11) drives on Chicago Sky guard Sydney Taylor (12) in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. — Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

She was the marquee free agent that the franchise sought after. Getting the crumbs for playing time didn’t sit well with fans, and many thought it was on head coach Nate Tibbetts.

While some of that could be true, when you’re in a losing streak to open the year, that isn’t the time to begin messing with the rotation. It might open a Pandora’s box of even more uncertainty about the team.

Throughout the past two weeks, media members at practice have seen more intentional conversation between coach and player. Tibbetts shared some of those after Saturday and acknowledged his adoration for Ayayi’s professionalism.

“Valou’s been around. She’s the captain of the French National Team. She’s a really good player. It hasn’t got off to a great start for her. I know it hasn’t been easy,” he explained. “I told her in front of the group, and I’ve told her, individually in our conversations, I’m just really proud of how she’s continued to work.

“Even in our video sessions, when she’s not played much or not played at all, she’s spoken up. This is why you just keep working. You wait for opportunities, and tonight, her minutes were up, and she performed. So, I’m really happy for her to have some success and just proud that she stayed with it.”

What to make of Valériane Ayayi’s performance?

This was everything the Mercury needed and searched for in the offseason: the playmaking, defending wing player who can run the offense when Alyssa Thomas is off the floor.

However, her scoring and slashing ability were a welcome sight for a team that struggles to get to the rim. Everyone who watched her in France knew this was part of the package.

Mercury fans might not have known because of being out of the rotation. Surprisingly, it didn’t bother Ayayi in the slightest, but provided more of an opportunity to show that professionalism.

“We had a tough time as a team. It was difficult for all of us. I don’t feel like my personal case was really a personal case. I really feel like that was just the team struggling to find the rhythm,” she explained.

“Everybody was trying to find their own position to find what they could bring to the team on the court. So, obviously, tonight was a better day for me, but it was a better day for the team, and this is the only thing that I want to keep.”

Phoenix hits the road and will take on a struggling Indiana Fever team that blew a 16-point lead to the Atlanta Dream on Saturday. As long as Ayayi has ample playing time, performances like these can become a regular occurence.

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