Rumors

Dana Scott: Phoenix Suns’ new addition Dillon Brooks (cornrows, unzipped hoodie) is sitting courtside at the Aces-Mercury game. Brooks was dealt to Suns on June 22 as part of the Kevin Durant trade to Rockets.

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In 2023, Traylor submitted a presentation for management, which was reviewed by ESPN, that outlined specific incidents, including these three: In March 2023, an unnamed former part-time employee was found to have stolen more than $40,000 in shoes, merchandise and apparel during their employment. In April 2023, a "disgruntled subject" interrupted a Suns photo-op with team executives, including team president Josh Bartelstein. And in June 2023, a political influencer "harassed" former Phoenix Mercury player Brittney Griner at the Dallas/Fort Worth airport, delaying a team flight by 3.5 hours. Traylor alleges the presentation led Suns management to retaliate against him, including having him demoted nearly a year later. He also alleges the team discouraged him from taking protected leave after he was diagnosed with cancer.

ESPN

The NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury‘s arena naming rights deal with Footprint, an environmental tech company, has ended early, as removal of arena signage and branding began on Monday. The Footprint Center, where the Suns and the Mercury play their home games, will have a new name next year as the naming rights contract has been reworked. Player 15 Group, the parent company for the Suns and Mercury, will handle the naming rights negotiations internally and expects to name a new partner before the 2025-2026 NBA season. Footprint, based in Gilbert, Ariz., will remain a team partner but at a lower level of sponsorship. The arena-rights deal began in 2021. The new partner will be the fourth title sponsor for the 18,000-seat, multi-purpose arena that opened in 1992.

Sportico

After the Phoenix Suns were handed a 121-113 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, Kevin Durant told the media he was "definitely shocked" about Brittney Griner's Tuesday announcement to leave the Phoenix Mercury for the Atlanta Dream in WNBA free agency. Durant immediately shifted his tone as he reflected on his close friend's 11-year WNBA career in the Valley. "Well, that’s just part of professional sports, but BG is just been a staple here in the city for so long," Durant said. "It’s kind of weird seeing her with a new team, but everybody needs a change."

Arizona Republic

Kendra Andrews: BREAKING: the Phoenix Mercury are acquiring Satou Sabally from the Dallas Wings in three-team trade, sources tell me and @Alexa Philippou. One of the top free agents, Sabally made her desire to leave Dallas known, but because she is a cored player it had to be done via trade.

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Kendra Andrews: The trade is between the Mercury, Wings and Fever. Phoenix gets Satou Sabally, Kalani Brown and Sevgi Uzun. Dallas gets Ty Harrison, NaLyssa Smith (via Indy) the rights to Mikiah Herbert Harrigan and the No. 8 pick from Indy. Indiana gets Sophie Cunningham and the No. 19 pick.

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It's tough for Kevin Durant to register that Brittney Griner is taking her talents to Atlanta. However, he's had the same mindset as her before. After the Phoenix Suns were handed a 121-113 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, Durant told the media he was "definitely shocked" about Griner's Tuesday announcement to leave the Phoenix Mercury for the Atlanta Dream in WNBA free agency. Durant immediately shifted his tone as he reflected on his close friend's 11-year WNBA career in the Valley. "Well, that’s just part of professional sports, but BG is just been a staple here in the city for so long," Durant said. "It’s kind of weird seeing her with a new team, but everybody needs a change."

Arizona Republic

Shams Charania: Monica Wright Rogers, a two-time WNBA champion, has been hired as the first general manager of the Toronto Tempo WNBA expansion team, Klutch Sports' Andy Miller told me and @alexaphilippou . She joins the franchise after serving as Phoenix Mercury assistant general manager.

x.com

This isn’t Ishbia’s first foray into professional sports ownership. His brother, billionaire Mat Ishbia, led a group that purchased the National Basketball Association’s Phoenix Suns in 2023 and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury in a transaction that valued the teams at a record $4 billion. Justin Ishbia is a part owner and the alternate governor for the two teams.

Bloomberg

Phoenix Mercury: Some of Philly’s Finest! Dr. J dropped by the practice facility to meet the team and tour the new headquarters!

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Indiana Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton attended Friday night’s Indiana Fever game against the Phoenix Mercury, one where rookie phenomenon Caitlin Clark had one of her best starts of the season. Haliburton wanted the world to know what he was seeing at Friday’s game, as he tweeted while he was in attendance: “Hope y’all seeing what 22 doin at Gainbridge.” That is such a cool way for Haliburton to give Clark her flowers as the two try to forge a new era for excellent Indiana basketball in the NBA and WNBA.

For The Win

The Aces bounced back with a 103-99 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday before taking on the Liberty. Hammon said Popovich's phone call helped. "He made me laugh; mission accomplished," she said. "It's true, nobody calls you when you're doing terrible. So that was the point of his call. Just to check on where I was mentally. And then we just talked about some different buttons to push. He's always a phone call away, I know."

ESPN

Between the Suns, Phoenix Mercury and now the Valley Suns, Bartelstein and owner Mat Ishbia have completed the holy trio of professional basketball teams in the state of Arizona. It’s something Ishbia mentioned on his first day as owner in a one-on-one interview with PHNX Sports, and now the Suns will get their opportunity to utilize an important team-building tool. “Obviously James Jones and myself have talked about, from day one, the impact the G League can have,” Bartelstein said. “Players on our team from Bol Bol, Grayson Allen and Damion Lee, you’re seeing more and more players start their careers in the G League and grow, learn our system, learn how we want to play it, and one day contribute at the high-up stage of playing in NBA games, NBA playoff games and hopefully winning an NBA championship.”

gophnx.com

Gerald Bourguet: Mat Ishbia said the Mercury practice facility should be ready by July. Everything they’ve put together so far came about in just 5 months

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