The Phoenix Mercury’s new practice facility will feature two courts dedicated to franchise superstar Diana Taurasi, the team announced Friday, and will open next Thursday to kick off WNBA All-Star weekend.
The U.S. Olympic 5-on-5 team will face the WNBA in the All-Star Game at Footprint Center on July 20 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC). The All-Star Skills Challenge and 3-point shooting contest will also take place at Footprint Center on July 19 (9 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Mat Ishbia officially became owner of the Suns and Mercury in 2023 and has said it is a priority for him to give the WNBA team its own practice facility. The fact that its opening coincides with the All-Star Game is part of the celebrations for the Mercury, one of the original WNBA franchises dating back to 1997.
“This is going to be a top-tier, top-tier team, and the reason behind it is we want to invest in our team,” Ishbia told ESPN on Friday. “We believe in our game, we believe in the WNBA and we believe in the Phoenix Mercury. We put our money, our effort and our love into it.”
“The Valley loves basketball…we have two great teams doing great things in Phoenix.”
The Mercury’s $100 million, 58,000-square-foot facility is three blocks from the Footprint Center. It will feature two courts, offices, meeting rooms, hydrotherapy services, a sauna, weight and cardio areas, a lounge, dining room and kitchen, among other amenities. Each court will be named Diana Taurasi Court and will feature a Taurasi-inspired logo.
Taurasi, the first overall pick in the 2004 draft out of UConn, has led the Mercury to three WNBA titles and is playing in her 20th season in the league, all with Phoenix. She is also on the U.S. Olympic team for the sixth time, having won five gold medals.
“It worked out perfectly: getting the WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix and being able to honor who I consider to be the greatest of all time,” Ishbia said of Taurasi, the WNBA’s career scoring leader. “And she’s just a great person and a great player. To put her name on the court is something that everyone will see in the future to always remember that Diana Taurasi played here.”
