Mercury beat Storm in season opener, Satou Sabally scores franchise debut record

Satou Sabally scored a franchise-debut record 27 points in the Phoenix Mercury's 81-59 win over the Seattle Storm in Saturday's season opener.

BY AP

May 17, 2025, 10:05 PM Updated: May 19, 2025, 12:37 pm

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Satou Sabally Mercury Storm season opener 2025...

Satou Sabally #0 of the Phoenix Mercury reacts after a basket and a foul during the first half against the Seattle Storm at PHX Arena on May 17, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

PHOENIX (AP) — Satou Sabally scored 27 points, Alyssa Thomas added 20 and Phoenix never trailed Saturday night as the Mercury beat the Seattle Storm 81-59 in the season opener for both teams.

Thomas, who also had seven rebounds and six assists, and Sabally came to Phoenix in the offseason by way of sign-and-trade deals from Connecticut and Dallas, respectively. Sabally’s 27-point bar in addition to being a game-high for either team was also a franchise record for a player making their debut.

Eight players made their debut for the Mercury, the most to do so in the same game for the franchise since nine did so in 1999 — the WNBA’s inaugural season.

Satou Sabally: 27 points
Alyssa Thomas: 20 points

AT and Satou become just the second pair of teammates in franchise history to each score 20+ points in their Mercury debuts. They become just the fourth pair in WNBA history. pic.twitter.com/TUe3cAyMpF

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) May 18, 2025

Skylar Diggins scored 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting and Nneka Ogwumike made 5 of 10 from the field and finished with 12 points for the Storm. The rest of the team combined to shoot 23% (9 of 39).

Monique Akoa Makani made a layup — her first WNBA points — and Kalani Brown followed with another to give the Mercury a 73-53 lead with 4:29 to play and spark a 12-1 run.

Phoenix shot 52% (30 of 58) from the field.

Sabally scored 17 points and Thomas added 13 to help the Mercury take a 41-30 lead at halftime.

Dominique Malonga, the No. 2 pick in last month’s draft, made her debut for the Storm. The 6-foot-6 19-year-old finished with two points in nearly 10 minutes.

Kahleah Copper (knee) and Natasha Mack (back) did not play for Phoenix. Copper averaged 21.1 points per game last season, third most in the WNBA.