The end has come for the Phoenix Mercury’s 2025 season, but general manager Nick U’Ren’s job is about to get harder.
All but one player on the WNBA Finals team is unsigned, which means that U’Ren might have another roster overhaul as he did in preparation for this season.
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But the negotiations won’t happen until the WNBA leadership and players reach a collective bargaining agreement. And with that deadline looming, Oct. 31, the conversations at exit day looked different than those in past years.
“We just did all our exit interviews and I always just err on the side of honesty, even if that means uncertainty,” U’Ren said. “I told everybody over and over, ‘We have no idea what’s coming for us.’
“They’re going to have decisions to make based on their career, their family. We’re going to have decisions to make based on our team. We can have all our hopes, desires and plans at this point in time, but no one knows until the CBA gets done.”
U’Ren couldn’t comment much more on his thoughts and knowledge of the ongoing negotiations.
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WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said before Game 1 of the Finals that there could be an extension, allowing the league to operate under the current CBA for a temporary period as negotiations continue.
It wouldn’t be the first time having an extension, either. Both sides agreed to a 60-day extension in 2019 before reaching an agreement on the current CBA on Jan. 14, 2020, ahead of free agency.
If they don’t reach an agreement before the CBA expires, or by the potential extension deadline, the league would experience a work stoppage and temporarily shut down until a contract is signed. That means players would be unable to access team facilities. There would be no draft lottery, expansion draft, free agency, trades, WNBA draft, training camps or preseason until a new CBA is reached.
Not only does U’Ren have to worry about a lockout, but if both sides do agree to a deal, there’s an expansion draft coming for two new teams. The uncertainty on player movement adds a lot more pressure on U’Ren.
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However, he’s excited about the league expanding to a new market in Toronto and returning to Portland.
“I’ve said this before, I’m no sports historian,” he said, “but I’m not sure any league has gone through what this league is about to go through with two expansion teams.
“What an exciting time to be able to grow like that.”
Stars Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas did not appear too down on themselves after losing the Finals, but both seemed ready for another run after playing the year together.
However, anything could change in the offseason. The Mercury’s front office is prepared for all scenarios and hopes that the Finals run could attract more free agents to Phoenix. Head coach Nate Tibbetts said that he’ll be trying to find more defensive players to help the Mercury continue to trend in the right direction.
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“The goal coming into this year was to have a good year and take a step forward. I think we were able to,” U’Ren said. “Whether it’s our own players or players across the league, I think and hope we put ourselves in a position to be a place where people want to play between the resources we have, the ownership group we have.
“One of the benefits of the Finals run was that people got to see what we’re all about.”
Reach the reporter at jenna.ortiz@arizonarepublic.com, as well as @jennarortiz on X.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What is next for the Mercury with CBA deadline, expansion looming?
