The Phoenix Mercury have made a savvy last-minute addition to their roster, claiming Australian forward Anneli Maley off waivers just ahead of the WNBA season opener. This move comes after a busy week of roster adjustments across the league, as teams finalized their lineups for opening day.

Maley was originally waived by the New York Liberty, who had signed her to a training camp deal earlier in the offseason. Despite the setback, the 26-year-old forward turned heads during the preseason, posting an impressive 26 points and 13 rebounds across two exhibition games with New York. That performance far exceeded her limited WNBA experience from 2022, when she averaged just 2.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in 11 minutes per game over four appearances with the Chicago Sky.

The Mercury wasted no time in scooping up the versatile forward off waivers, as confirmed by the WNBA's transaction tracker. Maley will bring energy and depth to a Phoenix frontcourt that already features stars like Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, and Valeriane Ayayi. While it remains unclear if she'll suit up for the Mercury's season opener on Saturday afternoon, her addition gives the team more options as they prepare to face the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.

Tip-off between the Mercury and Aces is set for Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EST. For fans looking to gear up for the new season, now is the perfect time to stock up on Mercury apparel and show support for the team's newest addition.