The Phoenix Mercury will begin the 2026 WNBA season without a key piece of their championship-contending puzzle. Veteran guard Sami Whitcomb is expected to miss four to six weeks after undergoing a scheduled arthroscopy on her left knee to remove a loose body, the team announced Wednesday.

Whitcomb, who was instrumental in the Mercury's run to the WNBA Finals last season, revealed the injury occurred during a routine practice session. "I came down on a rebound attempt and felt something in my knee," she recalled. "It was unusual for me, so I just subbed myself off and went to see the doctor."

Head coach Nate Tibbetts witnessed the moment firsthand and knew immediately something was off. "I was standing under the basket. She went for a rebound, landed, and just made this face," Tibbetts said during the Mercury's media day. "I looked at her and asked, 'Hey, you all right?' She said, 'I don't know.'"

The injury came as a surprise, especially after Whitcomb posted solid numbers in the Mercury's two preseason wins over the Chicago Sky and the Japanese National Team, averaging 7.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists. Tibbetts emphasized that the issue was not a lingering problem. "It wasn't anything that was building up. We're going to get it scoped, and she's going to work her tail off to get back on the court."

Whitcomb's absence is a significant blow to the Mercury's backcourt depth. In her first season with Phoenix, she averaged 9.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, providing veteran leadership and clutch shooting. A two-time WNBA champion with the Seattle Storm (2018, 2020), Whitcomb helped guide the Mercury back to the WNBA Finals in 2025. She re-signed with Phoenix in the offseason, calling the team her "first choice."

For now, the Mercury will need to rally without one of their most experienced guards. But if there's one thing Whitcomb's career has shown, it's that she knows how to make a comeback—and when she returns, she'll be ready to pick up right where she left off.