By Mark Carlisle
Mail | X: @mwcarlisle

Kahleah Copper will represent the Mercury in the WNBA All-Star Game today in Chicago.

Copper was not an initial All-Star selection but was named a replacement for Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum who is injured. Copper becomes just the eighth player in the team’s 30-year history to be named to multiple All-Star Games with the Mercury, the other being in 2024.

If Copper balls out, she could become the first Mercury player to ever be named All-Star Game MVP.

With the guard looking to etch the next chapter in Mercury All-Star Game history, here is a look back at some of the most prolific All-Stars in the team’s history.

This article assembles a roster of Mercury players based on the most All-Star appearances at each position.

The WNBA All-Star Game has had a bit of a sporadic history, with just 22 All-Star Games in the league’s 30-year history. The All-Star Game did not start until the league’s third season in 1999. The All-Star Game was canceled in 2020 due to the season being shortened by COVID-19. In 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016, there was no All-Star Game because of a mid-season hiatus for the Summer Olympics.

In 2010, the league hosted the Stars at the Sun, held at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncaseville, Connecticut. The game pitted the USA Basketball Team against a team of WNBA stars not on Team USA. Though the league later adopted this format, Team USA against WNBA All-Stars, for its All-Star Game during the Olympic years of 2021 and 2024, the 2010 Stars at the Sun Game is not considered an official WNBA All-Star Game. The three Mercury players who made that game are denoted with an asterisk.

Starters

Cappie Pondexter of the Phoenix Mercury drives to the basket during the first quarter of the WNBA all-star game on Sunday, July 15, 2007 in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Evan Vucci

Point Guard

Cappie Pondexter: 3 (7 overall)

Pondexter made the game in 2006, ’07 and ’09, one of four players to make three All-Star Games with the Mercury. She performed better in the latter two games, scoring 12 points in 2007 and nine points along with nine rebounds and six assists in 2009.

After her time with Phoenix, she made three All-Star Games with the New York Liberty and one with the Chicago Sky.

Diana Taurasi, of Team USA, dribbles the ball against Team WNBA during the first half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Ross D. Franklin

Shooting Guard

Diana Taurasi: 11*

Widely regarded as the best WNBA player of all time, Taurasi leads the Mercury with 11 All-Star appearances, along with playing in the 2010 Stars at the Sun Game. Only Sue Bird has more All-Star appearances with 13.

DT holds the Mercury record for most assists in an All-Star Game (nine, 2007) and most 3-pointers (four, 2017).

Taurasi is married to former teammate and assistant coach Penny Taylor.

Phoenix Mercury’s DeWanna Bonner, of Team Delle Donne plays during the first half of a WNBA All-Star game Saturday, July 27, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

John Locher

Small Forward

DeWanna Bonner: 3 (6 overall)

Bonner is back with the team now, but her three All-Star appearances were with her first stint with Phoenix, in 2015, ’18 and ’19. She performed better in the latter two games, scoring 13 points in each. She was part of the only time three Mercury players started in the game in 2015, alongside Brittney Griner and Candice Dupree.

Bonner also made three more appearances with the Connecticut Sun.

West's Candice Dupree, of the Phoenix Mercury, shoots over East's Jessica Breland, of the Chicago Sky, during the first half the WNBA All-Star basketball game, Saturday, July 19, 2014, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Matt York

Power Forward

Candice Dupree: 2* (7 overall)

Dupree made the All-Star Game for the Mercury in 2014 and ’15, along with playing in the Stars at the Sun game in 2010. She was part of the only time three Mercury players started in the game in 2015, alongside Brittney Griner and DeWanna Bonner. She faired much better in her first All-Star appearance, however, scoring 12 points with eight rebounds.

Dupree made three All-Star Games with the Chicago Sky before her time in Phoenix and one with the Indiana Fever after leaving the Mercury.

Brittney Griner (15), of Team USA, drives past Nneka Ogwumike, of Team WNBA, to score during the first half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Ross D. Franklin

Center

Brittney Griner: 9

Griner is second only to Taurasi in Mercury history. The same goes for number of All-Star selections. She was an All-Star in all but two seasons she played for Mercury.

BG holds the Mercury record for points in an All-Star Game (21, 2015) as well as rebounds (13, 2023) and blocks (three, 2014, 2015).

Second team

Point Guard

Skylar Diggins: 2 (7 overall)

Diggins (who went by Diggins-Smith during her time with the team) made the All-Star Game in 2021 and ’22. Before her time in Phoenix, she made two All-Star appearances with the Tulsa Shock and two more with the franchise after they became the Dallas Wings. Since leaving Phoenix, she has made one All-Star appearance with the Seattle Storm.

Diggins now plays for the Chicago Sky.

Shooting Guard

Kahleah Copper: 2 (5 overall)

Copper has made the game in 2024 and ’26. She is tied for the team record for steals in an All-Star game with three in 2023.

She made three All-Star Games with the Chicago Sky before coming to Phoenix.

Small Forward

Penny Taylor: 2* (3 overall)

Taylor made the game in 2007 and 2011, along with playing in the Stars at the Sun game in 2010. She is tied for the team record for steals in an All-Star game with three in 2007.

Taylor is married to former teammate Diana Taurasi.

Power Forward

Satou Sabally: 1 (3 overall)

Sabally is ordinarily a small forward, but we’ll stretch her to power forward in this small-ball second team lineup.

Her only All-Star appearance with the Mercury came in 2025, but she made two with the Dallas Wings before coming to Phoenix. She now plays for the New York Liberty.

Center

Alyssa Thomas: 1 (6 overall)

Thomas joins Copper and Bonner on this list as current Mercury players.

Thomas is usually a power forward, but we’ll stretch her to center to round out the second team as there are 10 players who have made multiple All-Star Games, including at least one with the Mercury.

Her only All-Star appearance with the Mercury was in 2025. She made five appearances during her time with the Connecticut Sun before coming to Phoenix.

Honorable mentions

These are the other four players with an All-Star selection for the Mercury. It was each of their only career All-Star Game appearance.

Adrian Williams-Strong: 2003

Brandy Reed: 2000

Michele Timms: 1999

Jennifer Gillom: 1999

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Mark Carlisle
Associate Editor | Phoenix

mcarlisle@iniusa.org

Meet Mark

Mark Carlisle joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, covering Glendale. He has since moved to the Daily Independent team, primarily covering the city of Phoenix along with other topics affecting the Valley at-large.

Community: Mark enjoys taking his two young sons to parks, the Phoenix Zoo, the Phoenix Public Library  and other fun events around the Valley. He also participates in a local book club.

Education: Chapman University with a BA in English Journalism and one in Screenwriting.

Random Fact: Mark worked at a tuxedo shop in college. Just don’t ask him to tie a bowtie.

 Hobbies: Spending time with his wife, sons and dog, watching sports and TV shows, listening to audiobooks and occasionally writing fiction or designing a board game.