AZ Digest: Mercury Star Joins Unrivaled; Phoenix Rising FC Stages Comeback Draw

Arizona Sports News: Mercury Star Joins Unrivaled, Phoenix Rising FC Makes Comeback

As the fall season approaches in Arizona, sports fans can look forward to a variety of exciting events and developments across different leagues and teams. From the ongoing USL Championship season to college athletics, there's plenty happening in the state. Here are some key updates from the world of Arizona sports.

Mercury Star Joins Unrivaled for Second Season

Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas has made history by becoming the first player to join the Unrivaled league for its upcoming season. This domestic offseason league, founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, is set to begin in early January and run through March. Thomas was one of the standout players during the league’s inaugural 2024 season, alongside her Mercury teammates Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally.

The league will gradually reveal more player names on social media, with daily announcements starting from September 22 to October 1. Each day, six players will be announced at 9 a.m. MT, with new names rolling out every hour until all six are revealed.

Phoenix Rising FC Secures a Draw with Late Goal

In a thrilling match on September 20, Phoenix Rising FC managed to secure a 2-2 draw against Loudoun United FC thanks to a last-minute goal from defender Carl Sainté. The game took place at Phoenix Rising Stadium, where the team came back from a two-goal deficit in the second half.

Sainté scored the equalizer with a header from a corner kick, marking his first goal for the club. Midfielder Charlie Dennis provided the assist, contributing to his second assist of the season. Dennis also forced an own goal that helped level the score at 2-1.

This result extended Phoenix Rising FC's unbeaten streak to six matches, their longest of the season. With four draws in their last five games, the team remains in seventh place in the Western Conference with 32 points. They will face Oakland Roots SC on September 27 at 7 p.m. MT.

ASU Volleyball Dominates Grand Canyon

Arizona State volleyball continued its strong performance by defeating Grand Canyon in straight sets (25-16, 25-19, 25-14) on September 20. Noemie Glover and Bailey Miller each recorded double-digit kills, while the Sun Devils delivered a season-high 10 aces to just one for GCU.

Colby Neal had a career-high four aces, and Ella Lewis added three. ASU will next face Milwaukee on September 21 at 1 p.m. MST in a live match on ESPN+.

ASU Soccer Claims First Top 10 Win Since 2020

Arizona State soccer made history by defeating No. 10 BYU 2-1 in Tempe on September 18. This win marked the first outright victory over BYU since the 2004 season and the first over a Top 10 opponent since 2020.

Goals from Cameron Valladares and Addison Baltodano secured the win, with Presley Freeman scoring a consolation goal for BYU. ASU now has its first seven-match winning streak since the 2002 season and will face Oklahoma State on September 25 at 7 p.m. MST on ESPN+.

A'ja Wilson and Alanna Smith Named Co-DPOY Winners

A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces and Alanna Smith of the Minnesota Lynx were named co-Defensive Players of the Year for the 2025 WNBA season. This marks the first time in WNBA history that the award has been shared.

Wilson, who has won the DPOY award three times in her eight-year career, led the league in scoring, rebounds, and blocks this season. Smith contributed significantly to the Lynx's top defensive rating and will play in the semifinals after eliminating the Golden State Valkyries.

Smith previously played for the Phoenix Mercury before being drafted in 2019. She continues to make an impact on the court as a key player for the Lynx.