Jovana Nogic looks right at home under the bright lights in historic Mercury debut
May 9, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Phoenix Mercury guard Jovana Nogic (29) dribbles against Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) in the first quarter of their game at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images LAS VEGAS — Jovana Nogic looked anything but overwhelmed in her WNBA debut, as the Phoenix Mercury overwhelmed the Las Vegas Aces with a 99-66 win to take Game 1 of the season. The Serbian forward stepped into the club’s starting lineup Saturday afternoon and immediately gave them another reason to believe its international pipeline and depth could become one of the team’s strengths this season.
While the W may be new to her, Nogic has been making a name for herself abroad. She most recently played for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia, where she averaged 10. 6 points, 2.
2 rebounds and 2. 3 assists per game. It didn’t take her long to bring that talent into Saturday’s game against the reigning champions.
Alongside veterans Alyssa Thomas, Kahleah Copper, Natasha Mack and DeWanna Bonner, Nogic played like a poised pro rather than a rookie making her league debut. She spaced the floor, defended aggressively and delivered timely scoring, finishing with 19 points while shooting 4-for-5 from beyond the arc in a standout debut that showed both her readiness and her fit within Phoenix’s system. It was also a night that highlighted more than just a strong individual performance, offering an early look at how the Mercury may have to lean on depth this season.
May 9, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) scores against the Las Vegas Aces in the second quarter of their game at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images The Mercury, much like last year, start the season without a few of their top players, including Sami Whitcomb, Monique Akoa-Makani and Valériane Ayayi. That has forced head coach Nate Tibbetts to lean on his bench and rely on rookies to help replace that production.