Sami Whitcomb, an American‑Australian guard for the Phoenix Mercury and Australian Opals, rose from undrafted status to two‑time WNBA champion. Discover her career journey, breakout 36‑point night, WNBL MVP season, and global impact on and off the court.
Sami Whitcomb: Undrafted to WNBA Star—The Rise of a Global Guard
At 36, Sami Whitcomb stands tall as one of the WNBA’s most inspiring stories. Born in Ventura, California, on July 20, 1988, she overcame obstacles to become a two-time WNBA champion, a trusted leader for the Phoenix Mercury, and a key figure for the Australian Opals. adelaidenow.com.au+15en.wikipedia.org+15ctpost.com+15.
🏀 Early Career & Global Pathway
After playing college basketball at Washington (2006–2010), Whitcomb went undrafted in 2010. Yet she sparked a unique international journey—playing in Germany (Chemnitz, Wolfenbüttel), then joining Australia’s Rockingham Flames and Perth Lynx, where her dominance shone. Sami Whitcomb performance earned her Australian citizenship in 2018, enabling her to play for the Opals en.wikipedia.org.
Her European stint included time with Basket Lattes in France and Galatasaray in Turkey—vastly improving her all-around game and global profile.
🏆 WNBL MVP & Championship Brilliance
Sami Whitcomb 2024–25 season with the Bendigo Spirit in Australia’s WNBL was legendary. She secured MVP honors, led the league in scoring, and guided Bendigo to the WNBL championship, earning Grand Final MVP status en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
This WNBL dominance preceded her signing with Phoenix on February 2, 2025, where the Mercury aimed to infuse veteran elite shooting into their lineup en.wikipedia.org+13mercury.wnba.com+13lmtonline.com+13.
🌟 WNBA Journey & Championship Pedigree
Sami Whitcomb entered the WNBA in 2017 with the Seattle Storm, later joining/returning to Storm and New York Liberty, before landing in Phoenix in 2025 en.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2adelaidenow.com.au+2.
A two-time WNBA champion (2018, 2020), she ranks second in WNBA history for three-pointers off the bench with 257 conversions—behind only Kara Lawson mercury.wnba.com. In 2023, she led the league with 89 threes and posted a blistering 38.5% deep accuracy foxsports.com+15mercury.wnba.com+15espn.co.uk+15.
🔥 Career Night: 36-Point Explosion
On July 7, 2025, Whitcomb delivered a historic performance: 36 points, including 29 in the first half, and seven 3‑pointers, leading the Phoenix Mercury to a 102–72 blowout of the Dallas Wings espn.com.au+10mavsmoneyball.com+10lmtonline.com+10.
This not only surpassed her previous career-best of 30 but also marked the highest single half scoring output in the WNBA this season . Her sharpshooting sparked a key season turnaround—helping Phoenix avoid a three-game skid lmtonline.com+3ctpost.com+3foxsports.com+3.
🇦🇺 International Impact & National Team Contributions
As a dual citizen, Whitcomb has contributed significantly to the Australian Opals, helping guide them to a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and FIBA medals in 2018, 2021, and 2022 mercury.wnba.com.
She is heralded in Australia not just for on-court excellence, but for her role in raising women’s basketball’s profile. In interviews, she credits her partner Kate for anchoring their family while she plays abroad adelaidenow.com.au.
📈 2025 WNBA Season Stats
With Phoenix in 2025, Whitcomb is averaging approximately 9–9.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.4 APG, and shooting roughly 39–40% FG, 35% 3PT lmtonline.com+15espn.com+15espn.com.au+15. These numbers underscore consistent two-way impact: perimeter scoring and veteran leadership off the bench or as a starter.
🌍 Why She Matters
- Sharpshooter: Elite clutch 3-point shooting—changing game rhythms instantly.
- Versatile role-player: Adapts whether starting or coming off the bench.
- Mentor presence: Brings championship DNA to both Phoenix and Australia.
- Global ambassador: A dual national success, she links WNBA and international circuits.
🎯 What’s Next
Expect more electrifying outings like her July 7 explosion. As she remains integral to Phoenix’s championship quest, Whitcomb’s veteran presence could help balance the squad when injuries strike.
When not in the WNBA, she’ll likely continue to dominate in the WNBL and represent Australia internationally—her profile rising as a global basketball icon