Valley Suns Honor Arizona Basketball Legacy on Mercury Night

The Valley Suns celebrated the state's rich basketball history and connections between local teams.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 6:59am

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An abstract, expressionist painting in vibrant neon colors, capturing the dynamic movement and energy of a basketball game, with players' forms dissolving into colorful brushstrokes.The Valley Suns' Mercury Night celebration brings the explosive energy and rich history of Arizona basketball to life.Tempe Today

The Valley Suns held a special 'Mercury Night' event to honor Arizona's basketball legacy, blending player development with respect for past champions. The event showcased the strong connections and unified vision across the state's basketball organizations, from the Phoenix Suns to the WNBA's Mercury.

Why it matters

Celebrating a shared basketball heritage helps build a stronger sense of community and collective pride among players, teams, and fans in Arizona. This approach can inspire future generations and ensure the passion for the game continues to grow.

The details

The Valley Suns, the NBA G League affiliate of the Phoenix Suns, hosted the special Mercury Night event on March 2, 2026 in Tempe. The event featured appearances by former Mercury players and acknowledged the state's rich basketball history. Valley Suns head coach Paul Jesperson emphasized the seamless collaboration and communication across all the local basketball departments, from the Suns to the Mercury.

  • The Mercury Night event took place on March 2, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona.

The players

Paul Jesperson

Head coach of the Valley Suns, the NBA G League affiliate of the Phoenix Suns.

Phoenix Suns

The NBA franchise based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Phoenix Mercury

The WNBA franchise based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Valley Suns

The NBA G League affiliate of the Phoenix Suns, based in Tempe, Arizona.

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What they’re saying

“It just shows a continuity of the entire program and entire organization. Everybody on the same page, pushing towards the same thing, whether it's the Mercury, the [Phoenix] Suns or the Valley Suns. We have a great streamlined communication amongst all the departments... It's awesome that they did a Mercury Night. It's great to see some familiar faces show up and support us.”

— Paul Jesperson, Head coach, Valley Suns

The takeaway

The Valley Suns' Mercury Night event demonstrates the power of celebrating a shared basketball heritage to build community, inspire future generations, and ensure the continued growth and passion for the sport in Arizona.