What happened: Phoenix Mercury rookie Jovana Nogić will sit out the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season for personal reasons. Her agent pushed back on a report tying the departure to Ekaterinburg or Serbian national team commitments, calling that account inaccurate. The stated plan is for Nogić to rejoin the Mercury in 2027.

Why it matters: Losing a rotation rookie midseason thins Phoenix's depth as the team works to stay in the playoff picture. The decision is framed as a temporary step away rather than a permanent split, with both sides pointing toward a 2027 return. It also closes the door, for now, on speculation that she was leaving to pursue duties abroad. This is the same Jovana Nogić whose playmaking drew attention earlier this month.

What to watch: Watch for how Phoenix reshuffles its guard rotation in the coming games. The next marker will be any update on Nogić's status ahead of the 2027 season.