PHOENIX — It's a typical day for the Phoenix Mercury at their recently built, $100 million downtown practice facility, with players, coaches and support staff making the final preparations for their surprise trip to the WNBA Finals.

The 58,000-square-foot complex has everything a team needs to be successful — two full-size courts, a weight room and a team meeting room with theater-style seating. It opened last year, around the same time the franchise hosted the league's All-Star game.

This — owner Mat Ishbia says — is the future of the WNBA.

“I don’t want this to be a competitive advantage,” Ishbia said. “I want everyone else to do the same thing.”

As the WNBA enters an era of increased exposure and popularity, the Mercury are one of the league's crown jewels. The proud franchise has b

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