Phoenix Mercury added another security guard to their roster. Monique Acoa Makani, a Cameroan security guard who recently played for French club Charnee Basket. At that club, she averaged 14.6 points, 5.3 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game.
Around WNBA Transaction Page, Mercury signed an alias Rookie Scale Contract. She is the sixth international player signed by Mercury, joining Kittija Laksa (Latvia), Sami Whitcom (Australia), Seven Uzun (Turkey), Murjanutu Musa (Nigeria) and Anna Macrat (Poland). The signature, although not particularly important to Mercury's championship odds given the relative inexperience of Akoa-Makani's youth, shows a continuing move towards international players in the league.
The WNBA is still dominated primarily by American players, but in recent years it has been heading towards more international players. EziMagbegor (Australia), Kamilla Cardoso (Brazil), Bridget Carleton (Canada), Aaliyah Edwards (Canada), Leonie Fiebich (Germany), and Nyara (Dermany) via Servally (Dermany). Fiebich became one of the WNBA's most impactful rookies and was a key part of why New York Liberty won the 2024 Championship.
Free agency signatures are trending internationally in unprecedented ways. Connecticut Sunfor example, French standout Leila Lacan headlined and signed three international players. The Seattle Storm has signed two signs: Magbegour and Chinese standout Lee Yuel. Throughout the league, the front office is increasingly aware of foreign talent as the game continues to globalize.
Women's basketball in France is gaining momentum
In particular, France appears to have some well-known WNBA prospects in this work. Carla Raite, the 19-year-old French security guard selected by the Golden State Valkyries in the expansion draft, is a potential impact player. 6'6 forward Janelle Salaun is another. Dominique Malonga, a 6'6 center that can be dunked at 16, is one of the most exciting prospects in recent WNBA history. Mark Schindler's Ringer Piece.
The NBA has become increasingly international in recent years, with some of the best players in the world coming from overseas, including Luka Donsic (Slovenia), Nikola Jokic (Serbia), Giannis Antetocomo (Greece), Joel Embiid (Camera), Victor Wenbenama (Camera), Shai Grijonder, and some of the best players in the world come from overseas.
Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images
Inevitably, women's basketball will eventually accumulate lawsuits and become a more globalized game. In the meantime, Mercury is the latest in a long list of teams signed more and more international players on the 2024-25 WNBA roster.
