After being traded and waived before her rookie season even began, the versatile forward parlayed three short-term contracts into a permanent roster spot with the Phoenix Mercury.
Marta Suárez entered the WNBA looking for an organization willing to help her develop.
Three months later, the Phoenix Mercury have apparently seen enough progress to keep her around.
Phoenix signed the former TCU forward to a rest-of-season contract Monday, securing her roster spot for the remainder of the 2026 campaign.
That outcome certainly wasn't guaranteed.
The Seattle Storm selected Suárez with the No. 16 overall pick in April’s WNBA draft before immediately sending her to Golden State. The draft-night trade moved Suárez and a 2028 second-round pick to the Valkyries in exchange for the draft rights to No. 8 pick Flau’jae Johnson.
Then ... Golden State waived her before the regular season began.
Phoenix offered Suárez another path by signing her to a developmental contract May 6. She later received three seven-day contracts, giving the Mercury additional time to determine whether her production justified a longer commitment.
Apparently, it did.
Suárez has appeared in 11 games while averaging 4.0 points and 1.4 rebounds across 9.5 minutes. She has shot 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from behind the arc.
Her best performance came July 9 against the Indiana Fever, when she scored a season-high 10 points and converted both of her 3-point attempts.
The production remains modest.
But the progression matters.
Before a June game against the Dallas Wings, Suárez explained why learning from Phoenix’s veterans appealed to her.
“I've learned that defense is a lot more than you think,” Suárez said.
Alyssa Thomas offered a particularly valuable blueprint.
“Me being a big that is versatile, she's a tremendous player to look at,” Suárez said.
That versatility defined Suárez’s lone season in Fort Worth.
The 6-foot-3 forward started all 38 games for TCU while averaging 17.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals. She shot 45.3 percent from the field, 37 percent from behind the arc and 89.2 percent at the free-throw line.
Those numbers earned Suárez unanimous All-Big 12 first-team recognition while helping the Horned Frogs finish 32-6, claim a share of their second consecutive Big 12 regular-season championship and reach a second straight Elite Eight.
Her professional career has been considerably less straightforward.
Suárez went from being drafted by Seattle to being traded to Golden State, waived, signed as a developmental player and cycled through three seven-day contracts.
Now, she possesses stability for the remainder of her rookie season.
Phoenix didn't give Suárez that security merely because of what she accomplished at TCU.
The Mercury gave her enough time to prove those accomplishments could translate.
Suárez did.
