Phoenix Mercury Rookie Jovana Nogic Temporarily Leaves Team for Personal Reasons: A Look at Her WNBA Journey and Future Plans
Phoenix Mercury rookie Jovana Nogic, who had a strong start to her WNBA career, will not be returning to the team after leaving in June. The team temporarily suspended her contract due to "personal reasons," allowing them to open up a roster spot for another player while her salary still counts towards the team's cap. Reports from her home country suggest that Nogic left to rest this summer and prepare for her upcoming season with Russian club UMMC Yekaterinburg and Serbia's EuroBasket 2027 qualifiers. Despite the speculation, the Mercury clarified that Nogic's absence is indeed due to personal reasons, emphasizing their commitment to the well-being of their players.
In an official statement, Mercury general manager Nick U'ren expressed appreciation for Nogic's contributions to the team and acknowledged the difficulty of her decision to leave. Nogic herself confirmed that it was a tough choice but assured fans that she plans to return to the team in 2027. Her promising start in the WNBA included standout performances, such as scoring 19 points in the season opener and setting a record for the most points by an undrafted rookie with 27 points in a game against the Chicago Sky. While Phoenix awaits Nogic's return, they remain supportive and patient, eagerly anticipating her comeback in the future.