Discover This Game-Changing Center for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury

Like other women’s sports teams, the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury is growing in popularity. But until recently, its players lacked a dedicated place to practice. The team hired Gensler to transform a 1960’s former Coors Brewing distribution center into a world-class training facility equal to any in the NBA. During the discovery phase, senior associate and design director Elizabeth Pritchett and the firm’s Los Angeles office took time to understand the unique needs of female pro athletes, who are also mothers, mentors, or brands. “They blend personal and professional life 24/7, and they expect their space to support all their endeavors,” Pritchett says.

Gensler created a 58,000-square-foot facility that delivers a “whole player” experience and includes not only basketball courts but also meditation rooms, hot and cold plunge pools, and a great room that serves as a family lounge. Lockers designed in concert with the Mercury players have ample storage for shoes, bags, and hair tools, plus vanities and built-in benches where they can sit and create content for fans. A separate athletes’ entrance and reception reinforces the team’s identity, with artwork showing an abstracted image of the planet Mercury. “The space highlights and supports the strength and camaraderie of the team,” Pritchett adds. Clear sightlines and open areas foster spontaneous connections and ensure player safety, while soft lighting, curved ceilings, and wood details create a warm, comfortable, feminine atmosphere.

MARTHA ABBOTT; ELIZABETH PRITCHETT; SUSAN HAN; JAY SILVERBERG; PATRICK MAGNESS; MEGAN MCDONNELL; STEVE CHUNG; BOBBY STROBEL; YUKO UTO; RITA MOUCHI.