Monique Akoa Makani - WNBA News, Rumors, & Updates

Pauline Astier sparks Liberty surge as New York holds off Mercury 75-68

Pauline Astier scored 16 points and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton added 13 to help the New York Liberty hold on to beat the Phoenix Mercury 75-68 on Friday night

5 HOURS AGO • Associated Press

New York Liberty beat the Phoenix Mercury 84-74 boosted by 23-0 third-quarter run

Marine Johannes scored 21 points, Jonquel Jones added 17 points and keyed a huge run to close the third quarter as the New York Liberty beat the Phoenix Mercury 84-74

2 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Starting Wednesday Akoa Makani will start Wednesday versus the Liberty.

Impact Despite having some minutes restrictions for her first game of the regular season, Akoa Makani will be thrust into the starting unit, sending Jovana Nogic to the bench. Through 41 games with the Mercury last season, Akoa Makani averaged 7.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per contest on 43/40/93 shooting splits.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Cleared from injury report Akoa Makani (reconditioning) is off the injury report for Wednesday's game against the Liberty.

Impact Akoa Makani is ready to make her season debut Wednesday. However, she will have a minutes restriction, per Annie Costabile of The Athletic. Jovana Nogic could still see less usage with Akoa Makani back in the mix.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Set for minutes cap if available Akoa Makani (reconditioning) will have a minutes restriction if she's available for Wednesday's game against the Liberty, per Annie Costabile of The Athletic.

Impact Akoa Makani has not yet been cleared to play, but she's officially considered probable. Assuming she's upgraded to available, the guard would be making her season debut Wednesday after fulfilling an overseas commitment earlier this spring.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Expected to play Wednesday Akoa Makani (reconditioning) is probable for Wednesday's game versus New York.

Impact After fulfilling an overseas commitment, Akoa Makani appears to have just about completed her return-to-competition reconditioning program. It's unclear whether or not she'll start upon her season debut, but Jovana Nogic's playing time is likely to take a hit once Akoa Makani gets back onto the floor.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Won't play Sunday Akoa Makani (reconditioning) has been ruled out for Sunday's game in Atlanta.

Impact Akoa Makani is officially back with the team after fulfilling her overseas obligations, but she's still not quite ready to make her regular-season debut. Her next chance to play will come Wednesday in New York.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Questionable for Sunday Akoa Makani (conditioning) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Dream.

Impact The Mercury officially lifted Akoa Makani's contract suspension Friday after she completed her overseas season in France, but she isn't guaranteed to play right away. She has been added to the injury report as questionable while she works her way back into game conditioning with the team. Once she is given the green light to suit up, the 25-year-old guard should quickly reclaim a major role in the Phoenix backcourt, likely scaling back the minutes of Jovana Nogic and Kiana Williams.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Set to active Friday Akoa Makani (overseas commitment) was set to active Friday.

Impact The Mercury temporarily suspended Akoa Makani's contract while she fulfilled an overseas commitment, but she's primed to make her season debut with Phoenix on Sunday against the Dream. Her immediate role is unsettled, though Akoa Makani is likely to push Jovana Nogic and Kiana Williams into lesser roles upon her return.

MAY 22 • ROTOWIRE

Contract temporarily suspended Akoa-Makani's (overseas commitment) contract was temporarily suspended by Phoenix on Thursday.

Impact The contract suspension comes as a procedural move, as Akoa-Makani was already expected to miss at least the first four games of the season while competing overseas. A potential return date is May 19 against Toronto, though that remains only an estimate and nothing has been finalized.

MAY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Will miss start of regular season Akoa-Makani is expected to miss at least the first four games of the regular season due to her overseas commitment, freelance Mercury writer Jeff Metcalfe reports.

Impact Akoa-Makani playes for Bourges in the French Women's Basketball League, who has advanced to the finals against Landes. The two games of the finals take place May 9 and May 15, which means the earliest that Akoa-Makani would be able to suit up for the Mercury would be Tuesday, May 19 against Toronto.

MAY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Still away from team Head coach Nate Tibbetts said Friday that Akoa-Makani (overseas commitment) will not return to the team this week, freelance Mercury writer Jeff Metcalfe reports.

Impact Akoa-Makani won't play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Sky due to an overseas commitment, and she can presumably be ruled out for Wednesday's exhibition game against Japan. Her next opportunity to play will come in the team's regular-season opener against the Aces on May 9.

APRIL 25 • ROTOWIRE

Off report for preseason opener Akoa-Makani (overseas commitment) isn't listed on the injury report for Saturday's preseason game against the Sky, freelance Mercury writer Jeff Metcalfe reports.

Impact Akoa-Makani arrived late to training camp due to an overseas commitment, though she's set to play in Phoenix's preseason opener. The 25-year-old guard started 40 of her 41 regular-season appearances in 2025 and should have an opportunity to carve out a significant role again in 2026.

APRIL 24 • ROTOWIRE

Not with team to begin camp Akoa-Makani is a late arrival to training camp due to international play, freelance Mercury writer Jeff Metcalfe reports.

Impact Akoa-Makani has played for French club Bourges this winter, and she'll be a late arrival to WNBA training camp while fulfilling her commitments to the team. Akoa-Makani was a standout performer during her first WNBA season in 2025, averaging 7.7 points, 2.7 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per game across 41 regular-season appearances (40 starts). It seems unlikely that her late arrival to camp will impact her regular-season availability in 2026.

APRIL 20 • ROTOWIRE

PHOENIX MERCURY RE-SIGN MONIQUE AKOA MAKANI, NATASHA MACK AND KATHRYN WESTBELD PHOENIX – The Phoenix Mercury have re-signed guard Monique Akoa Makani and forward/center Natasha Mack. The team has also re-signed forward...

APRIL 15 • WNBA.COM

Inking two-year deal with Mercury Akoa-Makani is signing a two-year deal with Phoenix on Tuesday, per Sean Hurd of ESPN.

Impact After receiving a reserved qualifying offer last Tuesday, Akoa-Makani has officially re-signed with the Mercury for 2026. The 25-year-old guard averaged 7.7 points, 2.7 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per game through 41 regular-season contests (40 starts) in her rookie year with Phoenix, and she'll likely be battling with Kathryn Westbeld for a starting role to begin the new campaign.

APRIL 14 • ROTOWIRE

Gets qualifying offer The Mercury extended a reserved qualifying offer to Akoa-Makani on Tuesday.

Impact Phoenix now has exclusive negotiating rights to Akoa-Makani. Over 41 regular-season appearances (40 starts) during her rookie campaign, the 25-year-old guard averaged 7.7 points, 2.7 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per contest.

APRIL 8 • ROTOWIRE

Aces Beat Mercury For 4-Game Sweep, Win Third WNBA Title In Four Seasons

The Aces won their third WNBA championship in four seasons, beating the Mercury on Friday for a four-game sweep of the Finals.

OCTOBER 11, 2025 • FOX SPORTS

Aces Beat Mercury For 4-Game Sweep, Win Third WNBA Title In Four Seasons

Struggles in Game 3 loss Akoa-Makani amassed six points (2-7 FG, 2-3 3Pt), one rebound and one assist in 25 minutes during Wednesday's 90-88 loss to the Aces in Game of the WNBA Finals.

Impact The rookie has had a tough shooting series, hitting just 38.1 percent (8-21 FG) from the field in three games in the series, averaging 8.7 points and 3.7 assists. Her best success has come from distance, as she is shooting 44.4 percent (4-9 3Pt) from behind the arc in the Finals.

OCTOBER 9, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Mercury must correct mistakes from Game 1 if they want to even WNBA Finals series with Aces

The Phoenix Mercury led Game 1 of the WNBA Finals for more than two-thirds of the game, but couldn’t finish what they started in their 89-86 loss to the Las Vegas Aces

OCTOBER 4, 2025 • Associated Press

Flirts with double digits in Game 2 Akoa-Makani totaled nine points (3-5 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds and three assists over 19 minutes during Tuesday's 89-83 victory over Minnesota.

Impact The rookie was fairly accurate from the field, while chipping in favorably in other areas. Unfortunately, she also turned the ball over three times. She is averaging 5.8 points, 2.8 assists and 2.4 rebounds in her first five career postseason outings.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Solid line in limited minutes Akoa-Makani chipped in six points (2-2 FG, 2-2 3Pt), five rebounds, three assists and one steal across 17 minutes during Thursday's 97-76 loss to Dallas.

Impact Akoa-Makani was again limited to minutes in the teens for the third game in a row. Heading into the playoffs, Akoa-Makani holds regular-season averages of 7.7 points, 2.7 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per game.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Limited to just three points Akoa-Makani accumulated three points (1-5 FG, 1-4 3Pt), three rebounds, six assists, one block and two steals in 22 minutes during Tuesday's 85-79 victory over the Fever.

Impact The rookie made the start, but she had a rough shooting night. She did a decent job on the defensive end, however, racking up three defensive rebounds, the two steals and the block. Since her 18-point showing against the Valkyries Aug. 22, Akoa-Makani is averaging just 3.5 points, 3.3 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game across the past four contests.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Alyssa Thomas has 23 points as Phoenix Mercury win fifth straight game

Alyssa Thomas had 23 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, DeWanna Bonner added 19 points off the bench and the Phoenix Mercury won their fifth straight game with an 85-79 victor...

SEPTEMBER 3, 2025 • Associated Press

Available Tuesday Akoa-Makani (knee) is available for Tuesday's game against the Sparks.

Impact Akoa-Makani will shed her questionable tag after being a late addition to the injury report due to a left knee issue. Over her last five appearances (four starts), the rookie has averaged 8.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists across 24.6 minutes per game.

AUGUST 27, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

MONIQUE AKOA MAKANI NEWS

NEWS

BIO

STATS

VIDEOS

GAME LOG

Pauline Astier sparks Liberty surge as New York holds off Mercury 75-68

New York Liberty beat the Phoenix Mercury 84-74 boosted by 23-0 third-quarter run

Aces Beat Mercury For 4-Game Sweep, Win Third WNBA Title In Four Seasons

Mercury must correct mistakes from Game 1 if they want to even WNBA Finals series with Aces

Alyssa Thomas has 23 points as Phoenix Mercury win fifth straight game