Mercury hiring Warriors exec U'Ren as GM

The WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury are hiring Golden State Warriors executive Nick U’Ren as general manager, the team announced on Monday.

U’Ren, the Warriors’ executive director of basketball operations, has spent the past decade steadily rising in responsibilities and rank with Golden State.

He will replace Jim Pitman, who is retiring at season’s end after a decade on the job. Pitman will remain as CFO of the Suns and Mercury, with U’Ren beginning his GM duties after the Mercury’s season ends.

U’Ren, who will report to Phoenix Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein, comes aboard as Suns/Mercury owner Mat Ishbia continues sweeping new investments and adjusting personnel in both organizations. After a sluggish start to the season, Phoenix dismissed former Mercury coach Vanessa Nygaard and promoted assistant Nikki Blue to interim coach. The Mercury are 4-14 now.

U’Ren is a Phoenix native who spent his first five years in professional basketball ascending to the position of head video coordinator with the Suns. After arriving in Golden State, U’Ren worked closely with coach Steve Kerr as special assistant to the head coach/director of coaching operations.

U’Ren transitioned into a front office role working with two-time Executive of the Year Bob Myers and current Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. during the franchise’s run of four NBA championships.