Phoenix Mercury

Phoenix Mercury
Conference	Western
Founded	1997
History	Phoenix Mercury 1997–present
Arena	Talking Stick Resort Arena
City	Phoenix, Arizona
Sponsor	Casino Arizona Talking Stick Resort
Team colors	Purple, orange, light gray, black, white[1]
Owner(s)	Robert Sarver
General manager	Jim Pitman
Head coach	Sandy Brondello
Assistant coaches	Todd Troxel Julie Hairgrove
Championships	3 (2007, 2009, 2014)
Conference titles	4 (1998, 2007, 2009, 2014)
Mascot	Scorch
Official website	mercury.wnba.com

The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises. The team is owned by Robert Sarver, who also owns the Mercury's NBA counterpart, the Phoenix Suns.

The Mercury has qualified for the WNBA Playoffs in eleven of its twenty years in Phoenix. The franchise has been home to many high-quality players such as former UConn sharpshooter Diana Taurasi, explosive Rutgers grad Cappie Pondexter, former Temple power forward Candice Dupree, former Baylor standout center Brittney Griner, and Australian guard Penny Taylor. In 1998, 2007, 2009, and 2014, the Mercury went to the WNBA Finals; they lost to Houston in 1998, but won the title in 2007, 2009, and 2014 over Detroit, Indiana, and Chicago respectively.

Franchise history

Mercury heating up (1997–1998)

With a cast that included hall-of-famer Nancy Lieberman, and possible future hall-of-famers Michele Timms of Australia, and Jennifer Gillom, hyper-active star Bridget Pettis, and outspoken coach Cheryl Miller, the Mercury quickly established itself as a major franchise. In the very first WNBA season, the Mercury posted a 16–12 record and reached the first WNBA playoffs. The Mercury lost to the New York Liberty, though, in those playoffs.

In 1998, the Mercury again qualified for the playoffs, posting a 19–11 record. The Mercury defeated the Cleveland Rockers to reach the WNBA Finals for the first time. In a hard fought series, the Mercury fell 2 games to 1 to the defending champion Houston Comets.

Mercury falling (1999–2003)

In 1999, the Mercury missed the playoffs, posting a 15–17 record. In 2000, the Mercury finished 20–12, but got swept by the Los Angeles Sparks. The team descended into turmoil after the season, as coach Miller left and the original core group of players broke up, via retirement or trades, and the team stopped being a playoff contender.

From 2001–2004, the Mercury were at the bottom of the WNBA. Fielding miserable teams, the Mercury were never competitive. The Mercury went through coach after coach, and nothing worked. During the lean years, the franchise remained in the news as forward Lisa Harrison would become a sex symbol. Playboy Magazine offered her money to pose in their magazine. She would decline the offer.

Diana Taurasi joins the WNBA (2004–2005)

After a horrible 2003 season, in which the Mercury posted an 8–26 record, the Mercury won the #1 overall choice in the 2004 WNBA Draft, and select coveted former UConn star Diana Taurasi. Taurasi went on to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award in the 2004 season, as the Mercury posted a better 17–17 record. The Mercury posted a 16–18 record in 2005, missing the playoffs again.

Bringing back "Paul Ball" (2006–2007)

Former NBA coach Paul Westhead became the Mercury's head coach prior to the 2006 season and brought his up-tempo style to Phoenix. Westhead was the first WNBA coach to have won a previous NBA championship (1980 LA Lakers). The Mercury also drafted Cappie Pondexter with the #2 overall selection in the 2006 WNBA Draft. The addition provided Taurasi with a solid #2 player. Westhead's run and gun offense quickly became The Mercury's trademark and the franchise would soon set new league records for points scored.

The 2006 season was a positive one for the Mercury, as they posted a winning record for the first time since 2000, at 18–16. The Mercury competed for the playoffs all year, but fell just short of a postseason berth.

As the 2007 season came, the Mercury were poised and hungry for a deep playoff run. The Mercury would run away with the Western Conference, posting their best record in franchise history at 23–11, as well as clinching the #1 seed. The Mercury set a record by averaging 89.0 points in a season during 2007.^[2] In their first playoffs since 2000, the Mercury made quick work of the Seattle Storm in the first round, blowing them out in two games (Game 1: 101–84, Game 2: 95–89). In the Western Finals, the Mercury swept the San Antonio Silver Stars in a closer series (Game 1: 102–100, Game 2: 98–92), advancing to the WNBA Finals for the first time in nine years. In the Finals, the Mercury faced the defending 2006 champions Detroit Shock. The two teams split the first two games in Detroit. Coming back home, the Mercury suffered a letdown in game 3, losing 88–83. Down 2–1, the Mercury had to win game 4 or lose. Game 4 came down to the final seconds, but the Mercury edged out the Shock 77–76, with Cappie Pondexter scoring 26 points, and forced a Game 5 in Detroit. In Game 5, Phoenix won by a score of 108–92.^[2] Penny Taylor scored a game high 30 points in Game 5, and went 18-for-18 from the line.^[2] The Mercury won the series and their first championship with a 108–92 Game 5 victory, becoming the first WNBA team to win a championship on the road. Cappie Pondexter was named the WNBA Finals MVP, and averaged 22.0 points and 5.6 assists in the series.^[2] On November 7, 2007, The Mercury announced the hiring of Corey Gaines as head coach to replace the departing Paul Westhead.

Mercury fall, Mercury rise (2008–2011)

In 2008, the Mercury started slowly and never really found a groove, finishing the season with a disappointing record of 16–18, well out of the playoff picture in a tough Western Conference. The Mercury became the first team in WNBA history with the dubious honor of failing to qualify for the playoffs after winning the WNBA Finals the year before.

However, a year later, the Mercury were back to what they were two years before. The Mercury clinched the top spot in the playoffs along with the number one seed in the Western Conference. The Mercury defeated the 2008 conference champion San Antonio Silver Stars in the first round, winning the very exciting series 2–1 after losing the first game on the road. The Mercury then defeated the Los Angeles Sparks in the conference finals, winning 2–1 in a series that ended Lisa Leslie's career. The Mercury then went on to beat the Indiana Fever 3–2 in the best of 5 series to capture the second title in their franchise history. Diana Taurasi captured the WNBA Finals MVP Award. All-star guard Cappie Pondexter was traded to the New York Liberty amid some controversy in the offseason; All-Star Candice Dupree joined the duo of Taurasi and Penny Taylor as the Mercury looked to repeat in 2010.

It was not easy, however, as the Mercury faced a few bad losing streaks throughout the 2010 season. The team managed to finish 15–19, good for second place in the Western Conference. Phoenix swept San Antonio in the first round of the Playoffs, but lost to the eventual champion Seattle Storm in the conference finals.

After a hectic offseason for Diana Taurasi, most of the Mercury team was rested and ready to play. The team started the 2011 season with a surprising 0–3 record, but flew back into playoff contention, entering the All-Star break with a 10–5 record. Ultimately, they recovered to gain the third seed in the 2011 WNBA Playoffs, and upset the Seattle Storm in the opening round, closing an 18-point deficit to win on Seattle's home floor, allowing the Mercury to reach its third straight conference finals. Unfortunately, for the team, they came up short against the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx, losing in two games.

Brittney Griner arrives, and history is made (2013–present)

Phoenix Mercury at the White House to honor 2014 Championship

Coming off the 2012 WNBA season in which the Phoenix Mercury franchise finished with the second worst record in the WNBA, a 7-27 mark, Phoenix received the 2013 WNBA draft lottery and secured the top overall pick. Once the 2013 WNBA Draft arrived in April 2013, the Mercury used the top overall pick on two time Women's College Basketball Wooden award winner Brittney Griner. However, the Mercury lost to the Lynx in the Conference round of the playoffs. The following season the Mercury under the guidance of new coach Sandy Brondello went on to set an all time WNBA record for wins in a season, with 29, and breezed through the 2014 playoffs to claim their 3rd WNBA Championship.

On February 3, 2015, Diana Taurasi announced that she would sit out the 2015 WNBA season at the request of her Russian Premier League team, UMMC Ekaterinburg. The team offered Taurasi to pay her more than her WNBA salary to skip the 2015 WNBA season. For the 2014 WNBA season, Taurasi made just under the league maximum of $107,000. But she makes 15 times that - approximately $1.5 million - playing overseas.

In 2016, after beating the Indiana Fever in the First Round and New York Liberty in the Second Round, they lost the Semifinals to the Minnesota Lynx.^[3]

Uniform sponsor

In June 2009 the Mercury and WNBA announced a sponsorship agreement with identity theft protection service LifeLock to place that company's logo on their jerseys through the 2013 season, making the Mercury among the first non-soccer franchises in the major leagues of North America to place a company logo on their uniforms.^[4] For the 2014 season and going forward, the Mercury will wear jerseys sponsored by Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort.

Season-by-season records

Players

Current roster

Phoenix Mercury roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs 4.0 !F 8 USA ! Bass, Mistie 75 !6' 3" (1.91m) 189 lb (86kg) 12-02-1983 Duke 4.5 !8 5.5 !F/C 45 USA ! Bone, Kelsey 76 !6' 4" (1.93m) 215 lb (98kg) 12-31-1991 Texas A&M 2 !3 2.5 !G/F 24 USA ! Bonner, DeWanna 76 !6' 4" (1.93m) 143 lb (65kg) 08-21-1987 Auburn 4 !7 4.0 !F 4 USA ! Dupree, Candice 74 !6' 2" (1.88m) 178 lb (81kg) 08-16-1984 Temple 5.5 !10 6.0 !C 42 USA ! Griner, Brittney 81 !6' 9" (2.06m) 205 lb (93kg) 10-18-1990 Baylor 2 !3 2.5 !G/F 12 USA ! Harden, Alex 72 !6' 0" (1.83m) 173 lb (78kg) 03-27-1993 Wichita State 1 !1 1.5 !G 10 USA ! Harding, Lindsey 68 !5' 8" (1.73m) 139 lb (63kg) 06-12-1984 Duke 4.5 !8 6.0 !C 20 USA ! Harrison, Isabelle 75 !6' 3" (1.91m) 183 lb (83kg) 09-27-1993 Tennessee 0.5 !R 4.0 !F 5 SRB ! Petrović, Sonja 74 !6' 2" (1.88m) 169 lb (77kg) 02-18-1989 Serbia 1 !1 1.5 !G 3 USA ! Taurasi, Diana 72 !6' 0" (1.83m) 163 lb (74kg) 06-11-1982 Connecticut 6 !11 4.0 !F 13 AUS ! Taylor, Penny 73 !6' 1" (1.85m) 165 lb (75kg) 05-24-1981 Australia 6.5 !12 1.5 !G 21 ESP ! Xargay, Marta 71 !5' 11" (1.8m) – 12-20-1990 Spain 1 !1 East: ATL • CHI • CON • IND • NY • WAS | West: DAL • LA • MIN • PHO • SA • SEA	Head coach Sandy Brondello (Western Sydney) Assistant coaches Julie Hairgrove (Arizona) Todd Troxel (Doane) Athletic trainer Tamara Poole (Cal State-DH) Strength and conditioning coach Kristine Foltz (Iowa State) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured WNBA roster page

Former players

• Kara Braxton (2010–2011)
• Monique Currie (2015), now a member of the San Antonio Stars
• Anna DeForge (2003–2005)
• Jennifer Gillom (1997–2002)
• Michelle Griffiths (1998–2000)
• Lisa Harrison (1999–2005)
• Tamicha Jackson (2003; 2006)
• Temeka Johnson (2009–2011)
• Nancy Lieberman (1997), now an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings
• Kelly Mazzante (2007–2009)
• Kelly Miller (2006–2008)
• Leilani Mitchell (2015), now a member of the Washington Mystics
• Bridget Pettis (1997–2001), now an assistant coach with the Dallas Wings
• Erin Phillips (2014), now a member of the Dallas Wings
• Plenette Pierson (2003–2005), now a member of the Dallas Wings
• Cappie Pondexter (2006–2009), now a member of the Chicago Sky
• Brandy Reed (1998; 2000-2002)
• Tangela Smith (2007–2010)
• Belinda Snell (2005–2007)
• Maria Stepanova (1998–2001, 2005)
• Penny Taylor (2004–2007; 2009–2011; 2013–2014; 2016
• Michelle Timms (1997–2001)
• Kamila Vodičková (2005–2006)
• Adrian Williams-Strong (2000–2004)
• Le'coe Willingham (2009)

Retired numbers

Coaches and staff

Owners

• Jerry Colangelo, owner of the Phoenix Suns (1997–2003)
• Robert Sarver, owner of the Phoenix Suns (2004–present)

Head coaches

Coaches Julie Hairgrove, Todd Troxel (left to right) and head coach Sandy Brondello (seated) in a timeout during the 2016 WNBA semifinals.

General managers

• Cheryl Miller (1997–2000)
• Seth Sulka (2001–2006)
• Ann Meyers-Drysdale (2007–2011)
• Corey Gaines (2012–2013)
• Amber Cox (2013)
• Jason Rowley (2013–present)

Assistant coaches

Hall of Famers

(from Women's Basketball Hall of Fame^[7])

• Ann Meyers-Drysdale, enshrined 1999
• Jennifer Gillom, enshrined 2009
• Nancy Lieberman, enshrined 1996
• Cheryl Miller, enshrined 1995
• Linda Sharp, enshrined 2001
• Michele Timms, enshrined 2008

Statistics

Media coverage

Currently, some Mercury games are broadcast on Fox Sports Arizona (FS-A), which is a local television station for the state of Arizona. More often than not, NBA TV will pick up the feed from the local broadcast, which is shown nationally. The broadcaster for the Mercury games is Kevin Ray.

All games (excluding blackout games, which are available on ESPN3.com) are broadcast to the WNBA LiveAccess game feeds on the league website. Furthermore, some Mercury games are broadcast nationally on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. The WNBA has reached an eight-year agreement with ESPN, which will pay right fees to the Mercury, as well as other teams in the league.^[8]

All-time notes

Regular season attendance

• A sellout for a basketball game at Talking Stick Resort Arena is 18,055 (capacity from 1997–2002 was 19,023).

Draft picks

• 1997 Elite: Bridget Pettis (7), Nancy Lieberman-Cline (15)
• 1997: Toni Foster (8), Tia Jackson (9), Umeki Webb (24), Monique Ambers (25)
• 1998: Maria Stepanova (8), Andrea Kuklova (18), Brandy Reed (28), Karen Wilkins (38)
• 1999: Edna Campbell (10), Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil (22), Lisa Harrison (34), Amanda Wilson (46)
• 2000: Adrian Williams (21), Tauja Catchings (37), Shantia Owens (53)
• 2001: Kristen Veal (13), Ilona Korstine (29), Tere Williams (45), Carolyn Moos (53), Megan Franza (61)
• 2002: Tootie Shaw (25), Kayte Christensen (40), Amba Kongolo (56)
• 2003 Miami/Portland Dispersal Draft: Tamicha Jackson (4)
• 2003: Plenette Pierson (4), Petra Ujhelyi (16), Telisha Quarles (31), Marion Jones (33)
• 2004 Cleveland Dispersal Draft: Penny Taylor (1)
• 2004: Diana Taurasi (1), Chandi Jones (8), Ashley Robinson (14), Maria Villarroel (27)
• 2005: Sandora Irvin (3), Angelina Williams (18), Jamie Carey (31)
• 2006: Cappie Pondexter (2), Liz Shimek (18), Mistie Williams (21), Crystal Smith (32)
• 2007 Charlotte Dispersal Draft: selection waived
• 2007: Lindsey Harding (1), Tyresa Smith (18), Leah Rush (28), Chrissy Givens (31), Emily Westerbeg (37)
• 2008: LaToya Pringle (13), Leilani Mitchell (25), Merscilla Packer (41)
• 2009 Houston Dispersal Draft: Sequoia Holmes (5)
• 2009: DeWanna Bonner (5), Sha Brooks (31), Jessica Adair (34)
• 2010 Sacramento Dispersal Draft: selection waived
• 2010: Tyra Grant (24), Nyeshia Stevenson (36)
• 2011: Brittany Spears (19), Tahnee Robinson (31)
• 2012: Samantha Prahalis (6), C'eria Ricketts (24), Christine Flores (30), Amanda Johnson (33)
• 2013: Brittney Griner (1), Nikki Greene (26)
• 2014: Tiffany Bias (17), Maggie Lucas (21), Stephanie Talbot (33)
• 2015: Isabelle Harrison (12), Alex Harden (18), Žofia Hruščáková (24), Promise Amukamara (36)
• 2016: Courtney Williams (8), Jullian Alleyne (20), Nirra Fields (32)

Trades

• July 31, 1997: The Mercury acquired Mikiko Hagiwara from the Sacramento Monarchs in exchange for future considerations.
• July 6, 1998: The Mercury traded Pauline Jordan to the Sacramento Monarchs in exchange for Tiffani Johnson.
• October 27, 1999: The Mercury traded Marlies Askamp, Angela Aycock and Kristi Harrower to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for Adia Barnes, Tonya Edwards and Trisha Fallon.
• February 18, 2000: The Mercury acquired Brandy Reed from the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for the fifth pick in the 2000 Draft.
• April 25, 2000: The Mercury traded Shantia Owens to the Miami Sol in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2001 Draft.
• May 27, 2001: The Mercury acquired Jaynetta Saunders from the Cleveland Rockers in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2002 Draft.
• June 22, 2001: The Mercury traded Tonya Edwards to the Charlotte Sting in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2002 Draft.
• March 4, 2002: The Mercury traded the eighth pick in the 2002 Draft to the Cleveland Rockers in exchange for Pollyana Johns-Kimborough.
• March 4, 2002: The Mercury traded the 15th pick in the 2002 Draft to the Miami Sol in exchange for Tracy Reid and the 13th pick in the 2002 Draft.
• March 4, 2002: The Mercury traded Bridget Pettis and the 13th pick in the 2002 Draft to the Indiana Fever in exchange for Gordana Grubin.
• May 3, 2002: The Mercury traded a fourth-round pick in the 2003 Draft to the Detroit Shock in exchange for Claudia das Neves.
• May 5, 2002: The Mercury traded Claudia das Neves to the Miami Sol in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2003 Draft.
• April 28, 2003: The Mercury traded Petra Ujhelyi and Telisha Quarles to the Detroit Shock in exchange for Edwina Brown and Lenae Williams.
• July 31, 2003: The Mercury traded Stacey Thomas to the Detroit Shock in exchange for Tamara Moore.
• June 29, 2005: The Mercury traded Plenette Pierson to the Detroit Shock in exchange for Andrea Stinson and a second-round pick in the 2006 Draft.
• February 21, 2007: The Mercury traded Sandora Irvin to the San Antonio Silver Stars in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2008 Draft.
• April 2, 2007: The Mercury traded a second-round pick in the 2008 Draft to the New York Liberty in exchange for Kelly Schumacher.
• April 4, 2007: The Mercury traded Lindsey Harding to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for Tangela Smith.
• May 7, 2008: The Mercury traded Leilani Mitchell to the New York Liberty in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2009 Draft.
• January 30, 2009: The Mercury traded Kelly Miller and LaToya Pringle to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for Nicole Ohlde.
• March 20, 2009: The Mercury traded Barbara Farris to the Sacramento Monarchs in exchange for A'Quonesia Franklin and Kim Smith.
• March 26, 2009: The Mercury traded a first-round pick in the 2010 Draft to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for Temeka Johnson.
• March 30, 2010: The Mercury traded Cappie Pondexter and Kelly Mazzante to the New York Liberty and received Candice Dupree from the Chicago Sky. Chicago received Shameka Christon and Cathrine Kraayeveld from New York as part of this trade.
• July 23, 2010: The Mercury traded Nicole Ohlde and a first-round pick in the 2011 Draft in exchange for Kara Braxton.
• April 11, 2011: The Mercury traded Tahnee Robinson to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2012 Draft.
• August 4, 2011: The Mercury traded Kara Braxton to the New York Liberty in exchange for Sidney Spencer.
• January 12, 2012: The Mercury traded Temeka Johnson to the Tulsa Shock in exchange for Andrea Riley.
• February 2, 2012: The Mercury traded a second-round pick in the 2013 Draft to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for Alexis Hornbuckle.
• February 28, 2012: The Mercury traded the 18th pick in the 2012 Draft to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for Charde Houston and the 24th pick in the 2012 Draft.
• March 11, 2014: The Mercury traded Lynetta Kizer to the Indiana Fever in exchange for Erin Phillips.
• March 27, 2014: The Mercury traded Charde Houston to the Seattle Storm in exchange for Ewelina Kobryn.
• May 12, 2014: The Mercury traded Maggie Lucas to the Indiana Fever in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2015 Draft.
• May 9, 2016: The Mercury traded Monique Currie to the San Antonio Stars in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2017 Draft.
• June 25, 2016: The Mercury traded Courtney Williams, Jillian Alleyne, and San Antonio's second-round pick to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for Kelsey Bone.
• June 25, 2016: The Mercury traded Noelle Quinn to the Seattle Storm in exchange for Angel Robinson.

All-Stars

• 1997: No All-Star Game
• 1998: No All-Star Game
• 1999: Michelle Timms
• 2000: Brandy Reed
• 2001: None
• 2002: None
• 2003: Adrian Williams
• 2004: Anna DeForge, Diana Taurasi
• 2005: Diana Taurasi
• 2006: Cappie Pondexter, Diana Taurasi
• 2007: Cappie Pondexter, Diana Taurasi, Penny Taylor
• 2008: No All-Star Game
• 2009: Cappie Pondexter, Diana Taurasi
• 2010: Candice Dupree, Diana Taurasi, Penny Taylor
• 2011: Diana Taurasi, Penny Taylor
• 2012: No All-Star Game
• 2013: Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi
• 2014: Candice Dupree, Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi
• 2015: DeWanna Bonner, Candice Dupree, Brittney Griner
• 2016: No All-Star Game

Olympians

• 2004: Diana Taurasi, Penny Taylor (AUS)
• 2008: Diana Taurasi, Cappie Pondexter
• 2012: Diana Taurasi
• 2016: Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi, Penny Taylor (AUS), Sonja Petrović (SER), Lindsey Harding (BLR), Marta Xargay (ESP)

Honors and awards

References

External links

• Phoenix Mercury Official Website
• Gaines announced as Head Coach of the Mercury
• Phoenix Mercury coverage from The Arizona Republic/azcentral.com

Sports teams based in Arizona
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Basketball	NBA Phoenix Suns NBA D-League Northern Arizona Suns WNBA Phoenix Mercury ABA Arizona Scorpions
Football	NFL Arizona Cardinals IFL Arizona Rattlers IWFL Phoenix Phantomz
Hockey	NHL Arizona Coyotes AHL Tucson Roadrunners
Soccer	USL Phoenix Rising FC PDL FC Tucson NPSL FC Arizona UPSL Arizona Scorpions ASU FC Frontera United Phoenix Monsoon WPSL FC Tucson Women Phoenix Del Sol
Roller derby	WFDTA Arizona Roller Derby Tucson Roller Derby RDCL Arizona Derby Dames
Rugby	ARU Camelback Rugby Club Northern Arizona Rugby Football Club Old Pueblo Lions Rugby Football Club Tempe Rugby Club Tucson Magpies Rugby Football Club Yuma Rugby Football Club
College athletics (NCAA Division I)	Arizona Wildcats Arizona State Sun Devils Grand Canyon Antelopes Northern Arizona Lumberjacks