1998 Phoenix Mercury season
Encyclopedia
The 1998 WNBA season
was the 2nd season for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury reached their first WNBA Finals, but championship hopes were denied when they lost to the Houston Comets
in three games.
in the 1998 WNBA Expansion Draft.
1998 WNBA season
-External links:**...
was the 2nd season for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury reached their first WNBA Finals, but championship hopes were denied when they lost to the Houston Comets
Houston Comets
The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and...
in three games.
Offseason
Tara Williams was picked up by the Detroit ShockDetroit Shock
The Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion...
in the 1998 WNBA Expansion Draft.
WNBA Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 8 | Maria Stepanova Maria Stepanova Maria Alexandrovna Stepanova is a Russian professional and Olympic basketball player. In the United States, she plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association .... (C) |
Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
|
| 2 | 18 | Andrea Kuklova (G/F) | Slovakia Slovakia The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south... |
|
| 3 | 28 | Brandy Reed Brandy Reed Brandy Carmina Reed is a former professional basketball player.Reed grew up and graduated from Balboa High School in San Francisco, California in 1994. After graduating from The University of Southern Mississippi in 1998, Reed began her professional career with the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's... (F) |
Southern Mississippi The University of Southern Mississippi The University of Southern Mississippi, informally known as Southern Miss, is a large public research university located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States. It is situated north of Gulfport, Mississippi and northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana... |
|
| 4 | 38 | Karen Wilkins (G/F) | Howard Howard University Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States... |
Season schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Result | Record |
| June 11 | @ Sacramento Sacramento Monarchs The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009... |
73-70 | Win | 1-0 |
| June 14 | Los Angeles Los Angeles Sparks The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began... |
70-60 | Win | 2-0 |
| June 15 | Washington Washington Mystics The Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'... |
69-54 | Win | 3-0 |
| June 21 | Charlotte Charlotte Sting The Charlotte Sting was a Women's National Basketball Association franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was one of the league's eight original teams. The team folded on January 3, 2007.... |
71-72 | Loss | 3-1 |
| June 24 | Houston Houston Comets The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and... |
69-66 | Win | 4-1 |
| June 26 | Utah Utah Starzz The Utah Starzz were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They began play in the 1997 WNBA season as one of the league's eight original teams. The Starzz relocated, in 2003, to San Antonio, Texas where the team became the San Antonio Silver Stars... |
96-63 | Win | 5-1 |
| June 28 | @ Washington Washington Mystics The Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'... |
86-69 | Win | 6-1 |
| June 29 | @ New York New York Liberty The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league... |
68-71 | Loss | 6-2 |
| July 2 | @ Cleveland Cleveland Rockers This article is about the defunct WNBA team; for the American Basketball Association team, see Cleveland Rockers .The Cleveland Rockers were a Women's National Basketball Association team that played from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which... |
76-61 | Win | 7-2 |
| July 4 | @ Charlotte Charlotte Sting The Charlotte Sting was a Women's National Basketball Association franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was one of the league's eight original teams. The team folded on January 3, 2007.... |
66-68 | Loss | 7-3 |
| July 8 | @ Detroit Detroit Shock The Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion... |
78-76 | Win | 8-3 |
| July 10 | Cleveland Cleveland Rockers This article is about the defunct WNBA team; for the American Basketball Association team, see Cleveland Rockers .The Cleveland Rockers were a Women's National Basketball Association team that played from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which... |
76-60 | Win | 9-3 |
| July 13 | Los Angeles Los Angeles Sparks The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began... |
72-62 | Win | 10-3 |
| July 15 | Detroit Detroit Shock The Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion... |
73-60 | Win | 11-3 |
| July 18 | New York New York Liberty The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league... |
63-69 | Loss | 11-4 |
| July 20 | Sacramento Sacramento Monarchs The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009... |
88-67 | Win | 12-4 |
| July 21 | Houston Houston Comets The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and... |
62-65 | Loss | 12-5 |
| July 23 | @ Los Angeles Los Angeles Sparks The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began... |
68-70 | Loss | 12-6 |
| July 27 | @ Utah Utah Starzz The Utah Starzz were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They began play in the 1997 WNBA season as one of the league's eight original teams. The Starzz relocated, in 2003, to San Antonio, Texas where the team became the San Antonio Silver Stars... |
80-90 | Loss | 12-7 |
| July 28 | @ Houston Houston Comets The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and... |
62-72 | Loss | 12-8 |
| July 31 | @ Los Angeles Los Angeles Sparks The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began... |
56-71 | Loss | 12-9 |
| August 4 | Washington Washington Mystics The Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'... |
88-59 | Win | 13-9 |
| August 6 | @ Houston Houston Comets The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and... |
64-75 | Loss | 13-10 |
| August 8 | Utah Utah Starzz The Utah Starzz were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They began play in the 1997 WNBA season as one of the league's eight original teams. The Starzz relocated, in 2003, to San Antonio, Texas where the team became the San Antonio Silver Stars... |
68-62 | Win | 14-10 |
| August 10 | @ Cleveland Cleveland Rockers This article is about the defunct WNBA team; for the American Basketball Association team, see Cleveland Rockers .The Cleveland Rockers were a Women's National Basketball Association team that played from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which... |
82-80 | Win | 15-10 |
| August 11 | @ New York New York Liberty The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league... |
78-79 | Loss | 15-11 |
| August 14 | Detroit Detroit Shock The Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion... |
84-59 | Win | 16-11 |
| August 16 | @ Sacramento Sacramento Monarchs The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009... |
85-69 | Win | 17-11 |
| August 17 | @ Utah Utah Starzz The Utah Starzz were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They began play in the 1997 WNBA season as one of the league's eight original teams. The Starzz relocated, in 2003, to San Antonio, Texas where the team became the San Antonio Silver Stars... |
75-64 | Win | 18-11 |
| August 19 | Sacramento Sacramento Monarchs The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009... |
71-62 | Win | 19-11 |
Playoffs
| Game | Date | Opponent | Score | Result | Record |
| WNBA Semifinals | |||||
| 1 | August 22 | Cleveland Cleveland Rockers This article is about the defunct WNBA team; for the American Basketball Association team, see Cleveland Rockers .The Cleveland Rockers were a Women's National Basketball Association team that played from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which... |
78-68 | Win | 1-0 |
| 2 | August 24 | @ Cleveland Cleveland Rockers This article is about the defunct WNBA team; for the American Basketball Association team, see Cleveland Rockers .The Cleveland Rockers were a Women's National Basketball Association team that played from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which... |
66-67 | Loss | 1-1 |
| 3 | August 25 | @ Cleveland Cleveland Rockers This article is about the defunct WNBA team; for the American Basketball Association team, see Cleveland Rockers .The Cleveland Rockers were a Women's National Basketball Association team that played from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which... |
71-60 | Win | 2-1 |
| WNBA Finals | |||||
| 1 | August 27 | Houston Houston Comets The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and... |
54-51 (OT) | Win | 3-1 |
| 2 | August 29 | @ Houston Houston Comets The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and... |
69-74 | Loss | 3-2 |
| 3 | September 1 | @ Houston Houston Comets The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and... |
71-80 | Loss | 3-3 |
Player stats
| Player | GP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS |
| Jennifer Gillom | 30 | 219 | 42 | 50 | 10 | 624 |
| Bridget Pettis | 30 | 103 | 62 | 29 | 9 | 338 |
| Michelle Brogan | 30 | 133 | 41 | 44 | 5 | 275 |
| Michele Timms | 30 | 74 | 158 | 38 | 4 | 207 |
| Umeki Webb | 30 | 116 | 92 | 47 | 21 | 161 |
| Marlies Askamp | 26 | 85 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 139 |
| Brandy Reed | 24 | 78 | 20 | 18 | 7 | 124 |
| Andrea Kuklova | 29 | 37 | 31 | 18 | 4 | 97 |
| Toni Foster | 16 | 30 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 79 |
| Kristi Harrower | 30 | 21 | 52 | 15 | 3 | 70 |
| Maria Stepanova | 20 | 38 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 66 |
| Mikiko Hagiwara | 10 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| Pauline Jordan | 6 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 15 |