Phoenix Mercury
Encyclopedia
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 six of its fourteen 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
, and Australian guard Penny Taylor. In 1998
, 2007
, and 2009
, the Mercury went to the WNBA Finals
; they lost to Houston
in 1998, but won the title in 2007 and 2009 over Detroit
and Indiana
, respectively.
, 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
.
. 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.
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.
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. 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. Penny Taylor scored a game high 30 points in Game 5, and went 18-for-18 from the line. 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. On November 7, 2007, The Mercury announced the hiring of Corey Gaines
as head coach to replace the departing Paul Westhead
.
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.
protection service LifeLock
to place that company's logo on their jerseys through the 2011 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.
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#32127A; color:#FFFF00" |Phoenix Mercury statistics
|- valign="top"
|
|-
|
|-
|
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 six of its fourteen 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
, and Australian guard Penny Taylor. In 1998
, 2007
, and 2009
, the Mercury went to the WNBA Finals
; they lost to Houston
in 1998, but won the title in 2007 and 2009 over Detroit
and Indiana
, respectively.
, 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
.
. 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.
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.
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. 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. Penny Taylor scored a game high 30 points in Game 5, and went 18-for-18 from the line. 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. On November 7, 2007, The Mercury announced the hiring of Corey Gaines
as head coach to replace the departing Paul Westhead
.
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.
protection service LifeLock
to place that company's logo on their jerseys through the 2011 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.
|-
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 10%;"| Season
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 8%;" | Team
!rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 12%;" | Conference
!colspan="3" style="background:#eee; width: 15%;"| Regular season
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 30%;"| Playoff
Results
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 13%;"| Head coach
|-
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|W
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|L
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|PCT
|-
|colspan="9" align=center bgcolor="#32127A " | Phoenix Mercury
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 1997
| 1997
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 1st
| 16
| 12
| .571
| Lost WNBA Semifinals (New York
, 0–1)
| Cheryl Miller
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 1998
| 1998
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 2nd
| 19
| 11
| .633
| Won WNBA Semifinals (Cleveland
, 2–1)
Lost WNBA Finals (Houston
, 1–2)
| Cheryl Miller
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 1999
| 1999
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 4th
| 15
| 17
| .469
| Did not qualify
| Cheryl Miller
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2000
| 2000
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 4th
| 20
| 12
| .625
| Lost Conference Semifinals (Los Angeles
, 0–2)
| Cheryl Miller
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2001
| 2001
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 5th
| 13
| 19
| .406
| Did not qualify
| Cynthia Cooper
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2002
| 2002
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 7th
| 11
| 21
| .344
| Did not qualify
| C. Cooper
(6–4)
L. Sharp
(5–17)
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2003
| 2003
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 7th
| 8
| 26
| .235
| Did not qualify
| John Shumate
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2004
| 2004
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 5th
| 17
| 17
| .500
| Did not qualify
| Carrie Graf
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2005
| 2005
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 5th
| 16
| 18
| .471
| Did not qualify
| Carrie Graf
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2006
| 2006
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 5th
| 18
| 16
| .529
| Did not qualify
| Paul Westhead
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2007
| 2007
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 1st
| 23
| 11
| .676
| Won Conference Semifinals (Seattle
, 2–0)
Won Conference Finals (San Antonio
, 2–0)
Won WNBA Finals (Detroit
, 3–2)
| Paul Westhead
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2008
| 2008
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 7th
| 16
| 18
| .471
| Did not qualify
| Corey Gaines
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2009
| 2009
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 1st
| 23
| 11
| .676
| Won Conference Semifinals (San Antonio
, 2–1)
Won Conference Finals (Los Angeles
, 2–1)
Won WNBA Finals (Indiana
, 3–2)
| Corey Gaines
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2010
| 2010
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 2nd
| 15
| 19
| .441
| Won Conference Semifinals (San Antonio
, 2–0)
Lost Conference Finals (Seattle
, 0–2)
| Corey Gaines
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2011
| 2011
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 3rd
| 19
| 15
| .559
| Won Conference Semifinals (Seattle
, 2–1)
Lost Conference Finals (Minnesota
, 0–2)
| Corey Gaines
|-
!colspan="4" style="background:#eee;"|Regular season
|style="background:#eee;"| 249
|style="background:#eee;"| 243
|style="background:#eee;"| .506
|colspan="2" style="background:#eee;"| 3 Conference Championships
|-
!colspan="4" style="background:#eee;"|Playoffs
|style="background:#eee;"| 21
|style="background:#eee;"| 16
|style="background:#eee;"| .568
|colspan="2" style="background:#eee;"| 2 WNBA Championships
|}
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#32127A; color:#FFFF00" | Phoenix Mercury head coaches
|- valign="top"
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="15%" rowspan="2" | Name
! width="10%" rowspan="2" | Start
! width="10%" rowspan="2" | End
! width="5%" rowspan="2" | Seasons
! width="20%" colspan="4" | Regular season
! width="20%" colspan="4" | Playoffs
|-
! W !! L !! PCT !! G !! W !! L !! PCT !! G
|-
| Cheryl Miller || January 27, 1997 || December 1, 2000 || 4 || width="5%"|70 || width="5%"|52 || width="5%"|.574 || width="5%"|122 ||width="5%"|3 || width="5%"|6 || width="5%"|.333 || width="5%"|9
|-
| Cynthia Cooper
|| January 8, 2001 || June 26, 2002 || 2 || width="5%"|19 || width="5%"|23 || width="5%"|.452 || width="5%"|42 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Linda Sharp
|| June 26, 2002 || end of 2002
|| 1 || width="5%"|5 || width="5%"|17 || width="5%"|.227 || width="5%"|22 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| John Shumate
|| October 23, 2002 || end of 2003
|| 1 || width="5%"|8 || width="5%"|26 || width="5%"|.235 || width="5%"|34 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Carrie Graf || April 14, 2004 || end of 2005
|| 2 || width="5%"|33 || width="5%"|35 || width="5%"|.485 || width="5%"|68 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Paul Westhead
|| October 11, 2005 || September 18, 2007 || 2 || width="5%"|41 || width="5%"|27 || width="5%"|.603 || width="5%"|68 ||width="5%"|7 || width="5%"|2 || width="5%"|.778 || width="5%"|9
|-
| Corey Gaines
|| November 7, 2007 || Current || 4 || width="5%"|73 || width="5%"|63 || width="5%"|.537 || width="5%"|136 ||width="5%"|11 || width="5%"|9 || width="5%"|.550 || width="5%"|20
|}
|}
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#32127A; color:#FFFF00" |Phoenix Mercury statistics
|- valign="top"
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="4%" rowspan="2"| Season
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Individual
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Team vs Opponents
|-
! width="8%"|PPG
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|APG
! width="8%"|PPG
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|FG%
|-
| 1997
| J. Gillom
(15.7)
| T. Foster (6.1)
| M. Timms
(5.1)
| 69.2 vs 65.2
| 32.9 vs 33.0
| .373 vs .413
|-
| 1998
| J. Gillom
(20.8)
| J. Gillom
(7.3)
| M. Timms
(5.3)
| 73.9 vs 67.5
| 31.4 vs 31.4
| .424 vs .434
|-
| 1999
| J. Gillom
(15.2)
| M. Askamp
(7.2)
| M. Timms
(5.0)
| 68.0 vs 68.2
| 31.3 vs 31.6
| .399 vs .415
|}
|-
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="4%" rowspan="2"| Season
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Individual
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Team vs Opponents
|-
! width="8%"|PPG
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|APG
! width="8%"|PPG
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|FG%
|-
| 2000
| B. Reed
(19.0)
| B. Reed
(5.8)
| M. Cleary (3.2)
| 70.1 vs 65.7
| 27.9 vs 30.3
| .446 vs .423
|-
| 2001
| J. Gillom
(12.3)
| M. Stepanova
(6.3)
| K. Veal (4.3)
| 64.5 vs 67.8
| 29.4 vs 32.2
| .405 vs .415
|-
| 2002
| J. Gillom
(15.3)
| A. Williams
(6.9)
| G. Grubin
(3.3)
| 65.3 vs 71.6
| 28.7 vs 31.3
| .420 vs .455
|-
| 2003
| A. DeForge
(11.9)
| A. Williams
(7.4)
| T. Jackson
(4.3)
| 61.7 vs 66.8
| 29.4 vs 32.8
| .382 vs .447
|-
| 2004
| D. Taurasi
(17.0)
| P. Taylor (4.8)
| D. Taurasi
(3.9)
| 67.6 vs 65.7
| 26.9 vs 30.0
| .430 vs .425
|-
| 2005
| D. Taurasi
(16.0)
| K. Vodichkova
(7.0)
| D. Taurasi
(4.5)
| 69.4 vs 69.2
| 31.2 vs 30.1
| .414 vs .429
|-
| 2006
| D. Taurasi
(25.3)
| K. Vodichkova
(6.7)
| D. Taurasi
(4.1)
| 87.1 vs 84.7
| 33.7 vs 37.7
| .443 vs .433
|-
| 2007
| D. Taurasi
(19.2)
| T. Smith
(6.5)
| K. Miller (4.6)
| 89.0 vs 85.4
| 33.9 vs 40.9
| .439 vs .405
|-
| 2008
| D. Taurasi
(24.1)
| T. Smith
(7.0)
| K. Miller (4.0)
| 88.5 vs 88.5
| 36.1 vs 38.2
| .430 vs .421
|-
| 2009
| D. Taurasi
(20.4)
| D. Bonner
(5.8)
| C. Pondexter
(5.0)
| 92.8 vs 89.1
| 35.0 vs 37.8
| .460 vs .424
|}
|-
|
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 six of its fourteen 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
, and Australian guard Penny Taylor. In 1998
, 2007
, and 2009
, the Mercury went to the WNBA Finals
; they lost to Houston
in 1998, but won the title in 2007 and 2009 over Detroit
and Indiana
, respectively.
, 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
.
. 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.
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.
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. 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. Penny Taylor scored a game high 30 points in Game 5, and went 18-for-18 from the line. 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. On November 7, 2007, The Mercury announced the hiring of Corey Gaines
as head coach to replace the departing Paul Westhead
.
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.
protection service LifeLock
to place that company's logo on their jerseys through the 2011 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.
|-
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 10%;"| Season
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 8%;" | Team
!rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 12%;" | Conference
!colspan="3" style="background:#eee; width: 15%;"| Regular season
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 30%;"| Playoff
Results
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 13%;"| Head coach
|-
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|W
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|L
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|PCT
|-
|colspan="9" align=center bgcolor="#32127A " | Phoenix Mercury
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 1997
| 1997
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 1st
| 16
| 12
| .571
| Lost WNBA Semifinals (New York
, 0–1)
| Cheryl Miller
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 1998
| 1998
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 2nd
| 19
| 11
| .633
| Won WNBA Semifinals (Cleveland
, 2–1)
Lost WNBA Finals (Houston
, 1–2)
| Cheryl Miller
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 1999
| 1999
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 4th
| 15
| 17
| .469
| Did not qualify
| Cheryl Miller
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2000
| 2000
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 4th
| 20
| 12
| .625
| Lost Conference Semifinals (Los Angeles
, 0–2)
| Cheryl Miller
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2001
| 2001
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 5th
| 13
| 19
| .406
| Did not qualify
| Cynthia Cooper
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2002
| 2002
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 7th
| 11
| 21
| .344
| Did not qualify
| C. Cooper
(6–4)
L. Sharp
(5–17)
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2003
| 2003
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 7th
| 8
| 26
| .235
| Did not qualify
| John Shumate
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2004
| 2004
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 5th
| 17
| 17
| .500
| Did not qualify
| Carrie Graf
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2005
| 2005
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 5th
| 16
| 18
| .471
| Did not qualify
| Carrie Graf
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2006
| 2006
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 5th
| 18
| 16
| .529
| Did not qualify
| Paul Westhead
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2007
| 2007
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 1st
| 23
| 11
| .676
| Won Conference Semifinals (Seattle
, 2–0)
Won Conference Finals (San Antonio
, 2–0)
Won WNBA Finals (Detroit
, 3–2)
| Paul Westhead
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2008
| 2008
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 7th
| 16
| 18
| .471
| Did not qualify
| Corey Gaines
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2009
| 2009
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 1st
| 23
| 11
| .676
| Won Conference Semifinals (San Antonio
, 2–1)
Won Conference Finals (Los Angeles
, 2–1)
Won WNBA Finals (Indiana
, 3–2)
| Corey Gaines
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2010
| 2010
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 2nd
| 15
| 19
| .441
| Won Conference Semifinals (San Antonio
, 2–0)
Lost Conference Finals (Seattle
, 0–2)
| Corey Gaines
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2011
| 2011
| style="width: 10%"|West
| 3rd
| 19
| 15
| .559
| Won Conference Semifinals (Seattle
, 2–1)
Lost Conference Finals (Minnesota
, 0–2)
| Corey Gaines
|-
!colspan="4" style="background:#eee;"|Regular season
|style="background:#eee;"| 249
|style="background:#eee;"| 243
|style="background:#eee;"| .506
|colspan="2" style="background:#eee;"| 3 Conference Championships
|-
!colspan="4" style="background:#eee;"|Playoffs
|style="background:#eee;"| 21
|style="background:#eee;"| 16
|style="background:#eee;"| .568
|colspan="2" style="background:#eee;"| 2 WNBA Championships
|}
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#32127A; color:#FFFF00" | Phoenix Mercury head coaches
|- valign="top"
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="15%" rowspan="2" | Name
! width="10%" rowspan="2" | Start
! width="10%" rowspan="2" | End
! width="5%" rowspan="2" | Seasons
! width="20%" colspan="4" | Regular season
! width="20%" colspan="4" | Playoffs
|-
! W !! L !! PCT !! G !! W !! L !! PCT !! G
|-
| Cheryl Miller || January 27, 1997 || December 1, 2000 || 4 || width="5%"|70 || width="5%"|52 || width="5%"|.574 || width="5%"|122 ||width="5%"|3 || width="5%"|6 || width="5%"|.333 || width="5%"|9
|-
| Cynthia Cooper
|| January 8, 2001 || June 26, 2002 || 2 || width="5%"|19 || width="5%"|23 || width="5%"|.452 || width="5%"|42 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Linda Sharp
|| June 26, 2002 || end of 2002
|| 1 || width="5%"|5 || width="5%"|17 || width="5%"|.227 || width="5%"|22 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| John Shumate
|| October 23, 2002 || end of 2003
|| 1 || width="5%"|8 || width="5%"|26 || width="5%"|.235 || width="5%"|34 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Carrie Graf || April 14, 2004 || end of 2005
|| 2 || width="5%"|33 || width="5%"|35 || width="5%"|.485 || width="5%"|68 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Paul Westhead
|| October 11, 2005 || September 18, 2007 || 2 || width="5%"|41 || width="5%"|27 || width="5%"|.603 || width="5%"|68 ||width="5%"|7 || width="5%"|2 || width="5%"|.778 || width="5%"|9
|-
| Corey Gaines
|| November 7, 2007 || Current || 4 || width="5%"|73 || width="5%"|63 || width="5%"|.537 || width="5%"|136 ||width="5%"|11 || width="5%"|9 || width="5%"|.550 || width="5%"|20
|}
|}
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#32127A; color:#FFFF00" |Phoenix Mercury statistics
|- valign="top"
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="4%" rowspan="2"| Season
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Individual
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Team vs Opponents
|-
! width="8%"|PPG
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|APG
! width="8%"|PPG
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|FG%
|-
| 1997
| J. Gillom
(15.7)
| T. Foster (6.1)
| M. Timms
(5.1)
| 69.2 vs 65.2
| 32.9 vs 33.0
| .373 vs .413
|-
| 1998
| J. Gillom
(20.8)
| J. Gillom
(7.3)
| M. Timms
(5.3)
| 73.9 vs 67.5
| 31.4 vs 31.4
| .424 vs .434
|-
| 1999
| J. Gillom
(15.2)
| M. Askamp
(7.2)
| M. Timms
(5.0)
| 68.0 vs 68.2
| 31.3 vs 31.6
| .399 vs .415
|}
|-
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="4%" rowspan="2"| Season
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Individual
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Team vs Opponents
|-
! width="8%"|PPG
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|APG
! width="8%"|PPG
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|FG%
|-
| 2000
| B. Reed
(19.0)
| B. Reed
(5.8)
| M. Cleary (3.2)
| 70.1 vs 65.7
| 27.9 vs 30.3
| .446 vs .423
|-
| 2001
| J. Gillom
(12.3)
| M. Stepanova
(6.3)
| K. Veal (4.3)
| 64.5 vs 67.8
| 29.4 vs 32.2
| .405 vs .415
|-
| 2002
| J. Gillom
(15.3)
| A. Williams
(6.9)
| G. Grubin
(3.3)
| 65.3 vs 71.6
| 28.7 vs 31.3
| .420 vs .455
|-
| 2003
| A. DeForge
(11.9)
| A. Williams
(7.4)
| T. Jackson
(4.3)
| 61.7 vs 66.8
| 29.4 vs 32.8
| .382 vs .447
|-
| 2004
| D. Taurasi
(17.0)
| P. Taylor (4.8)
| D. Taurasi
(3.9)
| 67.6 vs 65.7
| 26.9 vs 30.0
| .430 vs .425
|-
| 2005
| D. Taurasi
(16.0)
| K. Vodichkova
(7.0)
| D. Taurasi
(4.5)
| 69.4 vs 69.2
| 31.2 vs 30.1
| .414 vs .429
|-
| 2006
| D. Taurasi
(25.3)
| K. Vodichkova
(6.7)
| D. Taurasi
(4.1)
| 87.1 vs 84.7
| 33.7 vs 37.7
| .443 vs .433
|-
| 2007
| D. Taurasi
(19.2)
| T. Smith
(6.5)
| K. Miller (4.6)
| 89.0 vs 85.4
| 33.9 vs 40.9
| .439 vs .405
|-
| 2008
| D. Taurasi
(24.1)
| T. Smith
(7.0)
| K. Miller (4.0)
| 88.5 vs 88.5
| 36.1 vs 38.2
| .430 vs .421
|-
| 2009
| D. Taurasi
(20.4)
| D. Bonner
(5.8)
| C. Pondexter
(5.0)
| 92.8 vs 89.1
| 35.0 vs 37.8
| .460 vs .424
|}
|-
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="4%" rowspan="2"| Season
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Individual
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Team vs Opponents
|-
! width="8%"|PPG
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|APG
! width="8%"|PPG
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|FG%
|-
| 2010
| D. Taurasi
(22.6)
| C. Dupree
(7.6)
| P. Taylor (5.0)
| 93.9 vs 93.8
| 35.7 vs 37.6
| .473 vs .455
|-
| 2011
| D. Taurasi
(21.6)
| C. Dupree
(8.2)
| P. Taylor (4.7)
| 89.0 vs 86.0
| 35.1 vs 34.2
| .461 vs .440
|}
|}
. 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.
{| class="toccolours" width=70% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#32127A; color:#FFFF00" | Regular season all-time attendance
|- valign="top"
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|- align="center" style="background:#eee;color:#000000;"
|width=75 |Year
|width=150|Average
|width=100|High
|width=100|Low
|width=75 |Sellouts
|width=150|Total for year
|width=150|WNBA game average
|- align="center"
| 1997 || 13,703 (1st) || 17,747 || 10,898 || 0 || 191,835 || 9,669
|- align="center"
| 1998 || 13,764 (3rd) || 14,705 || 12,522 || 0 || 206,467 || 10,869
|- align="center"
| 1999 || 12,219 (3rd) || 13,483 || 11,328 || 0 || 195,508 || 10,207
|- align="center"
| 2000 || 10,130 (5th) || 11,390 || 9,327 || 0 || 162,079 || 9,074
|- align="center"
| 2001 || 8,558 (9th) || 14,117 || 6,680 || 0 || 136,922 || 9,075
|- align="center"
| 2002 || 8,749 (8th) || 11,347 || 7,199 || 0 || 139,978 || 9,228
|- align="center"
| 2003 || 8,501 (7th) || 10,203 || 6,464 || 0 || 144,511 || 8,800
|- align="center"
| 2004 || 7,638 (8th) || 10,493 || 5,147 || 0 || 129,848 || 8,613
|- align="center"
| 2005 || 7,303 (9th) || 10,503 || 5,865 || 0 || 124,146 || 8,172
|- align="center"
| 2006 || 7,496 (7th) || 11,661 || 5,091 || 0 || 127,430 || 7,476
|- align="center"
| 2007 || 7,711 (9th) || 13,569 || 6,033 || 0 || 131,085 || 7,742
|- align="center"
| 2008 || 8,522 (5th) || 15,499 || 4,478 || 0 || 144,867 || 7,948
|- align="center"
| 2009 || 8,523 (4th) || 13,582 || 5,672 || 0 || 144,844 || 8,039
|- align="center"
| 2010 || 8,982 (4th) || 14,772 || 5,506 || 0 || 152,686 || 7,834
|- align="center"
| 2011 || 9,167 (3rd) || 12,666 || 6,108 || 0 || 155,845 || 7,954
|}
|}
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team based in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, playing in the Western Conference
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
in the Women's National Basketball Association
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
(WNBA). The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season
1997 WNBA Season
-External links:*...
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
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
.
The Mercury has qualified for the WNBA Playoffs
WNBA Playoffs
The WNBA Playoffs is a best-of-three elimination tournament between eight teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association , ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals....
in six of its fourteen years in Phoenix. The franchise has been home to many high-quality players such as former UConn
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
sharpshooter Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
, explosive Rutgers
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
grad Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. She was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Pondexter is known for her scrappy play, quick crossovers and deadly midrange jumpshot...
, former Temple
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
power forward Candice Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
, and Australian guard Penny Taylor. In 1998
1998 WNBA season
-External links:**...
, 2007
2007 WNBA season
-External links:* * * * * * * *...
, and 2009
2009 WNBA season
The 2009 WNBA Season is the 13th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. It is the first WNBA season ever without a Houston franchise, the Comets having folded in December 2008...
, the Mercury went to the WNBA Finals
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
; they lost to 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...
in 1998, but won the title in 2007 and 2009 over 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...
and Indiana
Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
, respectively.
Mercury heating up (1997–1998)
With a cast that included hall-of-famer Nancy LiebermanNancy Lieberman
Nancy Elizabeth Lieberman , nicknamed "Lady Magic", is a former professional basketball player who played and coached in the WNBA.Lieberman is regarded as one of the greatest figures in women's basketball....
, and possible future hall-of-famers Michele Timms
Michele Timms
Michele Margaret Timms is a retired Australian professional basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association...
of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002...
, hyper-active star Bridget Pettis
Bridget Pettis
Bridget Pettis is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a guard in the Women's National Basketball Association for eight seasons during the 1990s and 2000s...
, 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
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...
, though, in those playoffs.
In 1998, the Mercury again qualified for the playoffs, posting a 19–11 record. The Mercury defeated the Cleveland Rockers
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...
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
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...
.
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 SparksLos 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...
. 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
Lisa Harrison
Lisa Harrison is a former American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association .-Early life:...
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 UConnUniversity of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
star Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
. Taurasi went on to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award
WNBA Rookie of the Year Award
The Women's National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual Women's National Basketball Association award given since the 1998 WNBA season, to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner is selected by a panel of sportswriters throughout the United States, each of whom...
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 NBANational Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
coach Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the University of Oregon women's team...
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
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
). The Mercury also drafted Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. She was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Pondexter is known for her scrappy play, quick crossovers and deadly midrange jumpshot...
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. In their first playoffs since 2000, the Mercury made quick work of the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
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
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
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
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...
. 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. Penny Taylor scored a game high 30 points in Game 5, and went 18-for-18 from the line. 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
Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. She was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Pondexter is known for her scrappy play, quick crossovers and deadly midrange jumpshot...
was named the WNBA Finals MVP, and averaged 22.0 points and 5.6 assists in the series. On November 7, 2007, The Mercury announced the hiring of Corey Gaines
Corey Gaines
Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury....
as head coach to replace the departing Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the University of Oregon women's team...
.
Mercury fall, Mercury rise (2008–present)
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
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
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
Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
3–2 in the best of 5 series to capture the second title in their franchise history. Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
captured the WNBA Finals MVP Award. All-star guard Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. She was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Pondexter is known for her scrappy play, quick crossovers and deadly midrange jumpshot...
was traded to the New York Liberty
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...
amid some controversy in the offseason; All-Star Candice Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
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
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
in the first round of the Playoffs, but lost to the eventual champion Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
in the conference finals.
After a hectic offseason for Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
, 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
2011 WNBA All-Star Game
The 2011 WNBA All-Star Game was played on July 23, 2011 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, home of the San Antonio Silver Stars. The game was the 10th WNBA All-Star Game, which has been held annually since 1999 except in 2004, 2008, and 2010...
with a 10–5 record. Ultimately, they recovered to gain the third seed in the 2011 WNBA Playoffs
2011 WNBA Playoffs
The 2011 WNBA Playoffs is the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2011 season. Four teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs seeded 1 to 4 in a tournament bracket, with the two opening rounds in a best-of-three format, and the final in a...
, and upset the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
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
Minnesota Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1999 season...
, losing in two games.
Uniform sponsor
In June 2009 the Mercury and WNBA announced a sponsorship agreement with identity theftIdentity theft
Identity theft is a form of stealing another person's identity in which someone pretends to be someone else by assuming that person's identity, typically in order to access resources or obtain credit and other benefits in that person's name...
protection service LifeLock
LifeLock
LifeLock Inc. which was founded in 2005, is an American identity theft protection company.According to the LifeLock website, for a minimum fee of $10 a month, the LifeLock Identity Alert system can identify fraudulent applications for some forms of credit and non-credit related services...
to place that company's logo on their jerseys through the 2011 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.
Season-by-season records
| Season | Team | Conference | Regular season | Playoff WNBA Playoffs The WNBA Playoffs is a best-of-three elimination tournament between eight teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association , ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals.... Results |
Head coach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | PCT | ||||||
| Phoenix Mercury | ||||||||
| 1997 1997 WNBA Season -External links:*... |
1997 1997 Phoenix Mercury season The 1997 WNBA season was the 1st for the Phoenix Mercury.-Initial Player Allocation:-WNBA Elite Draft:-WNBA Draft:-Season Schedule:-Player stats:... |
West Western Conference (WNBA) The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference... |
1st | 16 | 12 | .571 | Lost WNBA Semifinals (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... , 0–1) |
Cheryl Miller |
| 1998 1998 WNBA season -External links:**... |
1998 1998 Phoenix Mercury season 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.-Offseason:... |
West Western Conference (WNBA) The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference... |
2nd | 19 | 11 | .633 | Won WNBA Semifinals (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... , 2–1) Lost WNBA Finals (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... , 1–2) |
Cheryl Miller |
| 1999 1999 WNBA season -External links:**... |
1999 1999 Phoenix Mercury season The 1999 WNBA season was the 3rd season for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury failed to qualify for the postseason after advancing to the WNBA Finals during the previous year.-WNBA Draft:-External links:*... |
West Western Conference (WNBA) The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference... |
4th | 15 | 17 | .469 | Did not qualify | Cheryl Miller |
| 2000 2000 WNBA season -External links:**... |
2000 2000 Phoenix Mercury season The 2000 WNBA season was the 4th season for the Phoenix Mercury. They made the playoffs for the first time in two years, but were swept in the first round to the Los Angeles Sparks... |
West Western Conference (WNBA) The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference... |
4th | 20 | 12 | .625 | Lost Conference Semifinals (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... , 0–2) |
Cheryl Miller |
| 2001 2001 WNBA season -External links:**... |
2001 2001 Phoenix Mercury season The 2001 WNBA season was the 5th for the Phoenix Mercury. Cynthia Cooper became the second head coach in franchise history.-WNBA Draft:-Season Schedule:-Player stats:... |
West Western Conference (WNBA) The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference... |
5th | 13 | 19 | .406 | Did not qualify | Cynthia Cooper Cynthia Cooper Cynthia Lynne Cooper is a former American basketball player who has won championships in college, the Olympics, and in the Women's National Basketball Association . She is considered by many as one of the greatest women's basketball players ever. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the... |
| 2002 2002 WNBA season -External links:***... |
2002 2002 Phoenix Mercury season The 2002 WNBA season was the 6th season for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury's head coach, Cynthia Cooper, resigned during the season.-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:-References:... |
West Western Conference (WNBA) The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference... |
7th | 11 | 21 | .344 | Did not qualify | C. Cooper Cynthia Cooper Cynthia Lynne Cooper is a former American basketball player who has won championships in college, the Olympics, and in the Women's National Basketball Association . She is considered by many as one of the greatest women's basketball players ever. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the... (6–4) L. Sharp Linda K. Sharp Linda K. Sharp is a former collegiate women's basketball coach. Her coaching career spans 31 seasons with stints on all levels from elementary, junior high and high school to the collegiate and professional ranks, and she was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.Sharp served as... (5–17) |
| 2003 2003 WNBA season -External links:***... |
2003 2003 Phoenix Mercury season The 2003 WNBA season was the 7th season for the Phoenix Mercury franchise. The season saw Phoenix going for the worst record in the league at a franchise worst of 8-26.-Dispersal Draft:-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:... |
West Western Conference (WNBA) The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference... |
7th | 8 | 26 | .235 | Did not qualify | John Shumate John Shumate John H. Shumate is a retired American professional basketball player who is currently an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns.... |
| 2004 2004 WNBA season -External links:***... |
2004 2004 Phoenix Mercury season The 2004 WNBA season was the 8th for the Phoenix Mercury.-WNBA Draft:-Regular season:In her WNBA debut, Taurasi netted 26 points and led the Mercury to an 84-76 victory over the Seattle Storm. For the season, the rookie averaged 17.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game... |
West Western Conference (WNBA) The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference... |
5th | 17 | 17 | .500 | Did not qualify | Carrie Graf |
| 2005 2005 WNBA season -External links:***... |
2005 2005 Phoenix Mercury season The 2005 WNBA season was the 9th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, falling a game short.-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:-External links:*... |
West Western Conference (WNBA) The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference... |
5th | 16 | 18 | .471 | Did not qualify | Carrie Graf |
| 2006 2006 WNBA season -External links:*******... |
2006 2006 Phoenix Mercury season The 2006 WNBA season was the 10th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury drafted Cappie Pondexter with the 2nd pick overall in the WNBA Draft. They were close to qualifying for the playoffs, but lost to a tiebreaker to the Houston Comets and the Seattle Storm.... |
West Western Conference (WNBA) The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference... |
5th | 18 | 16 | .529 | Did not qualify | Paul Westhead Paul Westhead Paul Westhead is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the University of Oregon women's team... |
| 2007 2007 WNBA season -External links:* * * * * * * *... |
2007 2007 Phoenix Mercury season The 2007 WNBA season was the 11th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury won their first WNBA championship.-WNBA Draft:The following are the Mercury's selections in the 2007 WNBA Draft.-Transactions:... |
West Western Conference (WNBA) The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference... |
1st | 23 | 11 | .676 | Won Conference Semifinals (Seattle Seattle Storm The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began... , 2–0) Won Conference Finals (San Antonio San Antonio Silver Stars The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio... , 2–0) Won WNBA Finals (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... , 3–2) |
Paul Westhead Paul Westhead Paul Westhead is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the University of Oregon women's team... |
| 2008 2008 WNBA season -Season Highlights:*Candace Parker becomes the second and third player in WNBA history to dunk in a regular season game.*A fight breaks out between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Detroit Shock resulting in four ejections and ten suspensions.... |
2008 2008 Phoenix Mercury season The 2008 WNBA season was the 12th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury were not able to win their second consecutive WNBA Championship and became the first defending champion to not qualify for the playoffs.-Offseason:... |
West Western Conference (WNBA) The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference... |
7th | 16 | 18 | .471 | Did not qualify | Corey Gaines Corey Gaines Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury.... |
| 2009 2009 WNBA season The 2009 WNBA Season is the 13th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. It is the first WNBA season ever without a Houston franchise, the Comets having folded in December 2008... |
2009 2009 Phoenix Mercury season The 2009 WNBA season is the 13th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association. The Mercury successfully won the WNBA Finals for the second time in franchise history. On June 6, the Mercury and LifeLock entered a multi-year marketing partnership to launch the... |
West Western Conference (WNBA) The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference... |
1st | 23 | 11 | .676 | Won Conference Semifinals (San Antonio San Antonio Silver Stars The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio... , 2–1) Won Conference Finals (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... , 2–1) Won WNBA Finals (Indiana Indiana Fever The Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began... , 3–2) |
Corey Gaines Corey Gaines Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury.... |
| 2010 2010 WNBA season The 2010 WNBA season was the 14th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began with a televised meeting between the defending champion Phoenix Mercury and the Los Angeles Sparks in Phoenix, Arizona on May 15. The Connecticut Sun hosted the 10th Annual All-Star... |
2010 2010 Phoenix Mercury season The 2010 WNBA season is the 14th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association.-Dispersal draft:Based on the Mercury's 2009 record, they would pick 12th in the Sacramento Monarchs dispersal draft... |
West Western Conference (WNBA) The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference... |
2nd | 15 | 19 | .441 | Won Conference Semifinals (San Antonio San Antonio Silver Stars The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio... , 2–0) Lost Conference Finals (Seattle Seattle Storm The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began... , 0–2) |
Corey Gaines Corey Gaines Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury.... |
| 2011 2011 WNBA season The 2011 WNBA season is the 15th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began on June 3 with the Los Angeles Sparks hosting the Minnesota Lynx, featuring 2011 WNBA Draft top pick Maya Moore, in a game televised on NBA TV... |
2011 2011 Phoenix Mercury season The 2011 WNBA season is the 15th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association.-WNBA Draft:The following are the Mercury's selections in the 2011 WNBA Draft.-Transaction log:... |
West Western Conference (WNBA) The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference... |
3rd | 19 | 15 | .559 | Won Conference Semifinals (Seattle Seattle Storm The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began... , 2–1) Lost Conference Finals (Minnesota Minnesota Lynx The Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1999 season... , 0–2) |
Corey Gaines Corey Gaines Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury.... |
| Regular season | 249 | 243 | .506 | 3 Conference Championships | ||||
| Playoffs | 21 | 16 | .568 | 2 WNBA Championships | ||||
Former players
- Kara BraxtonKara BraxtonKara Liana Braxton is an American professional basketball player for the New York Liberty in the WNBA.-Early life:...
(2010–2011), now a member of the New York LibertyNew York LibertyThe 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... - Anna DeForgeAnna DeForgeAnna Louise DeForge is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA. She is the first player from the University of Nebraska to ever play in the WNBA. After finding little success and playing time for several WNBA teams, she finally earned...
(2003–2005) - Jennifer GillomJennifer GillomJennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002...
(1997–2002) - Michelle Griffiths (1998–2000)
- Lisa HarrisonLisa HarrisonLisa Harrison is a former American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association .-Early life:...
(1999–2005) - Nancy LiebermanNancy LiebermanNancy Elizabeth Lieberman , nicknamed "Lady Magic", is a former professional basketball player who played and coached in the WNBA.Lieberman is regarded as one of the greatest figures in women's basketball....
(1997) - Kelly Miller (2006–2008), now a member of the Washington MysticsWashington MysticsThe 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'...
- Bridget PettisBridget PettisBridget Pettis is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a guard in the Women's National Basketball Association for eight seasons during the 1990s and 2000s...
(1997–2001), now assistant coach of the Mercury - Plenette PiersonPlenette PiersonPlenette Pierson is a professional WNBA player for the New York Liberty. In the 2007 season, Pierson won the first ever Sixth Woman of the Year Award given in the WNBA.-College:...
(2003–2005), now a member of New York LibertyNew York LibertyThe 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... - Cappie PondexterCappie PondexterCappie Pondexter is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. She was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Pondexter is known for her scrappy play, quick crossovers and deadly midrange jumpshot...
(2006–2009), now a member of the New York LibertyNew York LibertyThe 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... - Brandy ReedBrandy ReedBrandy 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...
(2000–2002) - Tangela SmithTangela Smith-External links:***...
(2007–2010), now a member of the Indiana FeverIndiana FeverThe Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began... - Belinda SnellBelinda SnellBelinda Snell is an Australian women's basketball player who plays for Australia and the WNBA in the United States....
(2005–2007), now a member of the Seattle StormSeattle StormThe Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began... - Maria StepanovaMaria StepanovaMaria 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 ....
(1998–2001, 2005) - Michelle Timms (1997–2001)
- Kamila Vodičková (2005–2006)
- Adrian Williams-StrongAdrian Williams-StrongAdrian Williams-Strong is an American professional women's basketball player in the WNBA, currently a Free Agent.Williams attended college at University of Southern California and graduated in 1999....
(2000–2004) - Le'coe WillinghamLe'coe WillinghamLe'coe Willingham is a professional basketball player. Attending Hephzibah High School, she won the 1998 AAAA Georgia State Women's state high jump title...
(2009), now a member of the Seattle StormSeattle StormThe Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
Owners
- Jerry ColangeloJerry ColangeloJerry Colangelo , is an American businessman and sports executive.He formerly owned the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, the Arizona Sandsharks of the Continental Indoor Soccer League, the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League and the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major...
, owner of the Phoenix SunsPhoenix SunsThe Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
(1997–2003) - Robert SarverRobert SarverRobert Sarver is the current majority owner of the Phoenix Suns. He bought the NBA franchise from Jerry Colangelo in the spring of 2004....
, owner of the Phoenix SunsPhoenix SunsThe Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
(2004–present)
Head coaches
| Phoenix Mercury head coaches | |
|---|---|
General managers
- Cheryl Miller (1997–2000)
- Seth Sulka (2001–2006)
- Ann Meyers-Drysdale (2007–2011)
- Corey GainesCorey GainesCorey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury....
(2012–present)
Statistics
{| class="toccolours" width=80% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#32127A; color:#FFFF00" |Phoenix Mercury statistics
|- valign="top"
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The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team based in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, playing in the Western Conference
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
in the Women's National Basketball Association
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
(WNBA). The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season
1997 WNBA Season
-External links:*...
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
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
.
The Mercury has qualified for the WNBA Playoffs
WNBA Playoffs
The WNBA Playoffs is a best-of-three elimination tournament between eight teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association , ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals....
in six of its fourteen years in Phoenix. The franchise has been home to many high-quality players such as former UConn
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
sharpshooter Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
, explosive Rutgers
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
grad Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. She was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Pondexter is known for her scrappy play, quick crossovers and deadly midrange jumpshot...
, former Temple
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
power forward Candice Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
, and Australian guard Penny Taylor. In 1998
1998 WNBA season
-External links:**...
, 2007
2007 WNBA season
-External links:* * * * * * * *...
, and 2009
2009 WNBA season
The 2009 WNBA Season is the 13th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. It is the first WNBA season ever without a Houston franchise, the Comets having folded in December 2008...
, the Mercury went to the WNBA Finals
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
; they lost to 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...
in 1998, but won the title in 2007 and 2009 over 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...
and Indiana
Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
, respectively.
Mercury heating up (1997–1998)
With a cast that included hall-of-famer Nancy LiebermanNancy Lieberman
Nancy Elizabeth Lieberman , nicknamed "Lady Magic", is a former professional basketball player who played and coached in the WNBA.Lieberman is regarded as one of the greatest figures in women's basketball....
, and possible future hall-of-famers Michele Timms
Michele Timms
Michele Margaret Timms is a retired Australian professional basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association...
of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002...
, hyper-active star Bridget Pettis
Bridget Pettis
Bridget Pettis is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a guard in the Women's National Basketball Association for eight seasons during the 1990s and 2000s...
, 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
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...
, though, in those playoffs.
In 1998, the Mercury again qualified for the playoffs, posting a 19–11 record. The Mercury defeated the Cleveland Rockers
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...
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
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...
.
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 SparksLos 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...
. 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
Lisa Harrison
Lisa Harrison is a former American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association .-Early life:...
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 UConnUniversity of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
star Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
. Taurasi went on to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award
WNBA Rookie of the Year Award
The Women's National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual Women's National Basketball Association award given since the 1998 WNBA season, to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner is selected by a panel of sportswriters throughout the United States, each of whom...
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 NBANational Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
coach Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the University of Oregon women's team...
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
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
). The Mercury also drafted Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. She was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Pondexter is known for her scrappy play, quick crossovers and deadly midrange jumpshot...
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. In their first playoffs since 2000, the Mercury made quick work of the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
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
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
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
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...
. 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. Penny Taylor scored a game high 30 points in Game 5, and went 18-for-18 from the line. 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
Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. She was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Pondexter is known for her scrappy play, quick crossovers and deadly midrange jumpshot...
was named the WNBA Finals MVP, and averaged 22.0 points and 5.6 assists in the series. On November 7, 2007, The Mercury announced the hiring of Corey Gaines
Corey Gaines
Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury....
as head coach to replace the departing Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the University of Oregon women's team...
.
Mercury fall, Mercury rise (2008–present)
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
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
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
Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
3–2 in the best of 5 series to capture the second title in their franchise history. Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
captured the WNBA Finals MVP Award. All-star guard Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. She was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Pondexter is known for her scrappy play, quick crossovers and deadly midrange jumpshot...
was traded to the New York Liberty
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...
amid some controversy in the offseason; All-Star Candice Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
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
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
in the first round of the Playoffs, but lost to the eventual champion Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
in the conference finals.
After a hectic offseason for Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
, 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
2011 WNBA All-Star Game
The 2011 WNBA All-Star Game was played on July 23, 2011 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, home of the San Antonio Silver Stars. The game was the 10th WNBA All-Star Game, which has been held annually since 1999 except in 2004, 2008, and 2010...
with a 10–5 record. Ultimately, they recovered to gain the third seed in the 2011 WNBA Playoffs
2011 WNBA Playoffs
The 2011 WNBA Playoffs is the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2011 season. Four teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs seeded 1 to 4 in a tournament bracket, with the two opening rounds in a best-of-three format, and the final in a...
, and upset the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
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
Minnesota Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1999 season...
, losing in two games.
Uniform sponsor
In June 2009 the Mercury and WNBA announced a sponsorship agreement with identity theftIdentity theft
Identity theft is a form of stealing another person's identity in which someone pretends to be someone else by assuming that person's identity, typically in order to access resources or obtain credit and other benefits in that person's name...
protection service LifeLock
LifeLock
LifeLock Inc. which was founded in 2005, is an American identity theft protection company.According to the LifeLock website, for a minimum fee of $10 a month, the LifeLock Identity Alert system can identify fraudulent applications for some forms of credit and non-credit related services...
to place that company's logo on their jerseys through the 2011 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.
Season-by-season records
{|class="navbox wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align: center; width: 85%;"|-
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 10%;"| Season
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 8%;" | Team
!rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 12%;" | Conference
!colspan="3" style="background:#eee; width: 15%;"| Regular season
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 30%;"| Playoff
WNBA Playoffs
The WNBA Playoffs is a best-of-three elimination tournament between eight teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association , ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals....
Results
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 13%;"| Head coach
|-
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|W
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|L
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|PCT
|-
|colspan="9" align=center bgcolor="#32127A " | Phoenix Mercury
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 1997
1997 WNBA Season
-External links:*...
| 1997
1997 Phoenix Mercury season
The 1997 WNBA season was the 1st for the Phoenix Mercury.-Initial Player Allocation:-WNBA Elite Draft:-WNBA Draft:-Season Schedule:-Player stats:...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 1st
| 16
| 12
| .571
| Lost WNBA Semifinals (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...
, 0–1)
| Cheryl Miller
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 1998
1998 WNBA season
-External links:**...
| 1998
1998 Phoenix Mercury season
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.-Offseason:...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 2nd
| 19
| 11
| .633
| Won WNBA Semifinals (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...
, 2–1)
Lost WNBA Finals (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...
, 1–2)
| Cheryl Miller
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 1999
1999 WNBA season
-External links:**...
| 1999
1999 Phoenix Mercury season
The 1999 WNBA season was the 3rd season for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury failed to qualify for the postseason after advancing to the WNBA Finals during the previous year.-WNBA Draft:-External links:*...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 4th
| 15
| 17
| .469
| Did not qualify
| Cheryl Miller
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2000
2000 WNBA season
-External links:**...
| 2000
2000 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2000 WNBA season was the 4th season for the Phoenix Mercury. They made the playoffs for the first time in two years, but were swept in the first round to the Los Angeles Sparks...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 4th
| 20
| 12
| .625
| Lost Conference Semifinals (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...
, 0–2)
| Cheryl Miller
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2001
2001 WNBA season
-External links:**...
| 2001
2001 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2001 WNBA season was the 5th for the Phoenix Mercury. Cynthia Cooper became the second head coach in franchise history.-WNBA Draft:-Season Schedule:-Player stats:...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 5th
| 13
| 19
| .406
| Did not qualify
| Cynthia Cooper
Cynthia Cooper
Cynthia Lynne Cooper is a former American basketball player who has won championships in college, the Olympics, and in the Women's National Basketball Association . She is considered by many as one of the greatest women's basketball players ever. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the...
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2002
2002 WNBA season
-External links:***...
| 2002
2002 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2002 WNBA season was the 6th season for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury's head coach, Cynthia Cooper, resigned during the season.-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:-References:...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 7th
| 11
| 21
| .344
| Did not qualify
| C. Cooper
Cynthia Cooper
Cynthia Lynne Cooper is a former American basketball player who has won championships in college, the Olympics, and in the Women's National Basketball Association . She is considered by many as one of the greatest women's basketball players ever. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the...
(6–4)
L. Sharp
Linda K. Sharp
Linda K. Sharp is a former collegiate women's basketball coach. Her coaching career spans 31 seasons with stints on all levels from elementary, junior high and high school to the collegiate and professional ranks, and she was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.Sharp served as...
(5–17)
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2003
2003 WNBA season
-External links:***...
| 2003
2003 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2003 WNBA season was the 7th season for the Phoenix Mercury franchise. The season saw Phoenix going for the worst record in the league at a franchise worst of 8-26.-Dispersal Draft:-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 7th
| 8
| 26
| .235
| Did not qualify
| John Shumate
John Shumate
John H. Shumate is a retired American professional basketball player who is currently an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns....
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2004
2004 WNBA season
-External links:***...
| 2004
2004 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2004 WNBA season was the 8th for the Phoenix Mercury.-WNBA Draft:-Regular season:In her WNBA debut, Taurasi netted 26 points and led the Mercury to an 84-76 victory over the Seattle Storm. For the season, the rookie averaged 17.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 5th
| 17
| 17
| .500
| Did not qualify
| Carrie Graf
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2005
2005 WNBA season
-External links:***...
| 2005
2005 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2005 WNBA season was the 9th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, falling a game short.-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:-External links:*...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 5th
| 16
| 18
| .471
| Did not qualify
| Carrie Graf
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2006
2006 WNBA season
-External links:*******...
| 2006
2006 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2006 WNBA season was the 10th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury drafted Cappie Pondexter with the 2nd pick overall in the WNBA Draft. They were close to qualifying for the playoffs, but lost to a tiebreaker to the Houston Comets and the Seattle Storm....
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 5th
| 18
| 16
| .529
| Did not qualify
| Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the University of Oregon women's team...
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2007
2007 WNBA season
-External links:* * * * * * * *...
| 2007
2007 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2007 WNBA season was the 11th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury won their first WNBA championship.-WNBA Draft:The following are the Mercury's selections in the 2007 WNBA Draft.-Transactions:...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 1st
| 23
| 11
| .676
| Won Conference Semifinals (Seattle
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
, 2–0)
Won Conference Finals (San Antonio
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
, 2–0)
Won WNBA Finals (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...
, 3–2)
| Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the University of Oregon women's team...
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2008
2008 WNBA season
-Season Highlights:*Candace Parker becomes the second and third player in WNBA history to dunk in a regular season game.*A fight breaks out between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Detroit Shock resulting in four ejections and ten suspensions....
| 2008
2008 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2008 WNBA season was the 12th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury were not able to win their second consecutive WNBA Championship and became the first defending champion to not qualify for the playoffs.-Offseason:...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 7th
| 16
| 18
| .471
| Did not qualify
| Corey Gaines
Corey Gaines
Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury....
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2009
2009 WNBA season
The 2009 WNBA Season is the 13th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. It is the first WNBA season ever without a Houston franchise, the Comets having folded in December 2008...
| 2009
2009 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2009 WNBA season is the 13th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association. The Mercury successfully won the WNBA Finals for the second time in franchise history. On June 6, the Mercury and LifeLock entered a multi-year marketing partnership to launch the...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 1st
| 23
| 11
| .676
| Won Conference Semifinals (San Antonio
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
, 2–1)
Won Conference Finals (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...
, 2–1)
Won WNBA Finals (Indiana
Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
, 3–2)
| Corey Gaines
Corey Gaines
Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury....
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2010
2010 WNBA season
The 2010 WNBA season was the 14th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began with a televised meeting between the defending champion Phoenix Mercury and the Los Angeles Sparks in Phoenix, Arizona on May 15. The Connecticut Sun hosted the 10th Annual All-Star...
| 2010
2010 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2010 WNBA season is the 14th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association.-Dispersal draft:Based on the Mercury's 2009 record, they would pick 12th in the Sacramento Monarchs dispersal draft...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 2nd
| 15
| 19
| .441
| Won Conference Semifinals (San Antonio
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
, 2–0)
Lost Conference Finals (Seattle
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
, 0–2)
| Corey Gaines
Corey Gaines
Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury....
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2011
2011 WNBA season
The 2011 WNBA season is the 15th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began on June 3 with the Los Angeles Sparks hosting the Minnesota Lynx, featuring 2011 WNBA Draft top pick Maya Moore, in a game televised on NBA TV...
| 2011
2011 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2011 WNBA season is the 15th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association.-WNBA Draft:The following are the Mercury's selections in the 2011 WNBA Draft.-Transaction log:...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 3rd
| 19
| 15
| .559
| Won Conference Semifinals (Seattle
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
, 2–1)
Lost Conference Finals (Minnesota
Minnesota Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1999 season...
, 0–2)
| Corey Gaines
Corey Gaines
Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury....
|-
!colspan="4" style="background:#eee;"|Regular season
|style="background:#eee;"| 249
|style="background:#eee;"| 243
|style="background:#eee;"| .506
|colspan="2" style="background:#eee;"| 3 Conference Championships
|-
!colspan="4" style="background:#eee;"|Playoffs
|style="background:#eee;"| 21
|style="background:#eee;"| 16
|style="background:#eee;"| .568
|colspan="2" style="background:#eee;"| 2 WNBA Championships
|}
Former players
- Kara BraxtonKara BraxtonKara Liana Braxton is an American professional basketball player for the New York Liberty in the WNBA.-Early life:...
(2010–2011), now a member of the New York LibertyNew York LibertyThe 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... - Anna DeForgeAnna DeForgeAnna Louise DeForge is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA. She is the first player from the University of Nebraska to ever play in the WNBA. After finding little success and playing time for several WNBA teams, she finally earned...
(2003–2005) - Jennifer GillomJennifer GillomJennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002...
(1997–2002) - Michelle Griffiths (1998–2000)
- Lisa HarrisonLisa HarrisonLisa Harrison is a former American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association .-Early life:...
(1999–2005) - Nancy LiebermanNancy LiebermanNancy Elizabeth Lieberman , nicknamed "Lady Magic", is a former professional basketball player who played and coached in the WNBA.Lieberman is regarded as one of the greatest figures in women's basketball....
(1997) - Kelly Miller (2006–2008), now a member of the Washington MysticsWashington MysticsThe 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'...
- Bridget PettisBridget PettisBridget Pettis is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a guard in the Women's National Basketball Association for eight seasons during the 1990s and 2000s...
(1997–2001), now assistant coach of the Mercury - Plenette PiersonPlenette PiersonPlenette Pierson is a professional WNBA player for the New York Liberty. In the 2007 season, Pierson won the first ever Sixth Woman of the Year Award given in the WNBA.-College:...
(2003–2005), now a member of New York LibertyNew York LibertyThe 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... - Cappie PondexterCappie PondexterCappie Pondexter is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. She was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Pondexter is known for her scrappy play, quick crossovers and deadly midrange jumpshot...
(2006–2009), now a member of the New York LibertyNew York LibertyThe 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... - Brandy ReedBrandy ReedBrandy 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...
(2000–2002) - Tangela SmithTangela Smith-External links:***...
(2007–2010), now a member of the Indiana FeverIndiana FeverThe Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began... - Belinda SnellBelinda SnellBelinda Snell is an Australian women's basketball player who plays for Australia and the WNBA in the United States....
(2005–2007), now a member of the Seattle StormSeattle StormThe Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began... - Maria StepanovaMaria StepanovaMaria 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 ....
(1998–2001, 2005) - Michelle Timms (1997–2001)
- Kamila Vodičková (2005–2006)
- Adrian Williams-StrongAdrian Williams-StrongAdrian Williams-Strong is an American professional women's basketball player in the WNBA, currently a Free Agent.Williams attended college at University of Southern California and graduated in 1999....
(2000–2004) - Le'coe WillinghamLe'coe WillinghamLe'coe Willingham is a professional basketball player. Attending Hephzibah High School, she won the 1998 AAAA Georgia State Women's state high jump title...
(2009), now a member of the Seattle StormSeattle StormThe Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
Owners
- Jerry ColangeloJerry ColangeloJerry Colangelo , is an American businessman and sports executive.He formerly owned the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, the Arizona Sandsharks of the Continental Indoor Soccer League, the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League and the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major...
, owner of the Phoenix SunsPhoenix SunsThe Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
(1997–2003) - Robert SarverRobert SarverRobert Sarver is the current majority owner of the Phoenix Suns. He bought the NBA franchise from Jerry Colangelo in the spring of 2004....
, owner of the Phoenix SunsPhoenix SunsThe Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
(2004–present)
Head coaches
{| class="toccolours" width=90% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#32127A; color:#FFFF00" | Phoenix Mercury head coaches
|- valign="top"
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="15%" rowspan="2" | Name
! width="10%" rowspan="2" | Start
! width="10%" rowspan="2" | End
! width="5%" rowspan="2" | Seasons
! width="20%" colspan="4" | Regular season
! width="20%" colspan="4" | Playoffs
|-
! W !! L !! PCT !! G !! W !! L !! PCT !! G
|-
| Cheryl Miller || January 27, 1997 || December 1, 2000 || 4 || width="5%"|70 || width="5%"|52 || width="5%"|.574 || width="5%"|122 ||width="5%"|3 || width="5%"|6 || width="5%"|.333 || width="5%"|9
|-
| Cynthia Cooper
Cynthia Cooper
Cynthia Lynne Cooper is a former American basketball player who has won championships in college, the Olympics, and in the Women's National Basketball Association . She is considered by many as one of the greatest women's basketball players ever. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the...
|| January 8, 2001 || June 26, 2002 || 2 || width="5%"|19 || width="5%"|23 || width="5%"|.452 || width="5%"|42 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Linda Sharp
Linda K. Sharp
Linda K. Sharp is a former collegiate women's basketball coach. Her coaching career spans 31 seasons with stints on all levels from elementary, junior high and high school to the collegiate and professional ranks, and she was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.Sharp served as...
|| June 26, 2002 || end of 2002
2002 WNBA season
-External links:***...
|| 1 || width="5%"|5 || width="5%"|17 || width="5%"|.227 || width="5%"|22 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| John Shumate
John Shumate
John H. Shumate is a retired American professional basketball player who is currently an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns....
|| October 23, 2002 || end of 2003
2003 WNBA season
-External links:***...
|| 1 || width="5%"|8 || width="5%"|26 || width="5%"|.235 || width="5%"|34 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Carrie Graf || April 14, 2004 || end of 2005
2005 WNBA season
-External links:***...
|| 2 || width="5%"|33 || width="5%"|35 || width="5%"|.485 || width="5%"|68 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the University of Oregon women's team...
|| October 11, 2005 || September 18, 2007 || 2 || width="5%"|41 || width="5%"|27 || width="5%"|.603 || width="5%"|68 ||width="5%"|7 || width="5%"|2 || width="5%"|.778 || width="5%"|9
|-
| Corey Gaines
Corey Gaines
Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury....
|| November 7, 2007 || Current || 4 || width="5%"|73 || width="5%"|63 || width="5%"|.537 || width="5%"|136 ||width="5%"|11 || width="5%"|9 || width="5%"|.550 || width="5%"|20
|}
General managers
- Cheryl Miller (1997–2000)
- Seth Sulka (2001–2006)
- Ann Meyers-Drysdale (2007–2011)
- Corey GainesCorey GainesCorey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury....
(2012–present)
Assistant coaches
- Steve Smith (1997)
- Kathy Anderson (1998)
- Carrie Graf (1998–1999, 2001, 2003)
- Howie Landa (1999)
- Tom Lewis (2000)
- Linda SharpLinda K. SharpLinda K. Sharp is a former collegiate women's basketball coach. Her coaching career spans 31 seasons with stints on all levels from elementary, junior high and high school to the collegiate and professional ranks, and she was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.Sharp served as...
(2000–2002) - Vonn Read (2000)
- Eric Cooper (2001–2002)
- Gary Kloppenburg (2003)
- Brian AglerBrian AglerBrian Agler is a basketball coach, currently the head coach of WNBA's Seattle Storm. He has been the head coach of two other professional women's teams, and won two professional titles as coach....
(2004) - Lisa HarrisonLisa HarrisonLisa Harrison is a former American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association .-Early life:...
(2004) - Cedric CeballosCedric CeballosCedric Z. Ceballos is an American professional basketball player. As a small forward, he played most notably for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns, later finishing his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat.Ceballos attended college at Ventura College and...
(2004) - Michele TimmsMichele TimmsMichele Margaret Timms is a retired Australian professional basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association...
(2005) - Julie Brase (2005–2007)
- Bridget PettisBridget PettisBridget Pettis is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a guard in the Women's National Basketball Association for eight seasons during the 1990s and 2000s...
(2006–present) - Corey GainesCorey GainesCorey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury....
(2006–2007) - Julie Hairgrove (2008–present)
Statistics
{| class="toccolours" width=80% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#32127A; color:#FFFF00" |Phoenix Mercury statistics
|- valign="top"
|
1990s
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="4%" rowspan="2"| Season
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Individual
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Team vs Opponents
|-
! width="8%"|PPG
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|APG
! width="8%"|PPG
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|FG%
Field goal percentage
Field goal percentage in basketball is the ratio of field goals made to field goals attempted. Its abbreviation is FG%. Three-point field goals are included in this percentage. Instead of using scales of 0 to 100%, the scale .000 to 1.000 is commonly used. A higher field goal percentage denotes...
|-
| 1997
1997 Phoenix Mercury season
The 1997 WNBA season was the 1st for the Phoenix Mercury.-Initial Player Allocation:-WNBA Elite Draft:-WNBA Draft:-Season Schedule:-Player stats:...
| J. Gillom
Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002...
(15.7)
| T. Foster (6.1)
| M. Timms
Michele Timms
Michele Margaret Timms is a retired Australian professional basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association...
(5.1)
| 69.2 vs 65.2
| 32.9 vs 33.0
| .373 vs .413
|-
| 1998
1998 Phoenix Mercury season
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.-Offseason:...
| J. Gillom
Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002...
(20.8)
| J. Gillom
Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002...
(7.3)
| M. Timms
Michele Timms
Michele Margaret Timms is a retired Australian professional basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association...
(5.3)
| 73.9 vs 67.5
| 31.4 vs 31.4
| .424 vs .434
|-
| 1999
1999 Phoenix Mercury season
The 1999 WNBA season was the 3rd season for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury failed to qualify for the postseason after advancing to the WNBA Finals during the previous year.-WNBA Draft:-External links:*...
| J. Gillom
Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002...
(15.2)
| M. Askamp
Marlies Askamp
Marlies Askamp is a German professional basketball player. She was one of the original players to play in the U.S...
(7.2)
| M. Timms
Michele Timms
Michele Margaret Timms is a retired Australian professional basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association...
(5.0)
| 68.0 vs 68.2
| 31.3 vs 31.6
| .399 vs .415
|}
|
2000s
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="4%" rowspan="2"| Season
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Individual
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Team vs Opponents
|-
! width="8%"|PPG
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|APG
! width="8%"|PPG
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|FG%
Field goal percentage
Field goal percentage in basketball is the ratio of field goals made to field goals attempted. Its abbreviation is FG%. Three-point field goals are included in this percentage. Instead of using scales of 0 to 100%, the scale .000 to 1.000 is commonly used. A higher field goal percentage denotes...
|-
| 2000
2000 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2000 WNBA season was the 4th season for the Phoenix Mercury. They made the playoffs for the first time in two years, but were swept in the first round to the Los Angeles Sparks...
| B. 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...
(19.0)
| B. 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...
(5.8)
| M. Cleary (3.2)
| 70.1 vs 65.7
| 27.9 vs 30.3
| .446 vs .423
|-
| 2001
2001 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2001 WNBA season was the 5th for the Phoenix Mercury. Cynthia Cooper became the second head coach in franchise history.-WNBA Draft:-Season Schedule:-Player stats:...
| J. Gillom
Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002...
(12.3)
| M. 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 ....
(6.3)
| K. Veal (4.3)
| 64.5 vs 67.8
| 29.4 vs 32.2
| .405 vs .415
|-
| 2002
2002 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2002 WNBA season was the 6th season for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury's head coach, Cynthia Cooper, resigned during the season.-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:-References:...
| J. Gillom
Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002...
(15.3)
| A. Williams
Adrian Williams-Strong
Adrian Williams-Strong is an American professional women's basketball player in the WNBA, currently a Free Agent.Williams attended college at University of Southern California and graduated in 1999....
(6.9)
| G. Grubin
Gordana Grubin
Gordana Grubin is international professional basketball player who played in Europe and in America.WNBA career- She played 6 seasons in WNBA for L.A. Sparks, Indiana Fever, Phoenix Mercury and Houston Comets....
(3.3)
| 65.3 vs 71.6
| 28.7 vs 31.3
| .420 vs .455
|-
| 2003
2003 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2003 WNBA season was the 7th season for the Phoenix Mercury franchise. The season saw Phoenix going for the worst record in the league at a franchise worst of 8-26.-Dispersal Draft:-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:...
| A. DeForge
Anna DeForge
Anna Louise DeForge is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA. She is the first player from the University of Nebraska to ever play in the WNBA. After finding little success and playing time for several WNBA teams, she finally earned...
(11.9)
| A. Williams
Adrian Williams-Strong
Adrian Williams-Strong is an American professional women's basketball player in the WNBA, currently a Free Agent.Williams attended college at University of Southern California and graduated in 1999....
(7.4)
| T. Jackson
Tamicha Jackson
Tamicha Renia Jackson is a former women's basketball player. She earned a gold medal with the US Junior World Championship team . She was named Kodak All-American for the Lady Techsters in 2000. Tamicha graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 2000 with a degree in Animal Biology.-References:...
(4.3)
| 61.7 vs 66.8
| 29.4 vs 32.8
| .382 vs .447
|-
| 2004
2004 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2004 WNBA season was the 8th for the Phoenix Mercury.-WNBA Draft:-Regular season:In her WNBA debut, Taurasi netted 26 points and led the Mercury to an 84-76 victory over the Seattle Storm. For the season, the rookie averaged 17.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game...
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(17.0)
| P. Taylor (4.8)
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(3.9)
| 67.6 vs 65.7
| 26.9 vs 30.0
| .430 vs .425
|-
| 2005
2005 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2005 WNBA season was the 9th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, falling a game short.-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:-External links:*...
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(16.0)
| K. Vodichkova
Kamila Vodichkova
Kamila Vodičková is a Czech women's basketball player. She currently plays for the North American WNBA's Phoenix Mercury. She represented Czechoslovakia at the 1992 Summer Olympics.-WNBA career:...
(7.0)
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(4.5)
| 69.4 vs 69.2
| 31.2 vs 30.1
| .414 vs .429
|-
| 2006
2006 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2006 WNBA season was the 10th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury drafted Cappie Pondexter with the 2nd pick overall in the WNBA Draft. They were close to qualifying for the playoffs, but lost to a tiebreaker to the Houston Comets and the Seattle Storm....
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(25.3)
| K. Vodichkova
Kamila Vodichkova
Kamila Vodičková is a Czech women's basketball player. She currently plays for the North American WNBA's Phoenix Mercury. She represented Czechoslovakia at the 1992 Summer Olympics.-WNBA career:...
(6.7)
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(4.1)
| 87.1 vs 84.7
| 33.7 vs 37.7
| .443 vs .433
|-
| 2007
2007 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2007 WNBA season was the 11th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury won their first WNBA championship.-WNBA Draft:The following are the Mercury's selections in the 2007 WNBA Draft.-Transactions:...
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(19.2)
| T. Smith
Tangela Smith
-External links:***...
(6.5)
| K. Miller (4.6)
| 89.0 vs 85.4
| 33.9 vs 40.9
| .439 vs .405
|-
| 2008
2008 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2008 WNBA season was the 12th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury were not able to win their second consecutive WNBA Championship and became the first defending champion to not qualify for the playoffs.-Offseason:...
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(24.1)
| T. Smith
Tangela Smith
-External links:***...
(7.0)
| K. Miller (4.0)
| 88.5 vs 88.5
| 36.1 vs 38.2
| .430 vs .421
|-
| 2009
2009 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2009 WNBA season is the 13th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association. The Mercury successfully won the WNBA Finals for the second time in franchise history. On June 6, the Mercury and LifeLock entered a multi-year marketing partnership to launch the...
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(20.4)
| D. Bonner
DeWanna Bonner
DeWanna Bonner is an American professional basketball player. She currently plays the forward position for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA.-Personal life:...
(5.8)
| C. Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. She was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Pondexter is known for her scrappy play, quick crossovers and deadly midrange jumpshot...
(5.0)
| 92.8 vs 89.1
| 35.0 vs 37.8
| .460 vs .424
|}
|
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team based in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, playing in the Western Conference
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
in the Women's National Basketball Association
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
(WNBA). The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season
1997 WNBA Season
-External links:*...
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
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
.
The Mercury has qualified for the WNBA Playoffs
WNBA Playoffs
The WNBA Playoffs is a best-of-three elimination tournament between eight teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association , ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals....
in six of its fourteen years in Phoenix. The franchise has been home to many high-quality players such as former UConn
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
sharpshooter Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
, explosive Rutgers
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
grad Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. She was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Pondexter is known for her scrappy play, quick crossovers and deadly midrange jumpshot...
, former Temple
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
power forward Candice Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
, and Australian guard Penny Taylor. In 1998
1998 WNBA season
-External links:**...
, 2007
2007 WNBA season
-External links:* * * * * * * *...
, and 2009
2009 WNBA season
The 2009 WNBA Season is the 13th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. It is the first WNBA season ever without a Houston franchise, the Comets having folded in December 2008...
, the Mercury went to the WNBA Finals
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
; they lost to 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...
in 1998, but won the title in 2007 and 2009 over 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...
and Indiana
Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
, respectively.
Mercury heating up (1997–1998)
With a cast that included hall-of-famer Nancy LiebermanNancy Lieberman
Nancy Elizabeth Lieberman , nicknamed "Lady Magic", is a former professional basketball player who played and coached in the WNBA.Lieberman is regarded as one of the greatest figures in women's basketball....
, and possible future hall-of-famers Michele Timms
Michele Timms
Michele Margaret Timms is a retired Australian professional basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association...
of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002...
, hyper-active star Bridget Pettis
Bridget Pettis
Bridget Pettis is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a guard in the Women's National Basketball Association for eight seasons during the 1990s and 2000s...
, 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
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...
, though, in those playoffs.
In 1998, the Mercury again qualified for the playoffs, posting a 19–11 record. The Mercury defeated the Cleveland Rockers
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...
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
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...
.
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 SparksLos 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...
. 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
Lisa Harrison
Lisa Harrison is a former American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association .-Early life:...
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 UConnUniversity of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
star Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
. Taurasi went on to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award
WNBA Rookie of the Year Award
The Women's National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual Women's National Basketball Association award given since the 1998 WNBA season, to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner is selected by a panel of sportswriters throughout the United States, each of whom...
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 NBANational Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
coach Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the University of Oregon women's team...
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
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
). The Mercury also drafted Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. She was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Pondexter is known for her scrappy play, quick crossovers and deadly midrange jumpshot...
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. In their first playoffs since 2000, the Mercury made quick work of the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
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
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
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
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...
. 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. Penny Taylor scored a game high 30 points in Game 5, and went 18-for-18 from the line. 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
Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. She was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Pondexter is known for her scrappy play, quick crossovers and deadly midrange jumpshot...
was named the WNBA Finals MVP, and averaged 22.0 points and 5.6 assists in the series. On November 7, 2007, The Mercury announced the hiring of Corey Gaines
Corey Gaines
Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury....
as head coach to replace the departing Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the University of Oregon women's team...
.
Mercury fall, Mercury rise (2008–present)
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
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
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
Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
3–2 in the best of 5 series to capture the second title in their franchise history. Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
captured the WNBA Finals MVP Award. All-star guard Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. She was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Pondexter is known for her scrappy play, quick crossovers and deadly midrange jumpshot...
was traded to the New York Liberty
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...
amid some controversy in the offseason; All-Star Candice Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
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
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
in the first round of the Playoffs, but lost to the eventual champion Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
in the conference finals.
After a hectic offseason for Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
, 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
2011 WNBA All-Star Game
The 2011 WNBA All-Star Game was played on July 23, 2011 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, home of the San Antonio Silver Stars. The game was the 10th WNBA All-Star Game, which has been held annually since 1999 except in 2004, 2008, and 2010...
with a 10–5 record. Ultimately, they recovered to gain the third seed in the 2011 WNBA Playoffs
2011 WNBA Playoffs
The 2011 WNBA Playoffs is the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2011 season. Four teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs seeded 1 to 4 in a tournament bracket, with the two opening rounds in a best-of-three format, and the final in a...
, and upset the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
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
Minnesota Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1999 season...
, losing in two games.
Uniform sponsor
In June 2009 the Mercury and WNBA announced a sponsorship agreement with identity theftIdentity theft
Identity theft is a form of stealing another person's identity in which someone pretends to be someone else by assuming that person's identity, typically in order to access resources or obtain credit and other benefits in that person's name...
protection service LifeLock
LifeLock
LifeLock Inc. which was founded in 2005, is an American identity theft protection company.According to the LifeLock website, for a minimum fee of $10 a month, the LifeLock Identity Alert system can identify fraudulent applications for some forms of credit and non-credit related services...
to place that company's logo on their jerseys through the 2011 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.
Season-by-season records
{|class="navbox wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align: center; width: 85%;"|-
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 10%;"| Season
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 8%;" | Team
!rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 12%;" | Conference
!colspan="3" style="background:#eee; width: 15%;"| Regular season
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 30%;"| Playoff
WNBA Playoffs
The WNBA Playoffs is a best-of-three elimination tournament between eight teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association , ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals....
Results
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 13%;"| Head coach
|-
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|W
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|L
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|PCT
|-
|colspan="9" align=center bgcolor="#32127A " | Phoenix Mercury
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 1997
1997 WNBA Season
-External links:*...
| 1997
1997 Phoenix Mercury season
The 1997 WNBA season was the 1st for the Phoenix Mercury.-Initial Player Allocation:-WNBA Elite Draft:-WNBA Draft:-Season Schedule:-Player stats:...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 1st
| 16
| 12
| .571
| Lost WNBA Semifinals (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...
, 0–1)
| Cheryl Miller
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 1998
1998 WNBA season
-External links:**...
| 1998
1998 Phoenix Mercury season
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.-Offseason:...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 2nd
| 19
| 11
| .633
| Won WNBA Semifinals (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...
, 2–1)
Lost WNBA Finals (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...
, 1–2)
| Cheryl Miller
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 1999
1999 WNBA season
-External links:**...
| 1999
1999 Phoenix Mercury season
The 1999 WNBA season was the 3rd season for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury failed to qualify for the postseason after advancing to the WNBA Finals during the previous year.-WNBA Draft:-External links:*...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 4th
| 15
| 17
| .469
| Did not qualify
| Cheryl Miller
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2000
2000 WNBA season
-External links:**...
| 2000
2000 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2000 WNBA season was the 4th season for the Phoenix Mercury. They made the playoffs for the first time in two years, but were swept in the first round to the Los Angeles Sparks...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 4th
| 20
| 12
| .625
| Lost Conference Semifinals (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...
, 0–2)
| Cheryl Miller
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2001
2001 WNBA season
-External links:**...
| 2001
2001 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2001 WNBA season was the 5th for the Phoenix Mercury. Cynthia Cooper became the second head coach in franchise history.-WNBA Draft:-Season Schedule:-Player stats:...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 5th
| 13
| 19
| .406
| Did not qualify
| Cynthia Cooper
Cynthia Cooper
Cynthia Lynne Cooper is a former American basketball player who has won championships in college, the Olympics, and in the Women's National Basketball Association . She is considered by many as one of the greatest women's basketball players ever. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the...
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2002
2002 WNBA season
-External links:***...
| 2002
2002 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2002 WNBA season was the 6th season for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury's head coach, Cynthia Cooper, resigned during the season.-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:-References:...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 7th
| 11
| 21
| .344
| Did not qualify
| C. Cooper
Cynthia Cooper
Cynthia Lynne Cooper is a former American basketball player who has won championships in college, the Olympics, and in the Women's National Basketball Association . She is considered by many as one of the greatest women's basketball players ever. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the...
(6–4)
L. Sharp
Linda K. Sharp
Linda K. Sharp is a former collegiate women's basketball coach. Her coaching career spans 31 seasons with stints on all levels from elementary, junior high and high school to the collegiate and professional ranks, and she was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.Sharp served as...
(5–17)
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2003
2003 WNBA season
-External links:***...
| 2003
2003 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2003 WNBA season was the 7th season for the Phoenix Mercury franchise. The season saw Phoenix going for the worst record in the league at a franchise worst of 8-26.-Dispersal Draft:-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 7th
| 8
| 26
| .235
| Did not qualify
| John Shumate
John Shumate
John H. Shumate is a retired American professional basketball player who is currently an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns....
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2004
2004 WNBA season
-External links:***...
| 2004
2004 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2004 WNBA season was the 8th for the Phoenix Mercury.-WNBA Draft:-Regular season:In her WNBA debut, Taurasi netted 26 points and led the Mercury to an 84-76 victory over the Seattle Storm. For the season, the rookie averaged 17.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 5th
| 17
| 17
| .500
| Did not qualify
| Carrie Graf
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2005
2005 WNBA season
-External links:***...
| 2005
2005 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2005 WNBA season was the 9th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, falling a game short.-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:-External links:*...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 5th
| 16
| 18
| .471
| Did not qualify
| Carrie Graf
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2006
2006 WNBA season
-External links:*******...
| 2006
2006 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2006 WNBA season was the 10th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury drafted Cappie Pondexter with the 2nd pick overall in the WNBA Draft. They were close to qualifying for the playoffs, but lost to a tiebreaker to the Houston Comets and the Seattle Storm....
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 5th
| 18
| 16
| .529
| Did not qualify
| Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the University of Oregon women's team...
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2007
2007 WNBA season
-External links:* * * * * * * *...
| 2007
2007 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2007 WNBA season was the 11th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury won their first WNBA championship.-WNBA Draft:The following are the Mercury's selections in the 2007 WNBA Draft.-Transactions:...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 1st
| 23
| 11
| .676
| Won Conference Semifinals (Seattle
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
, 2–0)
Won Conference Finals (San Antonio
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
, 2–0)
Won WNBA Finals (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...
, 3–2)
| Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the University of Oregon women's team...
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2008
2008 WNBA season
-Season Highlights:*Candace Parker becomes the second and third player in WNBA history to dunk in a regular season game.*A fight breaks out between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Detroit Shock resulting in four ejections and ten suspensions....
| 2008
2008 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2008 WNBA season was the 12th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury were not able to win their second consecutive WNBA Championship and became the first defending champion to not qualify for the playoffs.-Offseason:...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 7th
| 16
| 18
| .471
| Did not qualify
| Corey Gaines
Corey Gaines
Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury....
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2009
2009 WNBA season
The 2009 WNBA Season is the 13th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. It is the first WNBA season ever without a Houston franchise, the Comets having folded in December 2008...
| 2009
2009 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2009 WNBA season is the 13th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association. The Mercury successfully won the WNBA Finals for the second time in franchise history. On June 6, the Mercury and LifeLock entered a multi-year marketing partnership to launch the...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 1st
| 23
| 11
| .676
| Won Conference Semifinals (San Antonio
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
, 2–1)
Won Conference Finals (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...
, 2–1)
Won WNBA Finals (Indiana
Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
, 3–2)
| Corey Gaines
Corey Gaines
Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury....
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2010
2010 WNBA season
The 2010 WNBA season was the 14th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began with a televised meeting between the defending champion Phoenix Mercury and the Los Angeles Sparks in Phoenix, Arizona on May 15. The Connecticut Sun hosted the 10th Annual All-Star...
| 2010
2010 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2010 WNBA season is the 14th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association.-Dispersal draft:Based on the Mercury's 2009 record, they would pick 12th in the Sacramento Monarchs dispersal draft...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 2nd
| 15
| 19
| .441
| Won Conference Semifinals (San Antonio
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
, 2–0)
Lost Conference Finals (Seattle
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
, 0–2)
| Corey Gaines
Corey Gaines
Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury....
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2011
2011 WNBA season
The 2011 WNBA season is the 15th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began on June 3 with the Los Angeles Sparks hosting the Minnesota Lynx, featuring 2011 WNBA Draft top pick Maya Moore, in a game televised on NBA TV...
| 2011
2011 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2011 WNBA season is the 15th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association.-WNBA Draft:The following are the Mercury's selections in the 2011 WNBA Draft.-Transaction log:...
| style="width: 10%"|West
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
| 3rd
| 19
| 15
| .559
| Won Conference Semifinals (Seattle
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
, 2–1)
Lost Conference Finals (Minnesota
Minnesota Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1999 season...
, 0–2)
| Corey Gaines
Corey Gaines
Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury....
|-
!colspan="4" style="background:#eee;"|Regular season
|style="background:#eee;"| 249
|style="background:#eee;"| 243
|style="background:#eee;"| .506
|colspan="2" style="background:#eee;"| 3 Conference Championships
|-
!colspan="4" style="background:#eee;"|Playoffs
|style="background:#eee;"| 21
|style="background:#eee;"| 16
|style="background:#eee;"| .568
|colspan="2" style="background:#eee;"| 2 WNBA Championships
|}
Former players
- Kara BraxtonKara BraxtonKara Liana Braxton is an American professional basketball player for the New York Liberty in the WNBA.-Early life:...
(2010–2011), now a member of the New York LibertyNew York LibertyThe 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... - Anna DeForgeAnna DeForgeAnna Louise DeForge is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA. She is the first player from the University of Nebraska to ever play in the WNBA. After finding little success and playing time for several WNBA teams, she finally earned...
(2003–2005) - Jennifer GillomJennifer GillomJennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002...
(1997–2002) - Michelle Griffiths (1998–2000)
- Lisa HarrisonLisa HarrisonLisa Harrison is a former American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association .-Early life:...
(1999–2005) - Nancy LiebermanNancy LiebermanNancy Elizabeth Lieberman , nicknamed "Lady Magic", is a former professional basketball player who played and coached in the WNBA.Lieberman is regarded as one of the greatest figures in women's basketball....
(1997) - Kelly Miller (2006–2008), now a member of the Washington MysticsWashington MysticsThe 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'...
- Bridget PettisBridget PettisBridget Pettis is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a guard in the Women's National Basketball Association for eight seasons during the 1990s and 2000s...
(1997–2001), now assistant coach of the Mercury - Plenette PiersonPlenette PiersonPlenette Pierson is a professional WNBA player for the New York Liberty. In the 2007 season, Pierson won the first ever Sixth Woman of the Year Award given in the WNBA.-College:...
(2003–2005), now a member of New York LibertyNew York LibertyThe 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... - Cappie PondexterCappie PondexterCappie Pondexter is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. She was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Pondexter is known for her scrappy play, quick crossovers and deadly midrange jumpshot...
(2006–2009), now a member of the New York LibertyNew York LibertyThe 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... - Brandy ReedBrandy ReedBrandy 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...
(2000–2002) - Tangela SmithTangela Smith-External links:***...
(2007–2010), now a member of the Indiana FeverIndiana FeverThe Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began... - Belinda SnellBelinda SnellBelinda Snell is an Australian women's basketball player who plays for Australia and the WNBA in the United States....
(2005–2007), now a member of the Seattle StormSeattle StormThe Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began... - Maria StepanovaMaria StepanovaMaria 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 ....
(1998–2001, 2005) - Michelle Timms (1997–2001)
- Kamila Vodičková (2005–2006)
- Adrian Williams-StrongAdrian Williams-StrongAdrian Williams-Strong is an American professional women's basketball player in the WNBA, currently a Free Agent.Williams attended college at University of Southern California and graduated in 1999....
(2000–2004) - Le'coe WillinghamLe'coe WillinghamLe'coe Willingham is a professional basketball player. Attending Hephzibah High School, she won the 1998 AAAA Georgia State Women's state high jump title...
(2009), now a member of the Seattle StormSeattle StormThe Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
Owners
- Jerry ColangeloJerry ColangeloJerry Colangelo , is an American businessman and sports executive.He formerly owned the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, the Arizona Sandsharks of the Continental Indoor Soccer League, the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League and the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major...
, owner of the Phoenix SunsPhoenix SunsThe Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
(1997–2003) - Robert SarverRobert SarverRobert Sarver is the current majority owner of the Phoenix Suns. He bought the NBA franchise from Jerry Colangelo in the spring of 2004....
, owner of the Phoenix SunsPhoenix SunsThe Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
(2004–present)
Head coaches
{| class="toccolours" width=90% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#32127A; color:#FFFF00" | Phoenix Mercury head coaches
|- valign="top"
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="15%" rowspan="2" | Name
! width="10%" rowspan="2" | Start
! width="10%" rowspan="2" | End
! width="5%" rowspan="2" | Seasons
! width="20%" colspan="4" | Regular season
! width="20%" colspan="4" | Playoffs
|-
! W !! L !! PCT !! G !! W !! L !! PCT !! G
|-
| Cheryl Miller || January 27, 1997 || December 1, 2000 || 4 || width="5%"|70 || width="5%"|52 || width="5%"|.574 || width="5%"|122 ||width="5%"|3 || width="5%"|6 || width="5%"|.333 || width="5%"|9
|-
| Cynthia Cooper
Cynthia Cooper
Cynthia Lynne Cooper is a former American basketball player who has won championships in college, the Olympics, and in the Women's National Basketball Association . She is considered by many as one of the greatest women's basketball players ever. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the...
|| January 8, 2001 || June 26, 2002 || 2 || width="5%"|19 || width="5%"|23 || width="5%"|.452 || width="5%"|42 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Linda Sharp
Linda K. Sharp
Linda K. Sharp is a former collegiate women's basketball coach. Her coaching career spans 31 seasons with stints on all levels from elementary, junior high and high school to the collegiate and professional ranks, and she was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.Sharp served as...
|| June 26, 2002 || end of 2002
2002 WNBA season
-External links:***...
|| 1 || width="5%"|5 || width="5%"|17 || width="5%"|.227 || width="5%"|22 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| John Shumate
John Shumate
John H. Shumate is a retired American professional basketball player who is currently an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns....
|| October 23, 2002 || end of 2003
2003 WNBA season
-External links:***...
|| 1 || width="5%"|8 || width="5%"|26 || width="5%"|.235 || width="5%"|34 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Carrie Graf || April 14, 2004 || end of 2005
2005 WNBA season
-External links:***...
|| 2 || width="5%"|33 || width="5%"|35 || width="5%"|.485 || width="5%"|68 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the University of Oregon women's team...
|| October 11, 2005 || September 18, 2007 || 2 || width="5%"|41 || width="5%"|27 || width="5%"|.603 || width="5%"|68 ||width="5%"|7 || width="5%"|2 || width="5%"|.778 || width="5%"|9
|-
| Corey Gaines
Corey Gaines
Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury....
|| November 7, 2007 || Current || 4 || width="5%"|73 || width="5%"|63 || width="5%"|.537 || width="5%"|136 ||width="5%"|11 || width="5%"|9 || width="5%"|.550 || width="5%"|20
|}
General managers
- Cheryl Miller (1997–2000)
- Seth Sulka (2001–2006)
- Ann Meyers-Drysdale (2007–2011)
- Corey GainesCorey GainesCorey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury....
(2012–present)
Assistant coaches
- Steve Smith (1997)
- Kathy Anderson (1998)
- Carrie Graf (1998–1999, 2001, 2003)
- Howie Landa (1999)
- Tom Lewis (2000)
- Linda SharpLinda K. SharpLinda K. Sharp is a former collegiate women's basketball coach. Her coaching career spans 31 seasons with stints on all levels from elementary, junior high and high school to the collegiate and professional ranks, and she was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.Sharp served as...
(2000–2002) - Vonn Read (2000)
- Eric Cooper (2001–2002)
- Gary Kloppenburg (2003)
- Brian AglerBrian AglerBrian Agler is a basketball coach, currently the head coach of WNBA's Seattle Storm. He has been the head coach of two other professional women's teams, and won two professional titles as coach....
(2004) - Lisa HarrisonLisa HarrisonLisa Harrison is a former American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association .-Early life:...
(2004) - Cedric CeballosCedric CeballosCedric Z. Ceballos is an American professional basketball player. As a small forward, he played most notably for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns, later finishing his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat.Ceballos attended college at Ventura College and...
(2004) - Michele TimmsMichele TimmsMichele Margaret Timms is a retired Australian professional basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association...
(2005) - Julie Brase (2005–2007)
- Bridget PettisBridget PettisBridget Pettis is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a guard in the Women's National Basketball Association for eight seasons during the 1990s and 2000s...
(2006–present) - Corey GainesCorey GainesCorey Yasuto Gaines is an American former professional basketball player and the current coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury....
(2006–2007) - Julie Hairgrove (2008–present)
Statistics
{| class="toccolours" width=80% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#32127A; color:#FFFF00" |Phoenix Mercury statistics
|- valign="top"
|
1990s
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="4%" rowspan="2"| Season
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Individual
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Team vs Opponents
|-
! width="8%"|PPG
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|APG
! width="8%"|PPG
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|FG%
Field goal percentage
Field goal percentage in basketball is the ratio of field goals made to field goals attempted. Its abbreviation is FG%. Three-point field goals are included in this percentage. Instead of using scales of 0 to 100%, the scale .000 to 1.000 is commonly used. A higher field goal percentage denotes...
|-
| 1997
1997 Phoenix Mercury season
The 1997 WNBA season was the 1st for the Phoenix Mercury.-Initial Player Allocation:-WNBA Elite Draft:-WNBA Draft:-Season Schedule:-Player stats:...
| J. Gillom
Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002...
(15.7)
| T. Foster (6.1)
| M. Timms
Michele Timms
Michele Margaret Timms is a retired Australian professional basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association...
(5.1)
| 69.2 vs 65.2
| 32.9 vs 33.0
| .373 vs .413
|-
| 1998
1998 Phoenix Mercury season
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.-Offseason:...
| J. Gillom
Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002...
(20.8)
| J. Gillom
Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002...
(7.3)
| M. Timms
Michele Timms
Michele Margaret Timms is a retired Australian professional basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association...
(5.3)
| 73.9 vs 67.5
| 31.4 vs 31.4
| .424 vs .434
|-
| 1999
1999 Phoenix Mercury season
The 1999 WNBA season was the 3rd season for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury failed to qualify for the postseason after advancing to the WNBA Finals during the previous year.-WNBA Draft:-External links:*...
| J. Gillom
Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002...
(15.2)
| M. Askamp
Marlies Askamp
Marlies Askamp is a German professional basketball player. She was one of the original players to play in the U.S...
(7.2)
| M. Timms
Michele Timms
Michele Margaret Timms is a retired Australian professional basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association...
(5.0)
| 68.0 vs 68.2
| 31.3 vs 31.6
| .399 vs .415
|}
|
2000s
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="4%" rowspan="2"| Season
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Individual
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Team vs Opponents
|-
! width="8%"|PPG
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|APG
! width="8%"|PPG
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|FG%
Field goal percentage
Field goal percentage in basketball is the ratio of field goals made to field goals attempted. Its abbreviation is FG%. Three-point field goals are included in this percentage. Instead of using scales of 0 to 100%, the scale .000 to 1.000 is commonly used. A higher field goal percentage denotes...
|-
| 2000
2000 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2000 WNBA season was the 4th season for the Phoenix Mercury. They made the playoffs for the first time in two years, but were swept in the first round to the Los Angeles Sparks...
| B. 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...
(19.0)
| B. 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...
(5.8)
| M. Cleary (3.2)
| 70.1 vs 65.7
| 27.9 vs 30.3
| .446 vs .423
|-
| 2001
2001 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2001 WNBA season was the 5th for the Phoenix Mercury. Cynthia Cooper became the second head coach in franchise history.-WNBA Draft:-Season Schedule:-Player stats:...
| J. Gillom
Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002...
(12.3)
| M. 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 ....
(6.3)
| K. Veal (4.3)
| 64.5 vs 67.8
| 29.4 vs 32.2
| .405 vs .415
|-
| 2002
2002 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2002 WNBA season was the 6th season for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury's head coach, Cynthia Cooper, resigned during the season.-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:-References:...
| J. Gillom
Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002...
(15.3)
| A. Williams
Adrian Williams-Strong
Adrian Williams-Strong is an American professional women's basketball player in the WNBA, currently a Free Agent.Williams attended college at University of Southern California and graduated in 1999....
(6.9)
| G. Grubin
Gordana Grubin
Gordana Grubin is international professional basketball player who played in Europe and in America.WNBA career- She played 6 seasons in WNBA for L.A. Sparks, Indiana Fever, Phoenix Mercury and Houston Comets....
(3.3)
| 65.3 vs 71.6
| 28.7 vs 31.3
| .420 vs .455
|-
| 2003
2003 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2003 WNBA season was the 7th season for the Phoenix Mercury franchise. The season saw Phoenix going for the worst record in the league at a franchise worst of 8-26.-Dispersal Draft:-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:...
| A. DeForge
Anna DeForge
Anna Louise DeForge is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA. She is the first player from the University of Nebraska to ever play in the WNBA. After finding little success and playing time for several WNBA teams, she finally earned...
(11.9)
| A. Williams
Adrian Williams-Strong
Adrian Williams-Strong is an American professional women's basketball player in the WNBA, currently a Free Agent.Williams attended college at University of Southern California and graduated in 1999....
(7.4)
| T. Jackson
Tamicha Jackson
Tamicha Renia Jackson is a former women's basketball player. She earned a gold medal with the US Junior World Championship team . She was named Kodak All-American for the Lady Techsters in 2000. Tamicha graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 2000 with a degree in Animal Biology.-References:...
(4.3)
| 61.7 vs 66.8
| 29.4 vs 32.8
| .382 vs .447
|-
| 2004
2004 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2004 WNBA season was the 8th for the Phoenix Mercury.-WNBA Draft:-Regular season:In her WNBA debut, Taurasi netted 26 points and led the Mercury to an 84-76 victory over the Seattle Storm. For the season, the rookie averaged 17.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game...
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(17.0)
| P. Taylor (4.8)
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(3.9)
| 67.6 vs 65.7
| 26.9 vs 30.0
| .430 vs .425
|-
| 2005
2005 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2005 WNBA season was the 9th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, falling a game short.-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:-External links:*...
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(16.0)
| K. Vodichkova
Kamila Vodichkova
Kamila Vodičková is a Czech women's basketball player. She currently plays for the North American WNBA's Phoenix Mercury. She represented Czechoslovakia at the 1992 Summer Olympics.-WNBA career:...
(7.0)
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(4.5)
| 69.4 vs 69.2
| 31.2 vs 30.1
| .414 vs .429
|-
| 2006
2006 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2006 WNBA season was the 10th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury drafted Cappie Pondexter with the 2nd pick overall in the WNBA Draft. They were close to qualifying for the playoffs, but lost to a tiebreaker to the Houston Comets and the Seattle Storm....
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(25.3)
| K. Vodichkova
Kamila Vodichkova
Kamila Vodičková is a Czech women's basketball player. She currently plays for the North American WNBA's Phoenix Mercury. She represented Czechoslovakia at the 1992 Summer Olympics.-WNBA career:...
(6.7)
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(4.1)
| 87.1 vs 84.7
| 33.7 vs 37.7
| .443 vs .433
|-
| 2007
2007 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2007 WNBA season was the 11th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury won their first WNBA championship.-WNBA Draft:The following are the Mercury's selections in the 2007 WNBA Draft.-Transactions:...
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(19.2)
| T. Smith
Tangela Smith
-External links:***...
(6.5)
| K. Miller (4.6)
| 89.0 vs 85.4
| 33.9 vs 40.9
| .439 vs .405
|-
| 2008
2008 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2008 WNBA season was the 12th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury were not able to win their second consecutive WNBA Championship and became the first defending champion to not qualify for the playoffs.-Offseason:...
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(24.1)
| T. Smith
Tangela Smith
-External links:***...
(7.0)
| K. Miller (4.0)
| 88.5 vs 88.5
| 36.1 vs 38.2
| .430 vs .421
|-
| 2009
2009 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2009 WNBA season is the 13th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association. The Mercury successfully won the WNBA Finals for the second time in franchise history. On June 6, the Mercury and LifeLock entered a multi-year marketing partnership to launch the...
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(20.4)
| D. Bonner
DeWanna Bonner
DeWanna Bonner is an American professional basketball player. She currently plays the forward position for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA.-Personal life:...
(5.8)
| C. Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. She was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Pondexter is known for her scrappy play, quick crossovers and deadly midrange jumpshot...
(5.0)
| 92.8 vs 89.1
| 35.0 vs 37.8
| .460 vs .424
|}
|
2010s
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="4%" rowspan="2"| Season
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Individual
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Team vs Opponents
|-
! width="8%"|PPG
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|APG
! width="8%"|PPG
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|FG%
Field goal percentage
Field goal percentage in basketball is the ratio of field goals made to field goals attempted. Its abbreviation is FG%. Three-point field goals are included in this percentage. Instead of using scales of 0 to 100%, the scale .000 to 1.000 is commonly used. A higher field goal percentage denotes...
|-
| 2010
2010 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2010 WNBA season is the 14th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association.-Dispersal draft:Based on the Mercury's 2009 record, they would pick 12th in the Sacramento Monarchs dispersal draft...
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(22.6)
| C. Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
(7.6)
| P. Taylor (5.0)
| 93.9 vs 93.8
| 35.7 vs 37.6
| .473 vs .455
|-
| 2011
2011 Phoenix Mercury season
The 2011 WNBA season is the 15th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association.-WNBA Draft:The following are the Mercury's selections in the 2011 WNBA Draft.-Transaction log:...
| D. Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
(21.6)
| C. Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
(8.2)
| P. Taylor (4.7)
| 89.0 vs 86.0
| 35.1 vs 34.2
| .461 vs .440
|}
|}
Media coverage
Currently, some Mercury games are broadcast on Fox Sports Arizona (FS-A), which is a local television station for the state of ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. More often than not, NBA TV
NBA TV
NBA TV is a television specialty channel that is dedicated to showcasing the sport of basketball in the United States. The network is financially backed by the National Basketball Association , which also uses NBA TV as a way of advertising their out of market package NBA League Pass, and partner...
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
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, ESPN2 and ABC
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
. The WNBA has reached an eight year agreement with ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, which will pay right fees to the Mercury, as well as other teams in the league.
Regular season attendance
- A sellout for a basketball game at US Airways CenterUS Airways CenterUS Airways Center is a sports and entertainment arena located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It opened in 1992, and is the home of the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association, the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena...
is 18,422 (capacity from 1997–2002 was 19,023).
{| class="toccolours" width=70% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#32127A; color:#FFFF00" | Regular season all-time attendance
|- valign="top"
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|- align="center" style="background:#eee;color:#000000;"
|width=75 |Year
|width=150|Average
|width=100|High
|width=100|Low
|width=75 |Sellouts
|width=150|Total for year
|width=150|WNBA game average
|- align="center"
| 1997 || 13,703 (1st) || 17,747 || 10,898 || 0 || 191,835 || 9,669
|- align="center"
| 1998 || 13,764 (3rd) || 14,705 || 12,522 || 0 || 206,467 || 10,869
|- align="center"
| 1999 || 12,219 (3rd) || 13,483 || 11,328 || 0 || 195,508 || 10,207
|- align="center"
| 2000 || 10,130 (5th) || 11,390 || 9,327 || 0 || 162,079 || 9,074
|- align="center"
| 2001 || 8,558 (9th) || 14,117 || 6,680 || 0 || 136,922 || 9,075
|- align="center"
| 2002 || 8,749 (8th) || 11,347 || 7,199 || 0 || 139,978 || 9,228
|- align="center"
| 2003 || 8,501 (7th) || 10,203 || 6,464 || 0 || 144,511 || 8,800
|- align="center"
| 2004 || 7,638 (8th) || 10,493 || 5,147 || 0 || 129,848 || 8,613
|- align="center"
| 2005 || 7,303 (9th) || 10,503 || 5,865 || 0 || 124,146 || 8,172
|- align="center"
| 2006 || 7,496 (7th) || 11,661 || 5,091 || 0 || 127,430 || 7,476
|- align="center"
| 2007 || 7,711 (9th) || 13,569 || 6,033 || 0 || 131,085 || 7,742
|- align="center"
| 2008 || 8,522 (5th) || 15,499 || 4,478 || 0 || 144,867 || 7,948
|- align="center"
| 2009 || 8,523 (4th) || 13,582 || 5,672 || 0 || 144,844 || 8,039
|- align="center"
| 2010 || 8,982 (4th) || 14,772 || 5,506 || 0 || 152,686 || 7,834
|- align="center"
| 2011 || 9,167 (3rd) || 12,666 || 6,108 || 0 || 155,845 || 7,954
|}
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 MiamiMiami SolThe Miami Sol was a women's basketball team which joined the Women's National Basketball Association in 2000. They played their games at American Airlines Arena. The team folded after the 2002 season because of financial problems...
/PortlandPortland FireThe Portland Fire joined the Women's National Basketball Association in 2000 as the counterpart to the NBA team the Portland Trail Blazers. They played their games at Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. The team folded after the 2002 season, after just three seasons in the league...
Dispersal Draft: Tamicha Jackson (4) - 2003: Plenette Pierson (4), Petra Ujhelyi (16), Telisha Quarles (31), Marion Jones (33)
- 2004 ClevelandCleveland RockersThis 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...
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 CharlotteCharlotte StingThe 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....
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 HoustonHouston CometsThe 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...
Dispersal Draft: Sequoia Holmes (5) - 2009: DeWanna Bonner (5), Sha Brooks (31), Jessica Adair (34)
- 2010 SacramentoSacramento MonarchsThe 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...
Dispersal Draft: selection waived - 2010: Tyra Grant (24), Nyeshia Stevenson (36)
- 2011: Brittany Spears (19), Tahnee Robinson (31)
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.
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
Honors and awards
- 1997 All-WNBA Second Team: Jennifer Gillom
- 1998 All-WNBA First Team: Jennifer Gillom
- 2002 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award: Jennifer Gillom
- 2004 Rookie of the Year: Diana Taurasi
- 2004 All-WNBA First Team: Diana Taurasi
- 2005 All-WNBA Second Team: Diana Taurasi
- 2006 All-WNBA First Team: Diana Taurasi
- 2006 All-Rookie Team: Cappie Pondexter
- 2006 Peak Performer (Scoring): Diana Taurasi
- 2007 Finals MVP: Cappie Pondexter
- 2007 All-WNBA First Team: Diana Taurasi
- 2007 All-WNBA First Team: Penny Taylor
- 2008 All-WNBA First Team: Diana Taurasi
- 2008 Peak Performer (Scoring): Diana Taurasi
- 2009 Most Valuable Player: Diana Taurasi
- 2009 Finals MVP: Diana Taurasi
- 2009 All-WNBA First Team: Diana Taurasi
- 2009 All-WNBA First Team: Cappie Pondexter
- 2009 All-Rookie Team: DeWanna Bonner
- 2009 Sixth Woman of the Year: DeWanna Bonner
- 2009 Peak Performer (Scoring): Diana Taurasi
- 2010 All-WNBA First Team: Diana Taurasi
- 2010 Sixth Woman of the Year: DeWanna Bonner
- 2010 Peak Performer (Scoring): Diana Taurasi
- 2011 All-WNBA First Team: Diana Taurasi
- 2011 All-WNBA Second Team: Penny Taylor
- 2011 Sixth Woman of the Year: DeWanna Bonner
- 2011 Peak Performer (Scoring): Diana Taurasi
External links
