Phoenix Mercury

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Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix Mercury
Conference Western Conference
Founded 1997
Home court US Airways Center
Colors Red, Purple, Chartreuse
WNBA Championships 0
Conference Championships 1 (1998)
Playoff Appearances 3 (1997, 1998, 2000)
Head coach Paul Westhead
General manager Ann Meyers
Owner Jerry Colangelo
Mascot Scorch [1]

The Phoenix Mercury is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury began in 1997 as one of the league's original eight teams and quickly established itself as a major franchise. Led by early WNBA standouts Michele Timms and Jennifer Gillom and outspoken coach Cheryl Miller, it was one of the teams that participated in the first WNBA Playoffs. The Mercury are named because Mercury is the closest planet to the sun.

While the Mercury experienced some internal turmoil after Miller's departure from the team, it made headlines again in 2004 with the drafting of Diana Taurasi, the most coveted pick in the history of the WNBA Draft.

Uniforms: The uniform is white, yellow and orange at home with a logo of the planet Mercury in reddish orange, and the word "Mercury" in yellow; it is orange and yellow on the road.

Contents

[edit] Franchise History

With a cast that included hall-of-famer Nancy Lieberman, possible future hall-of-famers Michele Timms of Australia, and Jennifer Gillom, plus the energetic and hyper-active star Bridget Pettis, the Mercury reached the playoffs in 1997, 1998 and 2000, including a WNBA Finals appearance in 1998. Once the core group of players was broken up, via retirement or trades, the team stopped being a playoff contender.

During the lean years, the franchise remained in the news as forward Lisa Harrison became a sex symbol. Playboy Magazine offered her money to pose in their magazine. She declined the offer.

In 2004, Phoenix selected former UConn star Diana Taurasi with the #1 overall WNBA Draft. Taurasi went on to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award, but has been unable to guide the team into the playoffs in two seasons.

Former NBA coach Paul Westhead became the Mercury's head coach prior to the 2006 season and brought his up-tempo style to Phoenix. Westhead was the first WNBA coach to have won a previous NBA championship. Their roster was further bolstered by the addition of rookie Cappie Pondexter, the #2 overall selection in the 2006 WNBA Draft.

[edit] Season-by-Season Records

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, % = Win-Loss %

Season W L % Playoffs Results
Phoenix Mercury
1997 16 12 .571 Lost WNBA Semifinals New York 59, Phoenix 41
1998 19 11 .633 Won WNBA Semifinals
Lost WNBA Finals		 Phoenix 2, Cleveland 1
Houston 2, Phoenix 1
1999 15 17 .469
2000 20 12 .625 Lost First Round Los Angeles 2, Phoenix 0
2001 13 19 .406
2002 11 21 .344
2003 8 26 .235
2004 17 17 .500
2005 16 18 .471
2006 18 16 .529
Totals 153 169 .475
Playoffs 3 6 .333

Stats updated August 15, 2006

[edit] Players of note

[edit] Retired numbers

[edit] Hall of Famers

[edit] Not to be forgotten

[edit] Current Roster

Phoenix Mercury
Current Roster
Head Coach: Paul Westhead Edit
Pos. No. Name College
F 20 Kayte Christensen UC Santa Barbara
G 34 Jennifer Derevjanik George Mason
F 25 Sandora Irvin (IL) Texas Christian
F 21 Jennifer Lacy Pepperdine
G 2 Kelly Miller Georgia
G 23 Cappie Pondexter Rutgers
F 52 Kristen Rasmussen Michigan State
G 10 Crystal Smith Iowa
F 12 Belinda Snell Australia
G-F 43 Ann Strother (IL) Connecticut
G 3 Diana Taurasi Connecticut
F 13 Penny Taylor Australia
C-F 9 Kamila Vodichkova Czech Republic
(IL) - Inactive List

[edit] Coaches and others

Head Coaches:

[edit] External links

Women's National Basketball Association
Eastern Conference Western Conference
Charlotte Sting | Chicago Sky | Connecticut Sun | Detroit Shock | Indiana Fever | New York Liberty | Washington Mystics Houston Comets | Los Angeles Sparks | Minnesota Lynx | Phoenix Mercury Sacramento Monarchs | San Antonio Silver Stars | Seattle Storm
Media: The WNBA on ESPN2 | List of WNBA Finals broadcasters
Other Women's Leagues: National Women's Basketball League | Women's National Basketball League (Australia)
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