Cappie Pondexter was named the WNBA Finals MVP, and averaged 22.0 points and 5.6 assists in the series. 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. Penny Taylor scored a game high 30 points in Game 5, and went 18-for-18 from the line. In Game 5, Phoenix won by a score of 108–92. 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. Down 2–1, the Mercury had to win game 4 or lose. Coming back home, the Mercury suffered a letdown in game 3, losing 88–83. The two teams split the first two games in Detroit. In the Finals, the Mercury faced the defending 2006 champions Detroit Shock. 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 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). The Mercury set a record by averaging 89.0 points in a season during 2007. 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 competed for the playoffs all year, but fell just short of a postseason berth.Īs the 2007 season came, the Mercury were poised and hungry for a deep playoff run. 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. 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 addition provided Taurasi with a solid #2 player. The Mercury also drafted Cappie Pondexter with the #2 overall selection in the 2006 WNBA Draft. Westhead was the first WNBA coach to have won a previous NBA championship (1980 LA Lakers). Bringing back "Paul Ball" (2006–2007)įormer NBA coach Paul Westhead became the Mercury's head coach prior to the 2006 season and brought his up-tempo style to Phoenix. The Mercury posted a 16–18 record in 2005, missing the playoffs again. 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. Diana Taurasi joins the WNBA (2004–2005)Īfter a horrible 2003 season, in which the Mercury posted an 8–26 record, the Mercury won the #1 overall choice in the 2004 WNBA Draft, and select coveted former UConn star Diana Taurasi. The Mercury went through coach after coach, and nothing worked. Fielding miserable teams, the Mercury were never competitive. 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.įrom 2001 to 2004, the Mercury were at the bottom of the WNBA. In 2000, the Mercury finished 20–12, but got swept by the Los Angeles Sparks. In 1999, the Mercury missed the playoffs, posting a 15–17 record. In a hard-fought series, the Mercury fell 2 games to 1 to the defending champion Houston Comets. The Mercury defeated the Cleveland Rockers to reach the WNBA Finals for the first time. In 1998, the Mercury again qualified for the playoffs, posting a 19–11 record. The Mercury lost to the New York Liberty, though, in those playoffs. In the very first WNBA season, the Mercury posted a 16–12 record and reached the first WNBA playoffs. With a cast that included hall-of-famer Nancy Lieberman, and possible future hall-of-famers Michele Timms of Australia, and Jennifer Gillom, hyper-active star Bridget Pettis, and outspoken coach Cheryl Miller, the Mercury quickly established itself as a major franchise.
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