NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Phoenix Mercury

The Phoenix Mercury is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Phoenix, Arizona and the current WNBA champions. The Mercury began in 1997 as one of the league's original eight teams. The Mercury are named because Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. It is the WNBA counterpart to the Phoenix Suns in partnership with Anne Mariucci and Kathy Munro. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... US Airways Center (formerly America West Arena) is a sports and entertainment facility located in Phoenix, Arizona. ... Nickname: Location in Maricopa County and the state of Arizona Coordinates: , Country State Counties Maricopa Incorporated February 25, 1881 Government - Type Council-Manager - Mayor Phil Gordon (D) Area - City 515. ... Ann Elizabeth Meyers (born March 26, 1955 in San Diego, California) is a distinguished figure in the history of womens basketball and sports journalism. ... Paul Westhead Paul Westhead (born February 21, 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a former basketball coach in the NBA and the NCAA. He has coached three different NBA teams, and was also the coach of the Loyola Marymount University mens basketball team during that schools era of greatest... The Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) is an organization governing a professional basketball league for women in the United States. ... Nickname: Location in Maricopa County and the state of Arizona Coordinates: , Country State Counties Maricopa Incorporated February 25, 1881 Government - Type Council-Manager - Mayor Phil Gordon (D) Area - City 515. ... This article is about the planet. ... The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team, based in Phoenix, Arizona. ...

Uniforms: The uniform is white, chartreuse and orange at home with a logo of the planet Mercury in purple, and the word "Phoenix" in silver; it is orange and chartreuse on the road. This article is about the planet. ...

Franchise History

With a cast that included hall-of-famer Nancy Lieberman, Josh Ching, 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 would post a 16-12 record and reach the first WNBA playoffs. The Mercury would lose to the New York Liberty, though, in those playoffs. Nancy Elizabeth Lieberman is a former standout collegiate and professional basketball player. ... Michele Margaret Timms (born June 28, 1965), and better known plainly as Michele Timms, is an Australian basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury in the Womens National Basketball Association. ... Jennifer Gillom (born June 13, 1964 in Abbeville, Mississippi) is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002. ... Cheryl Miller (born on January 3, 1964 in Riverside, California) is a former college basketball player and coach, and considered by many the best female player in the history of the game. ... The New York Liberty is a Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in New York City. ...

In 1998, the Mercury would again qualify for the playoffs, posting a 19-11 record. The Mercury would defeat the Cleveland Rockers to reach the WNBA Finals for the first time. In a hard fought series, the Mercury would fall 2 games to 1 to the defending champion Houston Comets. The Cleveland Rockers were a Womens National Basketball Association team. ... The Houston Comets are a Womens National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas. ...

In 1999, the Mercury would miss the playoffs, posting a 15-17 record. In 2000, the Mercury would finish 20-12, but would get swept by the Los Angeles Sparks. The team would descend into termoil 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. The Los Angeles Sparks are a Womens National Basketball Association team based in Los Angeles, California. ...

From 2001-2004, the Mercury would be 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. In the context of basketball, forward usually refers to one of two positions: Power forward Small forward In addition, some basketball players share the attributes of a small forward and a point guard, and are accordingly called point forwards. ... Lisa Harrison (born January 2, 1971 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury in the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA). ... Classic Playboy logo. ...

After a horrible 2003 season, in which the Mercury posted an 8-26 record, the Mercury would win the #1 overall choice in the 2004 WNBA Draft, and select coveted former UConn star Diana Taurasi. Taurasi went on to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award in the 2004 season, as the Mercury posted a better 17-17 record. The Mercury would post a 16-18 record in 2005, missing the playoffs again. The University of Connecticut is the State of Connecticuts land-grant university. ... Diana Lurena Taurasi (born June 11, 1982 in Chino, California) is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA). ... The WNBA Rookie of the Year Award is given each year to the best rookie in the WNBA. Rookie of the Year Awards (1997 - Present) 1997 - No award 1998 - Tracy Reid, Charlotte Sting 1999 - Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington Mystics 2000 - Betty Lennox, Minnesota Lynx 2001 - Jackie Stiles, Portland Fire 2002 - Tamika...

Former NBA coach Paul Westhead became the Mercury's head coach prior to the 2006 season and brought his up-tempo style to Phoenix. Westhead was the first WNBA coach to have won a previous NBA championship (1980 LA Lakers). The Mercury also would draft Cappie Pondexter with the #2 overall selection in the 2006 WNBA Draft. The addition would provide Taurasi with a solid #2 player. â€œNBAâ€ redirects here. ... Paul Westhead Paul Westhead (born February 21, 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a former basketball coach in the NBA and the NCAA. He has coached three different NBA teams, and was also the coach of the Loyola Marymount University mens basketball team during that schools era of greatest... The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA) team based in Los Angeles, California. ... Cappie Pondexter (born January 7, 1983) is a professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the Phoenix Mercury. ...

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 would compete for the playoffs all year, but would fall short, mainly because of Gerry Gill's horrible obesity. When the team started off, Gerry Gill was a total hotshot, the best of the best. But over time, as the team did worse and worse, Gerry ate more. Gerry was indeed the cause of the Mercury's downfall.

WNBA Championship Season

As the 2007 season came, the Mercury were poised and hungry for the playoffs. The Mercury would post their best record in franchise history at 23-11. It was also the best record in the Western Conference, as they clinched the #1 seed. The Mercury set a record by average 89.0 points in a season during 2007. ^[1]

In their first playoffs since 2000, the Mercury would make quick work of the Seattle Storm in the first round, blowing them out in 2 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. The Seattle Storm is a Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Seattle, Washington. ... The San Antonio Silver Stars is a team in the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) based in San Antonio, Texas. ...

In the Finals, the Mercury faced the defending 2006 champions Detroit Shock. The two teams would split the first two games in Detroit. Coming back home, the Mercury would suffer a letdown in game 3, losing 88-83. Down 2-1, the Mercury had to win game 4 or lose. Game 4 would come down to the final seconds, but the Mercury would edge out the Shock 77-76, with Cappie Pondexter scoring 26 points, and force a Game 5 in Detroit. In Game 5, Phoenix won by a score of 108-92. ^[1] Penny Taylor scored a game high 30 points in Game 5, and went 18-for-18 from the line. ^[1] The Detroit Shock is a Womens National Basketball Association team based in Detroit, Michigan. ... Penny Taylor is an Australian professional basketball player. ...

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 Poindexter was named the WNBA Finals MVP, and averaged 22.0 points and 5.6 assists in the series. ^[1]

Season-by-Season Records

Stats updated September 16, 2007 The New York Liberty is a Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in New York City. ... The Cleveland Rockers were a Womens National Basketball Association team. ... The Houston Comets are a Womens National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas. ... The Los Angeles Sparks are a Womens National Basketball Association team based in Los Angeles, California. ... The Seattle Storm is a Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Seattle, Washington. ... The San Antonio Silver Stars is a team in the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) based in San Antonio, Texas. ... The Detroit Shock is a Womens National Basketball Association team based in Detroit, Michigan. ...

Players of note

Retired numbers

Michele Margaret Timms (born June 28, 1965), and better known plainly as Michele Timms, is an Australian basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury in the Womens National Basketball Association. ...

Hall of Famers

Nancy Elizabeth Lieberman is a former standout collegiate and professional basketball player. ... Cheryl Miller (born on January 3, 1964 in Riverside, California) is a former college basketball player and coach, and considered by many the best female player in the history of the game. ...

Not to be forgotten

Marlies Askamp (born on August 7, 1970) is a German professional basketball player. ... Anna Louise DeForge (born on April 14, 1976 in Iron Mountain, Michigan) is an American professional basketball player who most recently plays for the Indiana Fever in the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA). ... Jennifer Gillom (born June 13, 1964 in Abbeville, Mississippi) is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002. ... Lisa Harrison (born January 2, 1971 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury in the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA). ... Carolyn Moos (born May 8, 1978 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is a model, personal trainer, nutrition consultant and briefly a former professional basketball player for the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA). ... Brandy Reed (born February 17, 1977) is a former professional basketball player. ... Maria Stepanova is a professional basketball player in the WNBA. At a height of six foot eight inches, she is joint second-tallest player in the league (along with Katie Feenstra and Lindsay Taylor). ... Adrian Williams (born February 17, 1977) is a professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the Minnesota Lynx. ... Lindsay Corine Taylor (born May 20, 1981 in Poway, California) is an American professional basketball player who has played in the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA). ...

Current Roster

Paul Westhead Paul Westhead (born February 21, 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a former basketball coach in the NBA and the NCAA. He has coached three different NBA teams, and was also the coach of the Loyola Marymount University mens basketball team during that schools era of greatest... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Jennifer Derevjanik on the Connecticut Sun Jennifer Derevjanik (born on March 29, 1982 in Staten Island, NY) is a professional basketball player. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Kelly Anne Mazzante (born February 2, 1982) is a professional basketball player in the WNBA, most recently playing for the Charlotte Sting. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Kelly Miller on the Phoenix Mercury Kelly Miller (born September 6, 1978 in Rochester, Minnesota) is a professional basketball player for the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Cappie Pondexter (born January 7, 1983) is a professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the Phoenix Mercury. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Kelly Schumacher (born October 14, 1977 in Cincinnati, Ohio) is a professional Canadian basketball player for the Indiana Fever in the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Olympia Scott Olympia Scott, formerly known under her married name of Olympia Scott-Richardson, is an American professional basketball player in the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) and a college coach. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Tangela Smith on the Charlotte Sting Tangela Nicole Smith (born April 1, 1977 in Chicago, Illinois) is a basketball player for the Charlotte Sting in the WNBA. // Smith attended George Washington High School in Chicago, where she was named a 1994 Kodak High School All-American. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Belinda Snell is an Australian womens basketball player who plays in Australia and the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) in the United States. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Diana Lurena Taurasi (born June 11, 1982 in Chino, California) is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Penny Taylor is an Australian professional basketball player. ...

Coaches and others

Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... John H. Shumate (born April 6, 1952 in Greenville, South Carolina) is an American former professional basketball player. ... Paul Westhead Paul Westhead (born February 21, 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a former basketball coach in the NBA and the NCAA. He has coached three different NBA teams, and was also the coach of the Loyola Marymount University mens basketball team during that schools era of greatest...

References

External links

</noinclude> The Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) is an organization governing a professional basketball league for women in the United States. ... The Chicago Sky are a current Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Chicago, Illinois. ... The Connecticut Sun are a Womens National Basketball Association team based in Uncasville, Connecticut. ... The Detroit Shock is a Womens National Basketball Association team based in Detroit, Michigan. ... The Indiana Fever is a professional womens basketball team that plays in the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA). ... The New York Liberty is a Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in New York City. ... The Washington Mystics are a Womens National Basketball Association team based in Washington, DC. They started play in 1998, the second year of the WNBA and are one of the WNBAs first expansion franchises. ... The Houston Comets are a Womens National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas. ... The Los Angeles Sparks are a Womens National Basketball Association team based in Los Angeles, California. ... The Minnesota Lynx are a Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota and play their home games at the Target Center. ... The Sacramento Monarchs is a Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Sacramento, California. ... The San Antonio Silver Stars is a team in the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) based in San Antonio, Texas. ... The Seattle Storm is a Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Seattle, Washington. ... Charlotte Sting logo 1997-2003 The Charlotte Sting was once a Womens National Basketball Association franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was one of the leagues eight original teams. ... The Cleveland Rockers were a Womens National Basketball Association team. ... The Miami Sol was a womens Basketball team which joined the Womens National Basketball Association in 2000. ... The Portland Fire joined the Womens National Basketball Association in 2000 as the counterpart to the National Basketball Association team the Portland Trailblazers. ... The WNBA on ESPN refers to the presentation of Womens National Basketball Association games on the ESPN family of networks. ... The following is a list of the television networks and announcers that have broadcasted the WNBA Finals. ... The National Womens Basketball League or NWBL is an organization governing basketball leagues for women in the United States. ... The Womens National Basketball League (WNBL) is the premier womens basketball league in Australia. ...

Categories: Women's National Basketball Association navigational boxes | Women's National Basketball Association teams | Phoenix Mercury | Sports clubs established in 1997 Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Nickname: Location in Maricopa County and the state of Arizona Coordinates: , Country State Counties Maricopa Incorporated February 25, 1881 Government - Type Council-Manager - Mayor Phil Gordon (D) Area - City 515. ... This article is about the sport. ... MLB and Major Leagues redirect here. ... Major league affiliations National League (1998â€“present) West Division (1998â€“present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 42 Name Arizona Diamondbacks (1998â€“present) Other nicknames The D-Backs, The Snakes Ballpark Chase Field (1998â€“present) a. ... The Arizona League is a minor league baseball league that operates in Arizona. ... The Phoenix Athletics are a minor league baseball team in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. They are a Class R team in the Arizona League. ... The Phoenix Brewers are a minor league baseball team from Phoenix, Arizona, USA. They are a minor league affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. ... Chicago Cubs National League AAA Iowa Cubs AA West Tenn Diamond Jaxx A Daytona Cubs Peoria Chiefs Boise Hawks R Mesa Cubs The Mesa Cubs are a minor league baseball team in Mesa, Arizona, USA. They are a Class R team in the Arizona League, and have been a farm... Seattle Mariners American League AAA Tacoma Rainiers AA San Antonio Missions A Inland Empire 66ers Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Everett AquaSox R Peoria Mariners The Peoria Mariners are a minor league baseball team in Peoria, Arizona, USA. They are a Class R team in the Arizona League, and have been a... The Peoria Padres are the rookie-level team of the San Diego Padres in the Arizona Rookie League. ... The Scottsdale Giants are a minor league baseball team in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. They are a Class R team in the Arizona League. ... The Surprise Rangers are a rookie-level minor league baseball team in Surprise, Arizona. ... The Arizona Royals are a minor league baseball team in Surprise, Arizona, USA. They are a Class R team in the Arizona League and have been a farm team of the Kansas City Royals since 2003. ... The Tempe Angels are a minor league baseball team located in the city of Tempe, Arizona, USA. They are a Class R team in the Arizona League and have been a farm team of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim since the early 1990s. ... The Arizona Fall League is a minor league baseball league which operates during the Fall in Arizona at three spring training complexes. ... The Phoenix Desert Dogs are an Arizona Fall League baseball team located in Phoenix, Arizona. ... The Peoria Javelinas, established in 1992, are a winter minor league team who play in the Arizona Fall League. ... The Scottsdale Scorpions are an Arizona Fall League baseball team located in the affluent Phoenix suburb of Scottsdale. ... Class-Level Single-A to Triple-A Minor League affiliations Arizona Fall League East Division Major League affiliation Boston Red Sox Chicago Cubs Houston Astros Milwaukee Brewers St. ... Class-Level SIngle-A to Triple-A Minor League affiliations Arizona Fall League West Division Major League affiliation Detroit Tigers Florida Marlins Los Angeles Dodgers Philadelphia Phillies San Diego Padres Name Peoria Saguaros (199?-present) Mesa Saguaros (1994-199?) Ballpark Peoria Sports Complex Minor League titles League titles 1995 Division... Class-Level Single-A to Triple-A Minor League affiliations Arizona Fall League West Division Major League affiliations Cincinnati Reds Cleveland Indians Kansas City Royals Los Angeles Angels Texas Rangers Name Surprise Rafters (2007-present) Grand Canyon Rafters (199?-2006) Tempe Rafters (1993-199?) Ballpark Surprise Stadium Minor League titles... This article is about the sport. ... â€œNBAâ€ redirects here. ... The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team, based in Phoenix, Arizona. ... The Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) is an organization governing a professional basketball league for women in the United States. ... The International Basketball League (IBL) was a short lived professional basketball league in the United States. ... On February 19, 2007, The Phoenix Flame owners acquire a new IBL franchise, the Arizona Lightning. ... The Phoenix Flame are an IBL team slated to begin play in the 2007 season. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... NFL redirects here. ... City Glendale, Arizona Other nicknames The Cards, The Birds, Big Red, The Buzzsaw Team colors Cardinal Red, Black, and White Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt Owner Bill Bidwill General manager Rod Graves Mascot Big Red League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1920â€“present) Western Division (1933-1949) American Conference (1950-1952... The Arena Football League (AFL) was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. ... Conference American Division Western Year founded 1992 Home arena US Airways Center City, State Phoenix, Arizona Head Coach Gene Nudo ArenaBowl championships 2: 1994, 1997 Conference titles none Division titles 5: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004 Wild Card berths 8: 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006 Arizona Rattlers... Ice hockey, known simply as hockey in areas where it is more common than field hockey, is a team sport played on ice. ... â€œNHLâ€ redirects here. ... The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale. ... The ECHL is a professional minor-league double-A hockey association based in the United States and Canada. ... The Phoenix RoadRunners are an ECHL hockey team that began play in the 2005-2006 season in Phoenix, Arizona. ... This article is about the current CHL; for earlier leagues also called the Central Hockey League, see Central Hockey League (disambiguation) The Central Hockey League (CHL) is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. ... The Arizona Sundogs are a minor-league ice hockey team based in Prescott, Arizona that is slated to begin play in 2006. ... The Dive Shot. Lacrosse is a team sport that is played with ten players (mens field), six players (mens box), or twelve players (womens field), each of whom uses a netted stick (the crosse) in order to pass and catch a hard rubber ball with the aim... NLL redirects here. ... The Arizona Sting are a member of the National Lacrosse League. ... Division I (or DI) is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the United States. ... // Arizona State University has nine mens and eleven womens varsity teams competing in the NCAA Pacific Ten Conference. ... Division II (or DII) is an intermediate-level division of competition in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. ... Grand Canyon University is a for-profit, non-denominational Christian university in Phoenix, Arizona. ...

Contents