Phoenix Mercury facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Phoenix Mercury
Conference	Western
Leagues	WNBA
Founded	1997
History	Phoenix Mercury 1997–present
Arena	PHX Arena
Location	Phoenix, Arizona
Team colors	Purple, orange, light grey, black
Main sponsor	Fry's Food and Drug
General manager	Nick U'Ren
Head coach	Nate Tibbetts
Assistant(s)	Kristi Toliver Megan Vogel Michael Joiner
Ownership	Mat Ishbia
Championships	3 (2007, 2009, 2014)
Conference titles	4 (1998, 2007, 2009, 2014)
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The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team from Phoenix, Arizona. They play in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Mercury is part of the Western Conference. It was one of the first eight teams when the league started in 1997. The team plays its home games at PHX Arena.

The Mercury has made it to the WNBA Playoffs in eighteen of their twenty-eight years. They reached the WNBA Finals in 1998, 2007, 2009, 2014, and 2021. They won the championship in 2007, 2009, and 2014.

Many famous players have been on the team. These include Diana Taurasi from UConn, Cappie Pondexter from Rutgers, Candice Dupree from Temple, Brittney Griner from Baylor, and Penny Taylor from Australia.

In February 2023, Mat Ishbia bought the Phoenix Mercury. He is a former college basketball player. He bought the team from Robert Sarver.

Team History: The Phoenix Mercury's Journey

Early Years: Heating Up the Court (1997–1998)

The Mercury quickly became a strong team. They had famous players like Nancy Lieberman, Michele Timms, and Jennifer Gillom. Their coach was Cheryl Miller. In their first WNBA season, the Mercury won 16 games and made the playoffs. They lost to the New York Liberty that year.

In 1998, the Mercury had an even better record, winning 19 games. They beat the Cleveland Rockers to reach the WNBA Finals for the first time. In a tough series, they lost to the Houston Comets.

Tough Times: Mercury in Retrograde (1999–2003)

In 1999, the Mercury did not make the playoffs. In 2000, they won 20 games but lost to the Los Angeles Sparks in the playoffs. After that, coach Miller left, and many original players retired or were traded. The team struggled for several years.

From 2001 to 2004, the Mercury were at the bottom of the WNBA. They changed coaches often, but nothing seemed to help the team win.

A New Star: Diana Taurasi Joins (2004–2005)

After a difficult 2003 season, the Mercury got the first pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft. They chose Diana Taurasi, a star from UConn. Taurasi won the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2004. The team's record improved to 17 wins and 17 losses. In 2005, they had a 16–18 record and missed the playoffs again.

Fast-Paced Play: Bringing Back "Paul Ball" (2006–2007)

Before the 2006 season, Paul Westhead became the Mercury's head coach. He brought a fast-paced style of play. Westhead was the first WNBA coach to have won an NBA championship. The Mercury also drafted Cappie Pondexter as the second pick in the 2006 WNBA Draft. She became a strong partner for Taurasi. Westhead's offense helped the Mercury score many points and set new league records.

The 2006 season was good for the Mercury. They had a winning record of 18–16, their best since 2000. They almost made the playoffs but just missed out.

In 2007, the Mercury were ready for a deep playoff run. They dominated the Western Conference, setting a team record with 23 wins and 11 losses. They also scored a record 89.0 points per game that season. In the playoffs, they quickly beat the Seattle Storm and then swept the San Antonio Silver Stars. This sent them to the WNBA Finals for the first time in nine years.

In the Finals, the Mercury played against the defending champions, the Detroit Shock. The series was very close. The Mercury won Game 5 in Detroit by a score of 108–92. This made them the first WNBA team to win a championship on the road. Cappie Pondexter was named the WNBA Finals MVP. After this victory, Corey Gaines became the new head coach.

Ups and Downs: Mercury Fall, Mercury Rise (2008–2011)

In 2008, the Mercury had a slow start and finished with a disappointing 16–18 record. They did not make the playoffs. This was unusual for a team that had just won the championship.

However, in 2009, the Mercury bounced back. They earned the top spot in the Western Conference playoffs. They beat the San Antonio Silver Stars and then the Los Angeles Sparks. The Mercury then defeated the Indiana Fever 3–2 in the Finals to win their second championship. Diana Taurasi was named the WNBA Finals MVP.

After the 2009 season, Cappie Pondexter was traded to the New York Liberty. But the team added Candice Dupree to play alongside Taurasi and Penny Taylor. In 2010, the Mercury finished second in the Western Conference. They won their first playoff series but lost to the Seattle Storm in the conference finals.

In 2011, the team started slowly but improved. They made the playoffs as the third seed. They upset the Seattle Storm in the first round. However, they lost to the Minnesota Lynx in the conference finals.

New Talent: Brittney Griner Arrives (2013–2019)

In 2012, the Phoenix Mercury had one of their worst seasons. This gave them the top pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft. They chose Brittney Griner, a highly talented player. The Mercury made the playoffs but lost to the Lynx.

The next season, in 2014, with new coach Sandy Brondello, the Mercury set a WNBA record for most wins in a season with 29. They easily won the 2014 playoffs to claim their third WNBA Championship.

In 2015, Diana Taurasi did not play in the WNBA season. Her overseas team paid her more to rest.

In 2016, the WNBA changed its playoff format. The Mercury, as the eighth seed, upset two teams to reach the Semifinals. However, they lost to the Minnesota Lynx.

In 2017, the Mercury again won their first two playoff games. But they lost in the Semifinals to the Los Angeles Sparks.

The 2018 saw the Mercury win two more single-elimination playoff games. This gave Diana Taurasi a perfect record in winner-take-all games until then. In the semifinals, they lost to the Seattle Storm in a close Game 5.

In 2019, Taurasi missed most of the season due to injuries. The Mercury barely made the playoffs as the eighth seed and lost in the first round.

Building a Strong Team (2020–2021)

Before the 2020 season, the Mercury traded for Skylar Diggins. The season was played in a special "Wubble" due to the pandemic. Brittney Griner left after 12 games for personal reasons. The Mercury finished as the fifth seed and reached the second round of the playoffs, where they lost to the Lynx.

During the 2021 season, Taurasi had more injuries and played in only 16 games. The Mercury finished with a 19–13 record. They won several playoff games, beating the Liberty, Storm, and Aces. This led them to the finals against the Chicago Sky. It was their first finals appearance since 2014. They lost the series 1–3 to the Sky. After the season, coach Brondello's contract was not renewed.

Recent Seasons: Challenges and Changes (2022–2024)

In January 2022, Vanessa Nygaard became the new head coach. The Mercury signed Tina Charles, a top scorer. However, Brittney Griner was unable to play during the 2022 season. The team faced other challenges, and Charles left the team after 18 games. They made the playoffs as the eighth seed but lost in the first round.

Griner returned for the 2023 season. However, Skylar Diggins missed the season due to maternity leave. The Mercury started with a 2–10 record, and Nygaard was replaced by Nikki Blue as interim head coach. The team finished last in the league and missed the playoffs. In October, Nate Tibbetts was named the new head coach.

Before the 2024 season, Diggins left the team. The Mercury traded for Kahleah Copper. The team struggled with injuries again. They finished with a 19–21 record and made the playoffs as the seventh seed. They lost in the first round to the Lynx.

A New Chapter: Post-Taurasi Era (2025–Present)

Before the 2025 season, Diana Taurasi announced her retirement. Brittney Griner also left the team. In a big trade, the Mercury acquired Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally. This marks a new era for the team.

Team Sponsors

In 2009, the Mercury became one of the first major sports teams in North America to have a company logo on their jerseys. They had a sponsorship agreement with LifeLock. Since 2014, the Mercury's jerseys have been sponsored by Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort.

Season-by-Season Records

Players

Current Roster

Phoenix Mercury roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs F 51 Breland, Jessica 6' 2" (1.88m) 166 lb (75kg) 02-23-1988 North Carolina 8 F 10 Coffey, Nia 6' 1" (1.85m) 182 lb (83kg) 06-11-1995 Northwestern 3 G 9 Cunningham, Sophie 6' 1" (1.85m) 170 lb (77kg) 08-16-1996 Missouri 1 G 4 Diggins-Smith, Skylar 5' 9" (1.75m) 145 lb (66kg) 08-16-1996 Notre Dame 6 C 42 Griner, Brittney 6' 9" (2.06m) 205 lb (93kg) 10-18-1990 Baylor 7 G 14 Hartley, Bria 5' 8" (1.73m) 148 lb (67kg) 09-30-1992 Connecticut 6 F 12 Jenkins, Alisia 6' 1" (1.85m) 02-21-1994 South Florida R G 5 Peddy, Shey 5' 7" (1.7m) 147 lb (67kg) 10-28-1988 Temple 1 F 11 Smith, Alanna 6' 4" (1.93m) 180 lb (82kg) 09-10-1996 Stanford 1 G/F 3 Taurasi, Diana 6' 0" (1.83m) 163 lb (74kg) 06-11-1982 Connecticut 15 F 21 Turner, Brianna 6' 3" (1.91m) 170 lb (77kg) 07-05-1996 Notre Dame 1 C 1 Vaughn, Kia 6' 4" (1.93m) 205 lb (93kg) 01-24-1987 Rutgers 10 G 2 Walker-Kimbrough, Shatori 5' 9" (1.75m) 140 lb (64kg) 05-18-1995 Maryland 3	Head coach Sandy Brondello (Western Sydney*) Assistant coaches Julie Hairgrove (Arizona) Chasity Melvin (North Carolina State) Athletic trainer Hannah Breck (Boston University) Strength and conditioning coach Derrick Nillissen (Iowa Wesleyan*) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured   WNBA roster page
East ATL CHI CON IND NY WAS West DAL LV LA MIN PHO SEA

Past Players

Retired Jersey Numbers

The Mercury honors special players by retiring their jersey numbers. This means no other player on the team can wear that number again.

Hall of Fame Players

Several Mercury players and staff have been honored in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

• Ann Meyers-Drysdale, inducted 1999
• Jennifer Gillom, inducted 2009
• Nancy Lieberman, inducted 1996
• Cheryl Miller, inducted 1995
• Linda Sharp, inducted 2001
• Michele Timms, inducted 2008
• Penny Taylor, inducted 2022

FIBA Hall of Fame Players

The FIBA Hall of Fame recognizes international basketball stars.

Coaches and Team Staff

Team Owners

• Jerry Colangelo, also owned the Phoenix Suns (1997–2003)
• Robert Sarver, also owned the Phoenix Suns (2004–2023)
• Mat Ishbia, also owns the Phoenix Suns (2023–present)

Head Coaches

Coaches Julie Hairgrove, Todd Troxel (left to right) and head coach Sandy Brondello (seated) in a timeout during the 2016 WNBA semifinals.

General Managers

• Cheryl Miller (1997–2000)
• Seth Sulka (2001–2006)
• Ann Meyers-Drysdale (2007–2011)
• Corey Gaines (2012–2013)
• Amber Cox (2013)
• Jim Pitman (2013–2023)
• Nick U'Ren (2023–present)

Assistant Coaches

Team Statistics

Media Coverage

You can watch Mercury games on Arizona's Family TV stations in Phoenix. These include KPHO-TV, KTVK, and KPHE-LD. KTVK shows at least 13 games each season, with KPHE showing the rest.

Some Mercury games are also shown across the country on channels like ESPN, ESPN2, Ion Television, CBS, CBS Sports Network, and ABC.

See also

In Spanish: Phoenix Mercury para niños