Phoenix Mercury Tickets

Phoenix Mercury
Based in Phoenix, Arizona, The Phoenix Mercury is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team. It 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. It is named so because Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. It is the WNBA equivalent to the Phoenix Suns.

While the Mercury experienced confusion after Miller's disappearance from the team, it made headlines again in 2004 with the drafting of Diana Taurasi, the most popular pick in the history of the WNBA Draft.

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

Franchise History
With Nancy Lieberman, Michele Timms of Australia, and Jennifer Gillom, plus the hyperactive 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, through retirement or trades, the team stopped being a playoff competitor.

During the slant 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, but She refused the offer.

In 2004, Phoenix selected former UConn star Diana Taurasi with the #1 overall WNBA Draft. She 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 list was further boosted by the addition of rookie Cappie Pondexter, the #2 overall selection in the 2006 WNBA Draft.