1998 Phoenix Mercury season

Last updated

1998 Phoenix Mercury season
Coach Cheryl Miller
Arena America West Arena
Attendance13,765 per game
Results
Record19–11 (.633)
Place2nd (Western)
Playoff finishLost WNBA Finals (2-1) to Houston Comets

The 1998 WNBA season was the second season for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury reached their first WNBA Finals, but championship hopes were denied when they lost to the Houston Comets in three games.

Contents

Transactions

Detroit Shock expansion draft

The following player was selected in the Detroit Shock expansion draft from the Phoenix Mercury:

PlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country
Tara Williams Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Auburn

WNBA draft

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country
18 Maria Stepanova Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union CSKA Moscow (Russia)
218 Andrea Kuklová Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czechoslovakia Pays d'Aix Basket 13 (France)
328 Brandy Reed Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Southern Miss
438Karen WilkinsFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States Howard

Transactions

DateTransaction
February 18, 1998Lost Tara Williams to the Detroit Shock in the WNBA expansion draft. [1]
April 29, 1998Drafted Maria Stepanova, Andrea Kuklová, Brandy Reed and Karen Wilkins in the 1998 WNBA draft [1]
May 29, 1998Waived Monique Ambers [1]
May 30, 1998Waived Karen Wilkins [1]
June 4, 1998Waived Tawona Alhaleem [1]
June 10, 1998Waived Tia Jackson [1]
July 6, 1998Traded Pauline Jordan to the Sacramento Monarchs in exchange for Tiffani Johnson [1]
July 31, 1998Waived Mikiko Hagiwara [1]

Roster

1998 Phoenix Mercury roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
C 14 Flag of Germany.svg Askamp, Marlies 6' 5" (1.96m)198 lb (90kg)1970-07-081
F 12 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brogan, Michelle 6' 1" (1.85m)177 lb (80kg)1973-02-08R
F/C 0 Flag of the United States.svg Foster, Toni 6' 1" (1.85m)175 lb (79kg)1971-11-16 Iowa 1
F/C 22 Flag of the United States.svg Gillom, Jennifer 6' 3" (1.91m)180 lb (82kg)1964-06-13 Mississippi 1
G 24 Flag of Japan.svg Hagiwara, Mikiko 5' 9" (1.75m)160 lb (73kg)1970-04-271
G 4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Harrower, Kristi 5' 4" (1.63m)139 lb (63kg)1975-03-04R
F/C 11 Flag of the United States.svg Jordan, Pauline6' 3" (1.91m)205 lb (93kg)1968-04-27 UNLV R
G/F 15 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Kuklová, Andrea 6' 0" (1.83m)150 lb (68kg)1971-07-16R
G 32 Flag of the United States.svg Pettis, Bridget 5' 9" (1.75m)150 lb (68kg)1971-01-01 Florida 1
F 13 Flag of the United States.svg Reed, Brandy 6' 1" (1.85m)168 lb (76kg)1977-02-17 Southern Miss R
C 8 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Stepanova, Maria 6' 8" (2.03m)187 lb (85kg)1979-01-23R
G 7 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Timms, Michele 5' 7" (1.7m)132 lb (60kg)1965-06-281
G/F 21 Flag of the United States.svg Webb, Umeki 5' 10" (1.78m)162 lb (73kg)1975-06-26 NC State 1
Head coach
Flag of the United States.svg Cheryl Miller (USC)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Schedule

Regular season

1998 game log
Total: 19–11 (Home: 13–3; Road: 6–8)
June: 6–2 (Home: 4–1; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1June 11@ Sacramento W 73–70 Jennifer Gillom (20) Brandy Reed (8) Umeki Webb (8) ARCO Arena 1–0
2June 14 Los Angeles W 70–60 Jennifer Gillom (20) Jennifer Gillom (6) Umeki Webb (4) America West Arena 2–0
3June 15 Washington W 69–54 Jennifer Gillom (19) Jennifer Gillom (11) Michele Timms (4) America West Arena 3–0
4June 21 Charlotte L 71–72 Bridget Pettis (20) Michelle Brogan (9) Gillom
Webb (3)		 America West Arena 3–1
5June 24 Houston W 69–66 Bridget Pettis (20) Michelle Brogan (7) Michele Timms (8) America West Arena 4–1
6June 26 Utah W 96–63 Jennifer Gillom (19) Marlies Askamp (8) Umeki Webb (6) America West Arena 5–1
7June 28@ Washington W 86–69 Bridget Pettis (23) Jennifer Gillom (8) Kristi Harrower (7) MCI Center 6–1
8June 29@ New York L 68–71 Michelle Brogan (15) Michelle Brogan (5) Michele Timms (5) Madison Square Garden 6–2
July: 6–7 (Home: 4–2; Road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
9July 2@ Cleveland W 76–61 Jennifer Gillom (29) Jennifer Gillom (8) Michele Timms (5) Gund Arena 7–2
10July 4@ Charlotte L 66–68 Jennifer Gillom (21) Bridget Pettis (7) Michele Timms (9) Charlotte Coliseum 7–3
11July 8@ Detroit W 78–76 Jennifer Gillom (24) Jennifer Gillom (10) Michele Timms (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills 8–3
12July 10 Cleveland W 76–60 Jennifer Gillom (28) Marlies Askamp (11) Michele Timms (8) America West Arena 9–3
13July 13 Los Angeles W 72–62 Jennifer Gillom (27) Jennifer Gillom (9) Michele Timms (5) America West Arena 10–3
14July 15 Detroit W 73–60 Jennifer Gillom (17) Michelle Brogan (6) Michele Timms (5) America West Arena 11–3
15July 18 New York L 63–69 Michelle Brogan (14) Jennifer Gillom (6) Michele Timms (8) America West Arena 11–4
16July 20 Sacramento W 88–67 Bridget Pettis (18) Brogan
Gillom
Webb (6)		 Michele Timms (9) America West Arena 12–4
17July 21 Houston L 62–65 Jennifer Gillom (24) Jennifer Gillom (11) Michele Timms (6) America West Arena 12–5
18July 23@ Los Angeles L 68–70 Jennifer Gillom (27) Jennifer Gillom (9) Jennifer Gillom (4) Great Western Forum 12–6
19July 27@ Utah L 80–90 Jennifer Gillom (31) Michelle Brogan (7) Michele Timms (6) Delta Center 12–7
20July 28@ Houston L 62–72 Jennifer Gillom (23) Jennifer Gillom (13) Timms
Webb (3)		 Compaq Center 12–8
21July 31@ Los Angeles L 56–71 Jennifer Gillom (23) Jennifer Gillom (10) Bridget Pettis (4) Great Western Forum 12–9
August: 7–2 (Home: 5–0; Road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
22August 4 Washington W 88–59 Jennifer Gillom (21) Marlies Askamp (8) Harrower
Timms (4)		 America West Arena 13–9
23August 6@ Houston L 64–75 Jennifer Gillom (19) Brandy Reed (6) Kuklová
Timms
Webb (3)		 Compaq Center 13–10
24August 8 Utah W 68–62 Bridget Pettis (21) Gillom
Pettis (8)		 Michele Timms (9) America West Arena 14–10
25August 10 Cleveland W 82–80 (2OT) Jennifer Gillom (38) Jennifer Gillom (8) Michele Timms (7) America West Arena 15–10
26August 11@ New York L 78–79 (OT) Jennifer Gillom (21) Jennifer Gillom (7) Brogan
Pettis
Timms (4)		 Madison Square Garden 15–11
27August 14 Detroit W 84–59 Gillom
Pettis (23)		 Bridget Pettis (7) Michele Timms (7) America West Arena 16–11
28August 16@ Monarchs W 85–69 Jennifer Gillom (25) Michelle Brogan (8) Umeki Webb (5) ARCO Arena 17–11
29August 17@ Utah W 75–64 Jennifer Gillom (20) Gillom
Reed
Webb (7)		 Michele Timms (7) Delta Center 18–11
30August 19 Monarchs W 71–62 Jennifer Gillom (18) Jennifer Gillom (8) Michele Timms (4) America West Arena 19–11
1998 season schedule

Playoffs

1998 playoff game log
Semifinal vs. Cleveland Rockers
Won Series: 2–1
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1August 22 Cleveland W 78–68 Jennifer Gillom (21) Gillom
Reed (5)		 Umeki Webb (6) America West Arena 1–0
2August 24@ Cleveland L 66–67 Jennifer Gillom (27) Jennifer Gillom (10) Michele Timms (6) Gund Arena 1–1
3August 25@ Cleveland W 71–60 Bridget Pettis (27) Bridget Pettis (11) Michele Timms (8) Gund Arena 2–1
Championship vs. Houston Comets
Lost Series: 1–2
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 August 27 @ Phoenix W 54–51 Jennifer Gillom (15) Michelle Brogan (12) Michele Timms (5) America West Arena 1–0
2 August 29 Phoenix L 69–74 (OT) Michele Timms (21) Jennifer Gillom (9) Michelle Brogan (3) Compaq Center 1–1
3 September 1 Phoenix L 71–80 Michelle Brogan (24) Jennifer Gillom (6) Michele Timms (7) Compaq Center 1–2
1998 playoff schedule

Season standings

Western Conference WLPCTConf.GB
Houston Comets x273.90015–1–
Phoenix Mercury x1911.63310–68.0
Los Angeles Sparks o1218.4006–1015.0
Sacramento Monarchs o822.2675–1119.0
Utah Starzz o822.2674–1219.0

Statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per gameTeam leaderLeague leader

Regular Season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Jennifer Gillom 303032.1.465.378.7037.31.41.70.320.9
Michele Timms 303031.1.318.298.6942.55.31.30.16.9
Bridget Pettis 302828.3.377.285.8653.42.11.00.311.3
Umeki Webb 303028.2.363.286.6613.93.11.60.75.3
Michelle Brogan 302526.0.505.478.7964.41.41.50.29.2
Toni Foster 16513.6.467N/A.7671.91.20.90.34.9
Marlies Askamp 26012.3.471N/A.6613.30.50.50.35.3
Kristi Harrower 30011.8.365.344.7500.71.70.50.12.3
Andrea Kuklová 29211.7.400.143.5561.31.10.60.13.3
Brandy Reed 24010.6.526.250.7103.30.80.80.35.2
Maria Stepanova 2006.5.426N/A.6361.90.40.20.63.3
Mikiko Hagiwara 1005.9.381.333.6670.20.30.00.02.2
Pauline Jordan605.0.625N/A.7140.80.70.00.02.5


‡Waived/Released during the season
†Traded during the season
≠Acquired during the season

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "1998 Phoenix Mercury Transactions". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
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