2008 Phoenix Mercury season

Last updated

2008 Phoenix Mercury season
CoachCorey Gaines
Arena US Airways Center
Attendance8,522 per game
Results
Record1618 (.471)
Place6th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 2008 WNBA season was the 12th for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury were not able to win their second consecutive WNBA Championship and became the first defending champion to not qualify for the playoffs.

Contents

Offseason

On September 27, 2007, head coach Paul Westhead resigned and took a job as an assistant coach under P.J. Carlesimo for the Seattle SuperSonics. Assistant coach Corey Gaines was named the team's new head coach on November 7 of that year.

Expansion draft

WNBA draft

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool
113 LaToya Pringle Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States North Carolina
225
(from SA)
Leilani Mitchell Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Utah
341 Marscilla Packer Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Ohio State

Transactions

Trades

April 22, 2008To Phoenix Mercury
New York's third-round pick in the 2009 WNBA draft
To New York Liberty
Leilani Mitchell

Free agents

PlayerSignedFormer team
Le'Coe Willingham March 10, 2008 Connecticut Sun
Barbara Farris March 14, 2008 New York Liberty
Olympia Scott August 7, 2008 Los Angeles Sparks
PlayerLeftNew team
PlayerRe-signed
Kelly Mazzante February 20, 2008
Tangela Smith March 11, 2008
Diana Taurasi March 20, 2008
Jennifer Derejanik April 3, 2008

Regular season

Season standings

Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
San Antonio Silver Stars x2410.70615–29–810–10
Seattle Storm x2212.6472.016–16–1113–7
Los Angeles Sparks x2014.5884.012–58–912–8
Sacramento Monarchs x1816.5296.05–1213–49–11
Houston Comets o1717.5007.013–44–1310–10
Minnesota Lynx o1618.4718.010–76–118–12
Phoenix Mercury o1618.4718.09–87–108–12

Season schedule

DateOpponentScoreLeading ScorerAttendanceRecord
May 17vs. Los Angeles 94-99 Cappie Pondexter (32)13,7490-1
May 20@ San Antonio 76-81 Cappie Pondexter (23)9,1030-2
May 22vs. Seattle 83-87 Diana Taurasi (23)7,0590-3
May 31@ Minnesota 83-94 Cappie Pondexter (31)6,9140-4
June 3vs. Washington 98-93 Diana Taurasi (29)7,5611-4
June 6@ Los Angeles 85-79 Diana Taurasi (29)13,1422-4
June 11@ Seattle 77-83 Diana Taurasi (37)7,4832-5
June 14vs. Detroit 79-89 Cappie Pondexter (28)7,6962-6
June 18vs. Connecticut 102-81 Diana Taurasi (32)4,4783-6
June 20vs. Chicago 112-105 (OT) Diana Taurasi (33)7,3114-6
June 22@ New York 72-105 Diana Taurasi (21)8,6884-7
June 24@ Washington 98-90 Diana Taurasi (31)6,6625-7
June 26@ Chicago 89-79 Kelly Miller (17)3,1036-7
June 29@ Connecticut 87-80 Diana Taurasi (25)9,5187-7
July 1@ Atlanta 97-79 Diana Taurasi (28)9,7958-7
July 5vs. New York 83-93 Diana Taurasi (25)6,4818-8
July 6@ Los Angeles 80-91 Kelly Miller (14)
Cappie Pondexter (14)
10,0048-9
July 8vs. Houston 99-94 Diana Taurasi (30)15,4999-9
July 10@ Seattle 78-89 Cappie Pondexter (20)10,4549-10
July 12@ Sacramento 97-105 Cappie Pondexter (33)7,0449-11
July 15vs. San Antonio 87-97 Diana Taurasi (23)
Cappie Pondexter (23)
6,4519-12
July 17vs. Los Angeles 99-92 Cappie Pondexter (27)7,98110-12
July 19vs. Atlanta 110-84 Diana Taurasi (21)7,91311-12
July 22@ Houston 92-94 Diana Taurasi (31)6,13411-13
July 24@ Sacramento 74-83 Cappie Pondexter (23)11,94611-14
July 25vs. Seattle 94-80 Diana Taurasi (31)8,32312-14
July 27vs. Indiana 84-88 Diana Taurassi (25)7,92412-15
August 28vs. San Antonio 55-77 Diana Taurasi (13)7,93112-16
September 3vs. Minnesota 103-96 Diana Taurasi (32)7,72213-16
September 5vs. Sacramento 81-69 Diana Taurasi (26)10,52714-16
September 7vs. Houston 99-74 Diana Taurasi (33)10,26115-16
September 9@ Detroit 78-89 Cappie Pondexter (23)7,49515-17
September 12@ Minnesota 96-87 Diana Taurasi (31)8,34316-17
September 14@ Indiana 89-103 Cappie Pondexter (23)8,77616-18

Player stats

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

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Diana Taurasi 343431.9.446.360.8705.13.61.41.424.1
Cappie Pondexter 323231.3.413.313.8463.74.21.20.221.2
Tangela Smith 252528.9.417.348.8677.01.11.11.211.1
Le'Coe Willingham 342724.5.570.185.7415.90.90.70.210.1
Kelly Miller 343427.8.408.385.8454.44.00.70.18.3
Kelly Mazzante 34218.9.332.331.8331.91.10.70.15.8
LaToya Pringle 29713.0.448.000.8243.50.30.31.54.4
Barbara Farris 34816.3.463.000.6983.80.20.60.13.5
Olympia Scott 6011.5.364.000.0003.20.50.21.02.7
Yuko Oga 2307.3.351.000.9410.70.60.30.02.4
Allie Quigley 1407.1.333.182.5000.80.30.40.12.1
Willnett Crockett 518.2.375.000.6002.20.00.80.21.8
Jennifer Derevjanik 1708.5.263.125.7501.01.60.10.20.8

Phoenix Mercury Regular Season Stats

Roster

Phoenix Mercury roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHeightWeightFrom
PG 24 Flag of the United States.svg Derevjanik, Jennifer 5' 10" (1.78m)140 lb (64kg) George Mason
C 54 Flag of the United States.svg Farris, Barbara 6' 3" (1.91m)200 lb (91kg) Tulane
SG 33 Flag of the United States.svg Mazzante, Kelly 6' 0" (1.83m)155 lb (70kg) Penn State
PG 2 Flag of the United States.svg Miller, Kelly 5' 10" (1.78m)140 lb (64kg) Georgia
PG 1 Flag of Japan.svg Oga, Yuko 5' 6" (1.68m)140 lb (64kg) Japan
SG 23 Flag of the United States.svg Pondexter, Cappie 5' 9" (1.75m)160 lb (73kg) Rutgers
F/C 30 Flag of the United States.svg Pringle, LaToya 6' 3" (1.91m)162 lb (73kg) North Carolina
PG 14 Flag of the United States.svg Quigley, Allie 5' 10" (1.78m)140 lb (64kg) DePaul
C 0 Flag of the United States.svg Scott, Olympia 6' 2" (1.88m)175 lb (79kg) Stanford
F/C 21 Flag of the United States.svg Smith, Brooke 6' 3" (1.91m)195 lb (88kg) Stanford
C 50 Flag of the United States.svg Smith, Tangela 6' 4" (1.93m)160 lb (73kg) Iowa
G/F 3 Flag of the United States.svg Taurasi, Diana 6' 0" (1.83m)172 lb (78kg) Connecticut
PF 43 Flag of the United States.svg Willingham, Le'Coe 6' 0" (1.83m)200 lb (91kg) Auburn
Head coach
Flag of the United States.svg Corey Gaines (Loyola Marymount)
Assistant coaches
Flag of the United States.svg Bridget Pettis (Florida)
Flag of the United States.svg Julie Hairgrove (Arizona)
Athletic trainer
Flag of the United States.svg Tanara Oiike (California State University )
Strength and conditioning coach
Flag of the United States.svg Tanara Oiike (California State University )

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

  WNBA roster page

Awards and honors

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoenix Mercury</span> American professional basketball team

The Phoenix Mercury are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as a member of the Western Conference. One of eight original franchises, it was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diana Taurasi</span> American basketball player (born 1982)

Diana Lorena Taurasi is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Taurasi is widely recognized as one of the greatest women's basketball players of all time; she rose to fame while playing college basketball at the University of Connecticut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penny Taylor</span> Australian basketball player (born 1981)

Penelope Jane Taylor is an Australian former professional basketball player and assistant coach. During her 19-year career, Taylor spent the most time with the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, where she won three championships. She also won the WNBL title with her first club, the Australian Institute of Sport, and played in China, Italy, Turkey and Russia. As part of the Australian woman's national team, Taylor won two Olympic medals and led the Australian Opals to a gold medal at the World Championships, winning tournament MVP honours ahead of teammate Lauren Jackson.

Vickie Johnson is an American former basketball player and assistant coach of the Atlanta Dream. She was previously the head coach of the Dallas Wings in the WNBA. Johnson is the former head coach of the San Antonio Stars. Upon the sale and relocation of the Stars, Johnson was hired by head coach Bill Laimbeer as an assistant coach of the Las Vegas Aces, the Stars' decedent team.

Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American professional basketball coach and former player. He played five seasons in the NBA, and was a four-time Israeli Premier League Assists Leader, in 1999 and in 2001 to 2003. He was also a former head coach of the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindsey Harding</span> American basketball player (born 1984)

Lindsey Marcie Harding is an American professional basketball coach and former player. She is an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Throughout her playing career, Harding played for the Minnesota Lynx, Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream, Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and has played overseas in Turkey and Russia. She was previously a scout and a player development coach for the Philadelphia 76ers. She was born in Mobile, Alabama, but grew up in Houston, Texas, and also holds a Belarusian passport.

The 2008 WNBA season was the 12th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. It was the first WNBA season with a franchise in Atlanta as the Dream were announced in late 2007.

The 2008 Indiana Fever season was their 9th season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). They finished 4th in the Eastern Conference with 17 wins and 17 losses on the season. The season marked the fourth consecutive season that the Fever earned a playoff berth. They were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals 2–1 by the Detroit Shock.

The 2006 WNBA season was the tenth for the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury drafted Cappie Pondexter with the 2nd pick overall in the WNBA Draft. They were close to qualifying for the playoffs, but lost to a tiebreaker to the Houston Comets and the Seattle Storm.

The 2009 WNBA Season was the 13th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. It is the first WNBA season without a Houston franchise, the Comets having folded in December 2008. The season ended with the Phoenix Mercury winning their second championship in three years.

The 2009 WNBA season was the 13th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Mercury won the WNBA Finals for the second time in franchise history. On June 6, the Mercury and LifeLock entered a multi-year marketing partnership to launch the first-ever branded jersey in WNBA or NBA history. A press conference was held at the NBA Store in New York City with Phoenix Mercury President and COO Jay Parry and LifeLock CEO Todd Davis to make the announcement. The partnership ran through 2011, and the LifeLock name was on the front of Phoenix Mercury’s player jerseys and on warm-up suits. The Mercury and LifeLock ware the first to finalize such an agreement following the WNBA’s decision this off-season to make this opportunity available for its teams and sponsors. As part of the partnership, LifeLock offered a one-year complimentary membership to season ticket holders of all WNBA teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LaToya Sanders</span> American-Turkish basketball player (born 1986)

LaToya Antoinette Sanders, also known as Lara Sanders in Turkey, is an American-Turkish professional basketball coach and former player. She currently serves as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Sanders played college basketball at the University of North Carolina before getting drafted by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2008 WNBA draft. Sanders played for seven seasons in the WNBA with the Mercury, Minnesota Lynx, Los Angeles Sparks, and Washington Mystics. In 2019, her final season in the league, she won the championship with the Mystics. Sanders also played overseas in Israel, Turkey, Russia, and Italy. In 2012, she received Turkish citizenship and represented the Turkey women's national basketball team, including an appearance at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The 2013 WNBA season was the 17th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began on May 24 and conclued on September 15, and playoffs started on September 19 and concluded on October 10. The Minnesota Lynx won their second league championship, defeating the Atlanta Dream three games to none in the 2013 WNBA Finals. The year represented a positive turning point for the long-struggling league. Both attendance and television viewership were up, driven by an influx of talented rookies, multiple teams reported that they were near a break-even point, and at least one franchise announced that it was profitable.

The 2018 WNBA season was the 22nd season of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Minnesota Lynx are the defending champions. The regular season began on May 18, with the Phoenix Mercury hosting the Dallas Wings. The season ended with the Seattle Storm defeating the Washington Mystics 3-0 in the WNBA Finals. This was the third championship for the Storm. Seattle's Breanna Stewart was named regular season and finals MVP.

The 2018 WNBA season was the 22nd season for the Phoenix Mercury franchise of the WNBA. The season tipped off on May 14.

The 2018 WNBA Playoffs were the postseason tournament of the WNBA's 2018 season. The Seattle Storm won the team's third WNBA title, sweeping the Washington Mystics 3–0 in the best-of-five WNBA Finals.

The 2019 WNBA season was the 23rd season for the Phoenix Mercury franchise of the WNBA. The season tipped off on May 25, 2019 versus the Seattle Storm.

The Wubble was the WNBA's 2020 coronavirus pandemic isolation zone at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The league, teams, and players used the season as a way to leverage advocacy for social justice.

The 2022 WNBA season was the 25th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association. The season began on May 6, 2022, against the Las Vegas Aces and ended in the 1st round of the WNBA Playoffs against the same team. The season was marred by a number of issues, including injuries and the absence of Brittney Griner, who was detained in Russia on drug charges.

The 2023 Phoenix Mercury season was the 26th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the second season under head coach Vanessa Nygaard.

References

  1. "WNBA.com: Atlanta Dream". Archived from the original on August 20, 2009. Retrieved April 24, 2008.