2019 Phoenix Mercury season

Last updated

2019 Phoenix Mercury season
Coach Sandy Brondello
Arena Talking Stick Resort Arena
Attendance10,193 per game
Results
Record15–19 (.441)
Place5th (Western)
Playoff finish8th seed; Lost in 1st Round to Chicago
Team Leaders
Points Brittney Griner – 20.7 ppg
Rebounds DeWanna Bonner – 6.5 rpg
Assists Diana Taurasi – 5.3 apg
Media
Television Fox Sports Arizona (FS-A)

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. [1]

Contents

The Mercury's season started with the news that star Diana Taurasi would miss a significant part of the season due to a back procedure. [2] The team started out the season 5–5 by the end of June. This record included a three game losing streak immediately followed by a three game winning streak. July proved more of the same as the team posted a 5–4 record. A two game losing streak split five wins. In August, the team went 5–6, but did secure a playoff spot. Taurasi returned for six games during the season. However, the team finished on a four game losing streak to end the season 15–19. This record earned them the eighth seed in the playoffs.

As the eight seed, the Mercury traveled to the Chicago Sky in the first round. The Mercury are the only eighth seed to win since the WNBA switched to its current playoff format in 2016. However, they could not repeat the feat this season when they lost by 29 points.

The Mercury did well at the end of season awards with Brittney Griner leading the WNBA in scoring, Brianna Turner making the WNBA All-Rookie Team, and Leilani Mitchell winning the WNBA Most Improved Player Award.

Transactions

WNBA draft

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country
18 Alanna Smith Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Stanford
213 Sophie Cunningham Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Missouri
332 Arica Carter Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Louisville

Trades/Roster Changes

DateDetails
February 1, 2019Re-Signed G Briann January [3] [4]
Re-Signed G Yvonne Turner [5] [6]
February 6, 2019Signed G/F Essence Carson [7] [4]
March 21, 2019Re-Signed F Sancho Lyttle [8]
March 22, 2019Re-Signed G/F DeWanna Bonner [9]
April 10, 2019Traded C Marie Gülich to Atlanta for F Brianna Turner [10]
May 21, 2019Traded G Stephanie Talbot to Minnesota in exchange for Minnesota's second round pick in the 2020 WNBA draft [11]

Roster

2019 Phoenix Mercury roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
F 24 Flag of the United States.svg Bonner, DeWanna 6' 4" (1.93m)143 lb (65kg)1987-08-21 Auburn 9
G 17 Flag of the United States.svg Carson, Essence 6' 0" (1.83m)163 lb (74kg)1986-07-28 Rutgers 11
G 9 Flag of the United States.svg Cunningham, Sophie 6' 1" (1.85m)170 lb (77kg)1996-08-16 Missouri R
C 42 Flag of the United States.svg Griner, Brittney 6' 9" (2.06m)205 lb (93kg)1990-10-18 Baylor 6
G 12 Flag of the United States.svg January, Briann 5' 8" (1.73m)144 lb (65kg)1987-01-11 Arizona State 10
F 20 Flag of the United States.svg Little, Camille 6' 2" (1.88m)180 lb (82kg)1985-01-18 North Carolina 12
F 31 Flag of Spain.svg Lyttle, Sancho 6' 5" (1.96m)175 lb (79kg)1983-09-20 Houston 14
G 5 Flag of the United States.svg Mitchell, Leilani 5' 5" (1.65m)138 lb (63kg)1985-06-15 Utah 11
F 11 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Smith, Alanna 6' 4" (1.93m)180 lb (82kg)1996-11-10 Stanford R
G/F 3 Flag of the United States.svg Taurasi, Diana  Cruz Roja.svg6' 0" (1.83m)163 lb (74kg)1982-06-11 Connecticut 14
F 21 Flag of the United States.svg Turner, Brianna 6' 3" (1.91m)170 lb (77kg)1996-07-05 Notre Dame R
G 6 Flag of the United States.svg Turner, Yvonne 5' 10" (1.78m)131 lb (59kg)1987-10-13 Nebraska 2
Head coach
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sandy Brondello (Western Sydney)
Assistant coaches
Flag of the United States.svg Julie Hairgrove (Arizona)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Penny Taylor
Strength and conditioning coach
Flag of the United States.svg Jonathan Mak (Illinois State)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Game log

Preseason

2019 pre-season game log
May: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1May 11 Los Angeles Sparks W 82–75 Bonner (20) Bonner (8) Smith (5) Talking Stick Resort Arena
3,751		1–0
2May 15@ Seattle Storm W 87–84 Tied (15) Griner (6)Tied (3) Angel of the Winds Arena
3,076		2–0
2019 pre-season schedule

Regular season

2019 game log
Total: 15–19 (Home: 9–8; Road: 6–11)
May: 1–2 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1May 25@ Seattle Storm L 68–77 Bonner (31)Tied (8)Tied (4) Angel of the Winds Arena
8,500		0–1
2May 31 Las Vegas Aces W 86–84 Carson (20) Bonner (12) Y. Turner (10) Talking Stick Resort Arena
14,090		1–1
June : 4–3 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
3June 6@ Minnesota Lynx L 56–58 Bonner (25) Bonner (8)3 tied (2) Target Center
8,001		1–2
4June 9@ Indiana Fever W 94–87 Griner (26) Bonner (7) Mitchell (6) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
3,336		2–2
5June 11@ Chicago Sky L 75–82 Bonner (28) Bonner (12) Bonner (6) Wintrust Arena
4,212		2–3
6June 14 Los Angeles Sparks L 68–85 Griner (24) Griner (13) January (5) Talking Stick Resort Arena
10,381		2–4
7June 20@ Dallas Wings L 54–69 Mitchell (12) Bonner (8) January (3) College Park Center
4,626		2–5
8June 23 Los Angeles Sparks W 82–72 Mitchell (22) Griner (9) Mitchell (6) Talking Stick Resort Arena
10,132		3–5
9June 28 Indiana Fever W 91–69 Griner (23)3 tied (5) Mitchell (11) Talking Stick Resort Arena
9,435		4–5
10June 30@ Seattle Storm W 69–67 Tied (20)Tied (7) Mitchell (4) Alaska Airlines Arena
8,002		5–5
July : 5–4 (Home: 3–1; Road: 2–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
11July 5 New York Liberty L 76–80 Griner (30) Griner (8) Mitchell (4) Talking Stick Resort Arena
9,560		5–6
12July 7 Atlanta Dream W 65–63 Griner (31) Bonner (14) Mitchell (4) Talking Stick Resort Arena
9,850		6–6
13July 10@ Washington Mystics W 91–68 Griner (25) Griner (8) January (6) Capital One Arena
15,377		7–6
14July 12@ Connecticut Sun L 64–79 Bonner (20) Bonner (8) January (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,864		7–7
15July 14@ Minnesota Lynx L 62–75 Bonner (27) Bonner (7) Mitchell (5) Target Center
8,801		7–8
16July 17 Dallas Wings W 69–64 Griner (23) Bonner (8) January (5) Talking Stick Resort Arena
10,143		8–8
17July 20@ Dallas Wings W 70–66 Griner (17) Griner (8) January (4) College Park Center
5,471		9–8
18July 23 Indiana Fever W 95–77 Tied (22) Griner (7) January (7) Talking Stick Resort Arena
8,528		10–8
19July 30@ Washington Mystics L 93–99 Griner (30) Griner (9) Mitchell (8) St. Elizabeth's East Arena
3,819		10–9
August : 5–6 (Home: 3–3; Road: 2–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
20August 1@ Connecticut Sun L 62–68 Bonner (20) Bonner (10) Bonner (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,014		10–10
21August 4 Washington Mystics W 103–82 Griner (26) Griner (9) Griner (8) Talking Stick Resort Arena
9,025		11–10
22August 8@ Los Angeles Sparks L 74–84 Griner (27) B. Turner (14)Tied (5) Staples Center
10,345		11–11
23August 10 Dallas Wings L 77–80 Mitchell (23) B. Turner (11)Tied (3) Talking Stick Resort Arena
9,717		11–12
24August 14 Connecticut Sun L 71–78 Bonner (17) B. Turner (8) Y. Turner (4) Talking Stick Resort Arena
8,734		11–13
25August 16 Atlanta Dream W 77–68 Bonner (27) Bonner (14) Mitchell (5) Talking Stick Resort Arena
8,480		12–13
26August 18 New York Liberty W 78–72 Bonner (30) Bonner (10) January (3) Talking Stick Resort Arena
9,145		13–13
27August 20@ Las Vegas Aces L 79–84 (OT) Tied (24) B. Turner (11) January (6) Mandalay Bay Events Center
5,032		13–14
28August 25 Chicago Sky L 86–94 Griner (34) Bonner (11) Bonner (5) Talking Stick Resort Arena
12,054		13–15
29August 27@ New York Liberty W 95–82 Tied (29) Griner (10) Taurasi (10) Westchester County Center
1,693		14–15
30August 29@ Atlanta Dream W 65–58 Griner (21)Tied (8) Taurasi (8) State Farm Arena
3,727		15–15
September : 0–4 (Home: 0–3; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
31September 1@ Chicago Sky L 78–105 Griner (26) Bonner (12) Mitchell (6) Wintrust Arena
8,845		15–16
32September 3 Seattle Storm L 70–82 Griner (22) Griner (7)Tied (4) Talking Stick Resort Arena
8,724		15–17
33September 6 Minnesota Lynx L 69–83 Griner (16) Griner (7) Mitchell (4) Talking Stick Resort Arena
12,140		15–18
34September 8 Las Vegas Aces L 89–98 Griner (24) Bonner (8)3 tied (3) Talking Stick Resort Arena
13,135		15–19
2019 season schedule

Playoffs

2019 playoff game log
Total: 0–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–1)
First Round: 0–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1September 11@ Chicago Sky L 76–105 Bonner (21) Bonner (6)3 tied (3) Wintrust Arena
6,042		0–1
2019 playoff schedule

Standings

# Western Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 Los Angeles Sparks (3)2212.647–15–27–1010–6
2 Las Vegas Aces (4)2113.618113–48–911–5
3 Seattle Storm (6)1816.529411–67–1010–6
4 Minnesota Lynx (7)1816.529411–67–107–9
5 Phoenix Mercury (8)1519.44179–86–115–11
6e – Dallas Wings 1024.294128–92–155–11

Playoffs

First round
Single elimination
(Sept. 11)		Second round
Single elimination
(Sept. 15)		Semifinals
Best-of-5
(Sept. 17 – 24)		 WNBA Finals
Best-of-5
(Sept. 29 – Oct. 10)
1 Washington Mystics 3
4 Las Vegas Aces 934 Las Vegas Aces 1
5 Chicago Sky 1055 Chicago Sky 921 Washington Mystics 3
8 Phoenix Mercury 762 Connecticut Sun 2
2 Connecticut Sun 3
3 Los Angeles Sparks 923 Los Angeles Sparks 0
6 Seattle Storm 846 Seattle Storm 69
7 Minnesota Lynx 74

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

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
Brittney Griner 313132.846.433.380.87.22.40.72.020.7
DeWanna Bonner 343432.937.727.291.67.62.71.30.617.2
Leilani Mitchell 322730.344.143.082.93.04.00.90.312.8
Briann January 322626.639.037.883.71.33.30.80.16.5
Yvonne Turner 291420.534.332.987.82.82.30.60.16.4
Essence Carson 231318.535.234.178.42.21.50.50.35.8
Diana Taurasi 6621.510.34.294.43.25.30.30.24.3
Brianna Turner 291215.953.8073.14.10.50.20.74.0
Camille Little 29014.743.533.380.62.40.80.40.33.9
Sophie Cunningham 32512.235.430.488.21.40.80.30.13.1
Sancho Lyttle 20212.541.925.062.52.90.30.60.32.9
Alanna Smith 1807.419.511.150.01.90.20.30.31.1

Awards and honors

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
DeWanna Bonner WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week June 10, 2019 [12]
Briann January WNBA Community Assist Award - MayJune 27, 2019 [13]
Brittney Griner WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week July 8, 2019 [14]
DeWanna Bonner WNBA All-Star Selection July 15, 2019 [15]
Brittney Griner
Brittney Griner WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week September 3, 2019 [16]
WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month - August September 4, 2019 [17]
Peak Performer: Points September 9, 2019 [18]
Brianna Turner WNBA All-Rookie Team September 16, 2019 [19]
Leilani Mitchell Most Improved Player Award September 18, 2019 [20]

References

  1. ↑ "2019 Phoenix Mercury Schedule". mercury.wnba.com. Women's National Basketball Association. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  2. ↑ Doss, Kim (April 25, 2019). "Diana Taurasi out for 10-12 weeks after undergoing back procedure". highposthoops.com. Fansided. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Mercury Re-Signs Briann January to Multi-Year Contract". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  4. 1 2 Metcalfe, Jeff (February 15, 2019). "Briann January: On re-signing with Mercury, addition of Essence Carson, 2018 shoulder injury". azcentral.com. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Mercury Re-Signs Guard Yvonne Turner". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  6. ↑ Metcalfe, Jeff (February 1, 2019). "Phoenix Mercury sign Odyssey Sims to offer sheet, re-sign Briann January, Yvonne Turner". azcentral.com. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Mercury Signs Free Agent Wing Essence Carson". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. February 6, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  8. ↑ Doss, Kim (March 21, 2019). "Sancho Lyttle re-signs with the Phoenix Mercury". highposthoops.com. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Mercury Re-Signs Two-Time WNBA Champion Dewanna Bonner". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. March 22, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  10. ↑ Russo, Kelsey (April 10, 2019). "Atlanta Dream draft, trade Brianna Turner". ajc.com. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Mercury Acquire 2020 Second-Round Pick From Minnesota". wnba.com. WNBA. May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Jonquel Jones, DeWanna Bonner Player Of The Week Highlights". wnba.com. WNBA. June 10, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Briann January Receives May Community Assist Award". wnba.com. WNBA. June 27, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Tina Charles, Brittney Griner Earn Players Of The Week". wnba.com. WNBA. July 8, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Seven-Time Selection Charles, Dupree, Highlight Reserves For All-Star". wnba.com. WNBA. July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Connecticut's Williams, Phoenix's Griner Win Players of the Week". wnba.com. WNBA. September 3, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Delle Donne, Griner Named Players Of The Month". wnba.com. WNBA. September 4, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Phoenix's Griner, Connecticut's Jones and Chicago's Vandersloot Earn 2019 WNBA Peak Performer Awards". wnba.com. WNBA. September 9, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Rookie of the Year Collier Headlines 2019 All-Rookie Team". wnba.com. WNBA. September 16, 2019. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Leilani Mitchell Named 2019 WNBA Most Improved Player". wnba.com. WNBA. September 18, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
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