2020 Phoenix Mercury season

Last updated

2020 Phoenix Mercury season
Coach Sandy Brondello
ArenaOriginally: Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Rescheduled to: IMG Academy gymnasiums, Bradenton, Florida
Attendance0 per game
Results
Record13–9 (.591)
Place5th (Western)
Playoff finish5th Seed, Lost in Second Round to Minnesota Lynx
Team Leaders
Points Diana Taurasi – 18.7 ppg
Rebounds Brianna Turner – 9.0 rpg
Assists Bria Hartley & Diana Taurasi – 4.5 apg

The 2020 WNBA season was the 23rd season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association. The season tipped off on July 25, 2020, versus the Los Angeles Sparks. [1]

Contents

During the off-season, it was announced that Talking Stick Resort Arena would be undergoing renovations and the Mercury would be forced to play their home games at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum for the 2020 season. [2]

This WNBA season will feature an all-time high 36 regular-season games. [3] However, the plan for expanded games was put on hold on April 3, when the WNBA postponed its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [4] Under a plan approved on June 15, the league is scheduled to hold a shortened 22-game regular season at IMG Academy, without fans present, starting on July 24. [5] [6]

The Mercury's season got off to a slow start, with the team losing its first two games. However, a four-game win streak followed and the Mercury were 4–2. The Mercury only won two of the next seven games and were just under .500. The team then won its next six games to secure a playoff spot. After losing two of their last three games, they qualified for the playoffs as the fifth overall seed.

As the fifth seed, the Mercury played the Washington Mystics in the First Round of the playoffs. The Mercury won that a nail-biter of a game 85–84, and advanced to the Second Round. They faced off against the fourth seeded Minnesota Lynx and were defeated in another close match, 79–80 to end their season.

Transactions

WNBA draft

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country
110 Jocelyn Willoughby Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Virginia
218 Te'a Cooper Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Baylor
329 Stella Johnson Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Rider

Trades/Roster Changes

DateDetails
February 11, 2020Traded F DeWanna Bonner to Connecticut in exchange for the 7th and 10th pick in the 2020 WNBA draft in addition to a first-round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft. [7]
February 12, 2020Traded the 5th and 7th pick in the 2020 WNBA draft in addition to a first-round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft to Dallas in exchange for Skylar Diggins-Smith. [8]
February 13, 2020Re-signed C Brittney Griner [9]
Signed G Bria Hartley [10]
February 19, 2020Acquired F Jessica Breland and F Nia Coffey in exchange for G Briann January, the 17th pick in the 2020 WNBA draft, and the team's second round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft [11]
February 24, 2020Signed C Kia Vaughn [12]
April 17, 2020Acquired G Shatori Walker-Kimbrough from New York in exchange for the draft rights to G/F Jocelyn Willoughby. [13]
July 12, 2020F Jessica Breland medically excused for 2020 season. [14]

Roster

2020 Phoenix Mercury roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
F 51 Flag of the United States.svg Breland, Jessica 6' 2" (1.88m)166 lb (75kg)1988-02-23 North Carolina 8
F 10 Flag of the United States.svg Coffey, Nia 6' 1" (1.85m)182 lb (83kg)1995-06-11 Northwestern 3
G 9 Flag of the United States.svg Cunningham, Sophie 6' 1" (1.85m)170 lb (77kg)1996-08-16 Missouri 1
G 4 Flag of the United States.svg Diggins-Smith, Skylar 5' 9" (1.75m)145 lb (66kg)1990-08-02 Notre Dame 6
C 42 Flag of the United States.svg Griner, Brittney 6' 9" (2.06m)205 lb (93kg)1990-10-18 Baylor 7
G 14 Flag of France.svg Hartley, Bria 5' 8" (1.73m)148 lb (67kg)1992-09-30 Connecticut 6
F 12 Flag of the United States.svg Jenkins, Alisia 6' 1" (1.85m)1994-02-21 South Florida R
G 5 Flag of the United States.svg Peddy, Shey 5' 7" (1.7m)147 lb (67kg)1988-10-28 Temple 1
F 11 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Smith, Alanna 6' 4" (1.93m)180 lb (82kg)1996-09-10 Stanford 1
G/F 3 Flag of the United States.svg Taurasi, Diana 6' 0" (1.83m)163 lb (74kg)1982-06-11 Connecticut 15
F 21 Flag of the United States.svg Turner, Brianna 6' 3" (1.91m)170 lb (77kg)1996-07-05 Notre Dame 1
C 1 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Vaughn, Kia 6' 4" (1.93m)205 lb (93kg)1987-01-24 Rutgers 10
G 2 Flag of the United States.svg Walker-Kimbrough, Shatori 5' 9" (1.75m)140 lb (64kg)1995-05-18 Maryland 3
Head coach
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sandy Brondello (Western Sydney)
Assistant coaches
Flag of the United States.svg Julie Hairgrove (Arizona)
Flag of the United States.svg Chasity Melvin (NC State)
Athletic trainer
Flag of the United States.svg Hannah Breck (Boston University)
Strength and conditioning coach
Flag of the United States.svg Derrick Nillissen (Iowa Wesleyan)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Game log

Regular season

2020 game log
Total: 13–9
July
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1July 25 Los Angeles Sparks L 76–99 Taurasi (16) Griner (9) Diggins-Smith (6) IMG Academy
0		0–1
2July 29 Indiana Fever L 100–106 Hartley (26)Tied (7)Tied (5)IMG Academy
0		0–2
3July 31 Las Vegas Aces W 102–95 Tied (22) Turner (9) Taurasi (10)IMG Academy
0		1–2
August
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
4August 2 New York Liberty W 96–67 Hartley (27) Turner (11) Taurasi (9) IMG Academy
0		2–2
5August 4 Atlanta Dream W 81–74 Taurasi (20) Turner (7) Taurasi (6)IMG Academy
0		3–2
6August 6 Chicago Sky W 96–86 Tied (22) Griner (8) Taurasi (6)IMG Academy
0		4–2
7August 8 Seattle Storm L 68–74 Griner (20) Griner (8) Taurasi (5)IMG Academy
0		4–3
8August 10 Dallas Wings W 91–79 Diggins-Smith (26) Griner (13) Diggins-Smith (7)IMG Academy
0		5–3
9August 12 Chicago Sky L 71–89 Tied (15) Griner (6) Diggins-Smith (4)IMG Academy
0		5–4
10August 14 Atlanta Dream W 96–80 Hartley (24) Griner (8) Hartley (5)IMG Academy
0		6–4
11August 16 Dallas Wings L 89–95 Griner (29) Taurasi (9) Hartley (6)IMG Academy
0		6–5
12August 19 Los Angeles Sparks L 74–83 Taurasi (19) Turner (7) Hartley (9)IMG Academy
0		6–6
13August 21 Minnesota Lynx L 80–90 Hartley (24) Turner (9) Hartley (5)IMG Academy
0		6–7
14August 23 Washington Mystics W 88–87 Taurasi (34) Turner (17) Hartley (5)IMG Academy
0		7–7
15August 28 Washington Mystics W 94–72 Diggins-Smith (24) Smith (8) Taurasi (7)IMG Academy
0		8–7
16August 30 Minnesota Lynx W 83–79 Diggins-Smith (25) Turner (15) Peddy (5)IMG Academy
0		9–7
September
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
17September 1 Las Vegas Aces W 92–85 Taurasi (32) Turner (13)Tied (7) IMG Academy
0		10–7
18September 3 Indiana Fever W 105–81 Diggins-Smith (28) Turner (12) Diggins-Smith (8)IMG Academy
0		11–7
19September 5 New York Liberty W 83–67 Diggins-Smith (30) Turner (13) Turner (4)IMG Academy
0		12–7
20September 7 Connecticut Sun L 70–85 Taurasi (19) Turner (8) Diggins-Smith (6)IMG Academy
0		12–8
21September 9 Connecticut Sun W 100–95 Diggins-Smith (33) Turner (21) Taurasi (7)IMG Academy
0		13–8
22September 11 Seattle Storm L 60–83 Walker-Kimbrough (24) Turner (11) Peddy (6)IMG Academy
0		13–9
2020 season schedule

Playoffs

2020 playoff game log
Total: 1–1
First Round
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1September 15 Washington Mystics W 85–84 Diggins-Smith (24) Turner (11) Taurasi (6) IMG Academy 1–0
Second Round
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1September 17 Minnesota Lynx 79–80 Taurasi (28) Turner (14) Taurasi (9) IMG Academy 0–1
2020 playoff schedule

Standings

#Team W L PCT GB Conf.
1x – Las Vegas Aces 184.818–8–2
2x – Seattle Storm 184.818–8–2
3x – Los Angeles Sparks 157.68235–5
4x – Minnesota Lynx 148.63644–6
5x – Phoenix Mercury 139.59154–6
6x – Chicago Sky 1210.54566–4
7x – Connecticut Sun 1012.45587–3
8x – Washington Mystics 913.40996–4
9e – Dallas Wings 814.364101–9
10e – Atlanta Dream 715.318115–5
11e – Indiana Fever 616.273124–6
12e – New York Liberty 220.091162–8

Playoffs

First round:
Single elimination
(September 15)		Second round:
Single elimination
(September 17)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(September 20–29)		 WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(October 2–11)
1 Las Vegas Aces 6283688466
4 Minnesota Lynx 807 Connecticut Sun 8775777563
5 Phoenix Mercury 855 Phoenix Mercury 791 Las Vegas Aces 809159
8 Washington Mystics 842 Seattle Storm 9310492
2 Seattle Storm 888992
3 Los Angeles Sparks 594 Minnesota Lynx 867971
6 Chicago Sky 817 Connecticut Sun 73
7 Connecticut Sun 94

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
Diana Taurasi 191928.140.936.591.24.24.51.00.418.7
Brittney Griner 121231.849.7080.97.53.00.31.817.7
Skylar Diggins-Smith 222230.747.439.790.03.34.20.90.517.7
Bria Hartley 13324.842.038.580.52.94.51.2014.6
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough 211019.042.943.192.01.61.51.10.47.3
Brianna Turner 222227.957.9064.39.01.81.12.07.2
Kia Vaughn 221018.948.8057.93.61.50.50.36.1
Alanna Smith 19015.642.223.369.03.61.20.30.86.1
Sophie Cunningham 211118.938.523.588.01.00.80.50.15.0
Shey Peddy 8017.629.410.51003.02.41.50.14.0
Alisia Jenkins 2011.525.0066.71.50004.0
Nia Coffey 15115.342.133.316.72.50.80.30.32.7

Awards and honors

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
Skylar Diggins-Smith WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week September 8, 2020 [15]
Brianna Turner 1st Team All-Defense September 29, 2020 [16]
Diana Taurasi All-WNBA Second Team October 4, 2020 [17]
Skylar Diggins-Smith

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References

  1. ↑ "2020 Phoenix Mercury Schedule". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Phoenix Mercury Change In Home Court For 2020 Season". All About Arizona News. July 25, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Atlanta Dream Announce 2020 Schedule - Atlanta Dream". dream.wnba.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  4. ↑ "WNBA Statement Regarding the Start of the 2020 Regular Season". April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  5. ↑ "WNBA Announces Plan To Tip Off 2020 Season". WNBA. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  6. ↑ "WNBA announces plans for 2020 season to start late July in Florida". NBC Sports Washington. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  7. ↑ "MERCURY ACQUIRES THREE FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS FROM CONNECTICUT". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Mercury Welcomes Skylar Diggins-Smith to The Valley". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Brittney Griner Will Continue to Call The Valley home". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  10. ↑ Metcalfe, Jeff (February 13, 2020). "Phoenix Mercury continue roster remake, signing guard Bria Hartley". USA Today. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Breland, Coffey acquired from Atlanta in exchange for Briann January". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Kia Vaughn Chooses Phoenix in Free Agency". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  13. ↑ Metcalfe, Jeff (April 17, 2020). "Phoenix Mercury trade WNBA first-round draft pick for veteran Walker-Kimbrough". USA Today. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  14. ↑ "MERCURY'S BRELAND MEDICALLY EXCUSED FROM 2020 SEASON". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. July 12, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Diggins-Smith, Bonner Earn Player Of The Week Honors For Week 6". wnba.com. WNBA. September 8, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Two Atlanta Dream Players And Seattle Storm's Alysha Clark Headline 2020 WNBA All-Defensive Team". wnba.com. WNBA. September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  17. ↑ "A'ja Wilson And Candace Parker Unanimously Selected To 2020 All-WNBA First Team". wnba.com. WNBA. October 4, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
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