2009 Phoenix Mercury season

2009 Phoenix Mercury season
CoachCorey Gaines
ArenaUS Airways Center
Attendance8,523 per game
Results
Record23–11 (.676)
Place1st (Western)
Playoff finishWon WNBA Finals
Team Leaders
PointsTaurasi (20.4)
ReboundsBonner (5.8)
AssistsPondexter (5.0)
Media
TelevisionFSN Arizona

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.[1] 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.[1]

Off-season

Dispersal draft

Based on the Mercury's 2008 record, they picked 5th in the Houston Comets dispersal draft. The Mercury picked Sequoia Holmes.[2]

WNBA draft

The following are the Mercury's selections in the 2009 WNBA draft:

Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country
1 5 DeWanna Bonner  United States Auburn
3 31 Sha Brooks  United States Florida
3 34 (from N.Y.) Jessica Adair  United States George Washington

[3]

Transactions

  • July 17: The Mercury re-signed Penny Taylor.
  • July 14: The Mercury waived Allie Quigley.
  • June 3: The Mercury waived Alison Bales, Sha Brooks, and Laurie Koehn and claimed Ketia Swanier off waivers.
  • June 2: The Mercury waived Yuko Oga.
  • May 31: The Mercury waived Murriel Page.
  • May 18: The Mercury signed Murriel Page.
  • May 13: The Mercury waived Jessica Adair.
  • April 30: The Mercury signed Laurie Koehn.
  • April 20: The Mercury waived Kim Smith and A'Quonesia Franklin.
  • March 26: The Mercury acquired Temeka Johnson from the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for a first-round 2010 WNBA draft pick.
  • March 20: The Mercury traded Barbara Farris to the Sacramento Monarchs in exchange for A'Quonesia Franklin and Kim Smith.
  • March 16: The Mercury has withdrawn its qualifying offer to Belinda Snell.
  • February 11: The Mercury signed Yuko Oga to a training camp contract.
  • January 30: The Mercury traded Kelly Miller and LaToya Pringle to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for Nicole Ohlde.
  • January 21: The Mercury acquired Alison Bales from the Atlanta Dream in exchange for a second-round 2009 WNBA draft pick.
  • January 7: The Mercury signed Brooke Smith to a training-camp contract.
  • May 7, 2008: The Mercury acquired a third-round pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft from the New York Liberty as part of the Leilani Mitchell transaction.

[4]

Date Trade
March 7, 2008 To Phoenix Mercury To New York Liberty
third-round pick in 2009 WNBA Draft Leilani Mitchell
January 21, 2009 To Phoenix Mercury To Atlanta Dream
Alison Bales second-round pick in 2009 WNBA Draft
January 30, 2009 To Phoenix Mercury To Minnesota Lynx
Nicole Ohlde Kelly Miller and LaToya Pringle
March 20, 2009 To Phoenix Mercury To Sacramento Monarchs
A'Quonesia Franklin and Kim Smith Barbara Farris
March 26, 2009 To Phoenix Mercury To Los Angeles Sparks
Temeka Johnson first-round pick in 2010 WNBA Draft

Free agents

Roster

Phoenix Mercury roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs
G 24 United States Bonner, DeWanna 6' 4" (1.93m) 136 lb (62kg) Auburn
PG 2 United States Johnson, Temeka 5' 3" (1.6m) 132 lb (60kg) LSU
SG 33 United States Mazzante, Kelly 6' 0" (1.83m) 155 lb (70kg) Penn State
F/C 30 United States Ohlde, Nicole 6' 5" (1.96m) 190 lb (86kg) Kansas State
SG 23 United States Pondexter, Cappie 5' 9" (1.75m) 160 lb (73kg) Rutgers
F/C 21 United States Smith, Brooke 6' 3" (1.91m) 195 lb (88kg) Stanford
C 50 United States Smith, Tangela 6' 4" (1.93m) 160 lb (73kg) Iowa
PG 11 United States Swanier, Ketia 5' 7" (1.7m) 144 lb (65kg) Connecticut
F 13 Australia Taylor, Penny 6' 1" (1.85m) 163 lb (74kg) Australia
G/F 3 United States Taurasi, Diana 6' 0" (1.83m) 172 lb (78kg) Connecticut
PF 43 United States Willingham, Le'Coe 6' 0" (1.83m) 200 lb (91kg) Auburn
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Athletic trainer
Strength and conditioning coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Season standings

Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Phoenix Mercury x 23 11 .676 – 12–5 11–6 13–7
Seattle Storm x 20 14 .588 3.0 13–4 7–10 13–7
Los Angeles Sparks x 18 16 .529 5.0 11–6 7–10 11–9
San Antonio Silver Stars x 15 19 .441 8.0 10–7 5–12 10–10
Minnesota Lynx o 14 20 .412 9.0 9–8 5–12 7–13
Sacramento Monarchs o 12 22 .353 11.0 7–10 5–12 6–14

Schedule

Preseason

2009 Game Log: Preseason
Game Date Time (ET) Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record
1 May 27 2:00pm @ Sacramento 74-70 Quigley (15) Bonner, B. Smith (6) Quigley (4) ARCO Arena
6,339		 1–0
2 May 30 10:00pm Seattle 61-58 Johnson (13) Brooke Smith (6) Pondexter (6) US Airways Center
2,421		 2-0

Regular season

2009 Game log: Regular season
June
Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record
1 June 6 10:00pm San Antonio NBA TV
KMYS		 90-79 Taurasi (25) Bonner (11) Johnson (9) US Airways Center
13,582		 1-0
2 June 10 10:00pm New York 91-84 Pondexter (26) 5 players (5) Johnson, Taurasi (5) US Airways Center
5,080		 2-0
3 June 12 10:00pm @ Sacramento 71-90 Bonner (14) Bonner (5) Pondexter (4) ARCO Arena
6,438		 2-1
4 June 13 10:00pm Sacramento 115-104 (OT) Taurasi (31) T. Smith (7) Johnson (8) US Airways Center
7,173		 3-1
5 June 17 10:00pm Minnesota 104-80 Taurasi (38) Bonner (10) Pondexter (9) US Airways Center
6,524		 4-1
6 June 19 10:00pm Los Angeles 89-81 Pondexter (21) T. Smith (8) Johnson (7) US Airways Center
8,255		 5-1
7 June 21 7:00pm Seattle NBA TV
FSNA		 84-93 Taurasi (25) Pondexter (5) Pondexter (6) US Airways Center
6,181		 5-2
8 June 23 7:30pm @ San Antonio ESPN2 87-91 Pondexter (26) Taurasi (8) Johnson (5) AT&T Center
6,692		 5-3
9 June 25 7:00pm @ Washington 93-87 Pondexter (24) Bonner, T. Smith, Taurasi (8) Johnson (6) Verizon Center
9,808		 6-3
10 June 27 8:00pm @ Minnesota NBA TV
FSNA
FSN-N		 80-109 Bonner, Pondexter (19) Taurasi (8) Pondexter, Swanier (3) Target Center
5,911		 6-4
July
Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record
11 July 1 10:00pm Seattle 91-83 Pondexter, Taurasi (22) Pondexter (11) Pondexter (8) US Airways Center
6,341		 7-4
12 July 5 9:30pm @ Los Angeles NBA TV
FSNA
FSNW		 104-89 Pondexter (21) Bonner (10) Taurasi (6) STAPLES Center
9,872		 8-4
13 July 8 10:00pm Chicago 90-70 Taurasi (22) T. Smith (13) Pondexter (6) US Airways Center
5,597		 9-4
14 July 11 10:00pm @ Sacramento 107-105 Pondexter (23) Bonner, Taurasi (8) Pondexter (8) ARCO Arena
7,798		 10-4
15 July 15 3:30pm Sacramento NBA TV
FSNA		 100-81 Taurasi (22) Johnson (6) Pondexter (15) US Airways Center
11,590		 11-4
16 July 18 10:00pm Detroit 97-90 Pondexter (26) Pondexter, Willingham (7) Pondexter (8) US Airways Center
8,288		 12-4
17 July 22 10:00pm Minnesota 86-99 Pondexter (28) Bonner (10) Johnson (6) US Airways Center
7,360		 12-5
18 July 26 4:00pm @ New York 94-88 Taurasi (34) Taurasi (13) Johnson (7) Madison Square Garden
11,211		 13-5
19 July 28 7:30pm @ Connecticut ESPN2 95-80 Pondexter (29) T. Smith, Taurasi (9) Johnson (7) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,739		 14-5
20 July 30 7:30pm @ Atlanta 76-106 T. Smith (15) Taurasi (7) Swanier (5) Philips Arena
7,827		 14-6
August
Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record
21 August 1 8:00pm @ Minnesota 87-74 Taurasi (20) T. Smith (7) Willingham (5) Target Center
6,631		 15-6
22 August 4 10:00pm @ Seattle 101-90 (OT) Taurasi (19) Pondexter, T. Smith (8) Johnson (7) KeyArena
6,728		 16-6
23 August 8 10:00pm Indiana 83-90 Taurasi (15) Bonner, Taurasi (5) Swanier (6) US Airways Center
9,867		 16-7
24 August 13 10:00pm San Antonio 95-83 Taurasi (29) Bonner, Taurasi (6) Taurasi (6) US Airways Center
6,522		 17-7
25 August 15 8:00pm @ San Antonio NBA TV
FSNA
KMYS		 89-106 Taurasi (21) Bonner (5) Johnson, Pondexter (5) AT&T Center
8,933		 17-8
26 August 18 8:00pm @ Chicago 106-99 Taurasi (27) Bonner (10) Taurasi (7) UIC Pavilion
TBA		 18-8
27 August 21 10:00pm Washington 81-91 Taurasi (16) Bonner (7) Pondexter (6) US Airways Center
9,155		 18-9
28 August 27 10:30pm @ Los Angeles NBA TV
FSNW		 98-90 Pondexter (26) Bonner (9) Johnson, Pondexter (6) STAPLES Center
9,586		 19-9
29 August 29 10:00pm Connecticut NBA TV
WCTX		 95-84 Taurasi (21) Taurasi (9) Taurasi (5) US Airways Center
9,977		 20-9
September
Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record
30 September 1 7:30pm @ Detroit 99-101 Pondexter (25) T. Smith, Willingham (7) Taurasi (6) Palace of Auburn Hills
5,239		 20-10
31 September 2 7:00pm @ Indiana NBA TV
FSI		 106-90 Pondexter (25) Ohlde (7) Johnson (6) Conseco Fieldhouse
7,446		 21-10
32 September 5 10:00pm Atlanta 100-82 Bonner (20) Bonner (7) Taurasi (7) US Airways Center
10,424		 22-10
33 September 10 10:00pm @ Seattle 92-84 (OT) Taurasi (24) Taurasi (8) Pondexter (8) KeyArena
9,089		 23-10
34 September 13 3:00pm Los Angeles ESPN2 78-81 Johnson (14) Willingham (7) Taylor (4) US Airways Center
12,968		 23-11
All games are viewable on WNBA LiveAccess

Postseason

2009 Game log: Postseason
Western Conference Semifinals
Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Series
1 September 17 9:00pm @ San Antonio ESPN2 91-92 Taylor (18) Taurasi (7) Taylor (6) AT&T Center
5,721		 0-1
2 September 19 10:00pm San Antonio NBA TV 106-78 Taurasi (24) Bonner (13) Taurasi (5) US Airways Center
7,267		 1-1
3 September 21 10:00pm San Antonio ESPN2 100-92 Taurasi (30) T. Smith (8) Taurasi (5) US Airways Center
6,896		 2-1
Western Conference Finals
Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Series
1 September 23 10:00pm @ Los Angeles ESPN2 103-94 Taurasi (28) T. Smith (6) Taurasi (6) Pauley Pavilion
6,389		 1-0
2 September 25 10:00pm Los Angeles NBA TV 76-87 Taurasi (25) Pondexter (7) Taylor (5) US Airways Center
7,628		 1-1
3 September 26 10:00pm Los Angeles NBA TV 85-74 Taurasi (21) Taurasi (7) Taylor (4) US Airways Center
7,226		 2-1
WNBA Finals
Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Series
1 September 29 9:00pm Indiana ESPN2 120-116 (OT) Pondexter, Taylor (23) Taurasi (9) Taurasi (6) US Airways Center
11,617		 1-0
2 October 1 9:00pm Indiana ESPN2 84-93 Taurasi (20) Taurasi (7) Johnson (5) US Airways Center
16,758		 1-1
3 October 4 4:00pm @ Indiana ESPN2 85-86 Pondexter (23) T. Smith (10) Pondexter (8) Conseco Fieldhouse
18,165		 1-2
4 October 7 7:30pm @ Indiana ESPN2 90-77 Pondexter (22) Willingham (8) Pondexter (7) Conseco Fieldhouse
18,165		 2-2
5 October 9 9:00pm Indiana ESPN2 94-86 Taurasi (26) T. Smith (8) Taylor (5) US Airways Center
17,313		 3-2

Regular season statistics

Legend
  GP Games 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 game Team leader League leader

Player statistics

Player GP GS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
DeWanna Bonner 0 0 00.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.0
Temeka Johnson 0 0 00.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.0
Kelly Mazzante 0 0 00.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.0
Nicole Ohlde 0 0 00.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.0
Cappie Pondexter 0 0 00.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.0
Allie Quigley 0 0 00.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.0
Brooke Smith 0 0 00.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.0
Tangela Smith 0 0 00.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.0
Ketia Swanier 0 0 00.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.0
Diana Taurasi 0 0 00.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.0
Penny Taylor 0 0 00.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.0
Le'coe Willingham 0 0 00.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.0

Team statistics

Team FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
Phoenix Mercury .000 .000 .000 00.0 00.0 0.0 0.0 00.0 00.0 00.0
Opponents .000 .000 .000 00.0 00.0 0.0 0.0 00.0 00.0 00.0

Awards and honors

References

  1. ^ a b "MERCURY: Mercury, LifeLock Break New Ground with Partnership". wnba.com. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  2. ^ "WNBA.com: Atlanta Dream Select Sancho Lyttle With Top Pick in Houston Comets Dispersal Draft". wnba.com. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  3. ^ "WNBA.com: 2009 WNBA Draft Board". Archived from the original on July 25, 2009. Retrieved August 2, 2009.
  4. ^ "WNBA.com: 2009 WNBA Transactions". wnba.com. Retrieved September 8, 2015.