2019 Phoenix Mercury season

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]

2019 Phoenix Mercury season
CoachSandy Brondello
ArenaTalking Stick Resort Arena
Attendance10,193 per game
Results
Record15–19 (.441)
Place5th (Western)
Playoff finish8th seed; Lost in 1st Round to Chicago
Team Leaders
PointsBrittney Griner – 20.7 ppg
ReboundsDeWanna Bonner – 6.5 rpg
AssistsDiana Taurasi – 5.3 apg
Media
TelevisionFox Sports Arizona (FS-A)

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
See also: 2019 WNBA draft
Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country
1 8 Alanna Smith  Australia Stanford
2 13 Sophie Cunningham  United States Missouri
3 32 Arica Carter  United States Louisville

Trades/Roster Changes
Date Details
February 1, 2019 Re-Signed G Briann January[3][4]
Re-Signed G Yvonne Turner[5][6]
February 6, 2019 Signed G/F Essence Carson[7][4]
March 21, 2019 Re-Signed F Sancho Lyttle[8]
March 22, 2019 Re-Signed G/F DeWanna Bonner[9]
April 10, 2019 Traded C Marie Gülich to Atlanta for F Brianna Turner[10]
May 21, 2019 Traded 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.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
F 24 United States Bonner, DeWanna 6' 4" (1.93m) 143 lb (65kg) 08-21-1987 Auburn 9
G 17 United States Carson, Essence 6' 0" (1.83m) 163 lb (74kg) 07-28-1986 Rutgers 11
G 9 United States Cunningham, Sophie 6' 1" (1.85m) 170 lb (77kg) 08-16-1996 Missouri R
C 42 United States Griner, Brittney 6' 9" (2.06m) 205 lb (93kg) 10-18-1990 Baylor 6
G 12 United States January, Briann 5' 8" (1.73m) 144 lb (65kg) 01-11-1987 Arizona State 10
F 20 United States Little, Camille 6' 2" (1.88m) 180 lb (82kg) 01-18-1985 North Carolina 12
F 31 Spain Lyttle, Sancho 6' 5" (1.96m) 175 lb (79kg) 09-20-1983 Houston 14
G 5 United States Mitchell, Leilani 5' 5" (1.65m) 138 lb (63kg) 06-15-1985 Utah 11
F 11 Australia Smith, Alanna 6' 4" (1.93m) 180 lb (82kg) 11-10-1996 Stanford R
G/F 3 United States Taurasi, Diana Injured 6' 0" (1.83m) 163 lb (74kg) 06-11-1982 Connecticut 14
F 21 United States Turner, Brianna 6' 3" (1.91m) 170 lb (77kg) 07-05-1996 Notre Dame R
G 6 United States Turner, Yvonne 5' 10" (1.78m) 131 lb (59kg) 10-13-1987 Nebraska 2
Head coach
Australia Sandy Brondello (Western Sydney)
Assistant coaches
United States Julie Hairgrove (Arizona)
Australia Penny Taylor
Athletic trainer

Alicia Yamamoto Indiana

Strength and conditioning coach
United States Jonathan Mak (Illinois State)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Game log

Preseason
2019 pre-season game log
May: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 May 11 Los Angeles Sparks W 82–75 Bonner (20) Bonner (8) Smith (5) Talking Stick Resort Arena
3,751		 1–0
2 May 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
1 May 25 @ Seattle Storm L 68–77 Bonner (31) Tied (8) Tied (4) Angel of the Winds Arena
8,500		 0–1
2 May 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
3 June 6 @ Minnesota Lynx L 56–58 Bonner (25) Bonner (8) 3 tied (2) Target Center
8,001		 1–2
4 June 9 @ Indiana Fever W 94–87 Griner (26) Bonner (7) Mitchell (6) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
3,336		 2–2
5 June 11 @ Chicago Sky L 75–82 Bonner (28) Bonner (12) Bonner (6) Wintrust Arena
4,212		 2–3
6 June 14 Los Angeles Sparks L 68–85 Griner (24) Griner (13) January (5) Talking Stick Resort Arena
10,381		 2–4
7 June 20 @ Dallas Wings L 54–69 Mitchell (12) Bonner (8) January (3) College Park Center
4,626		 2–5
8 June 23 Los Angeles Sparks W 82–72 Mitchell (22) Griner (9) Mitchell (6) Talking Stick Resort Arena
10,132		 3–5
9 June 28 Indiana Fever W 91–69 Griner (23) 3 tied (5) Mitchell (11) Talking Stick Resort Arena
9,435		 4–5
10 June 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
11 July 5 New York Liberty L 76–80 Griner (30) Griner (8) Mitchell (4) Talking Stick Resort Arena
9,560		 5–6
12 July 7 Atlanta Dream W 65–63 Griner (31) Bonner (14) Mitchell (4) Talking Stick Resort Arena
9,850		 6–6
13 July 10 @ Washington Mystics W 91–68 Griner (25) Griner (8) January (6) Capital One Arena
15,377		 7–6
14 July 12 @ Connecticut Sun L 64–79 Bonner (20) Bonner (8) January (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,864		 7–7
15 July 14 @ Minnesota Lynx L 62–75 Bonner (27) Bonner (7) Mitchell (5) Target Center
8,801		 7–8
16 July 17 Dallas Wings W 69–64 Griner (23) Bonner (8) January (5) Talking Stick Resort Arena
10,143		 8–8
17 July 20 @ Dallas Wings W 70–66 Griner (17) Griner (8) January (4) College Park Center
5,471		 9–8
18 July 23 Indiana Fever W 95–77 Tied (22) Griner (7) January (7) Talking Stick Resort Arena
8,528		 10–8
19 July 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
20 August 1 @ Connecticut Sun L 62–68 Bonner (20) Bonner (10) Bonner (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,014		 10–10
21 August 4 Washington Mystics W 103–82 Griner (26) Griner (9) Griner (8) Talking Stick Resort Arena
9,025		 11–10
22 August 8 @ Los Angeles Sparks L 74–84 Griner (27) B. Turner (14) Tied (5) Staples Center
10,345		 11–11
23 August 10 Dallas Wings L 77–80 Mitchell (23) B. Turner (11) Tied (3) Talking Stick Resort Arena
9,717		 11–12
24 August 14 Connecticut Sun L 71–78 Bonner (17) B. Turner (8) Y. Turner (4) Talking Stick Resort Arena
8,734		 11–13
25 August 16 Atlanta Dream W 77–68 Bonner (27) Bonner (14) Mitchell (5) Talking Stick Resort Arena
8,480		 12–13
26 August 18 New York Liberty W 78–72 Bonner (30) Bonner (10) January (3) Talking Stick Resort Arena
9,145		 13–13
27 August 20 @ Las Vegas Aces L 79–84 (OT) Tied (24) B. Turner (11) January (6) Mandalay Bay Events Center
5,032		 13–14
28 August 25 Chicago Sky L 86–94 Griner (34) Bonner (11) Bonner (5) Talking Stick Resort Arena
12,054		 13–15
29 August 27 @ New York Liberty W 95–82 Tied (29) Griner (10) Taurasi (10) Westchester County Center
1,693		 14–15
30 August 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
31 September 1 @ Chicago Sky L 78–105 Griner (26) Bonner (12) Mitchell (6) Wintrust Arena
8,845		 15–16
32 September 3 Seattle Storm L 70–82 Griner (22) Griner (7) Tied (4) Talking Stick Resort Arena
8,724		 15–17
33 September 6 Minnesota Lynx L 69–83 Griner (16) Griner (7) Mitchell (4) Talking Stick Resort Arena
12,140		 15–18
34 September 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
1 September 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
6 e – Dallas Wings1024.294128–92–155–11

Playoffs
Main article: 2019 WNBA Playoffs
First round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 11)		Second round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 15)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 17 – Sept. 24)		WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 29 – Oct. 10)
1Washington Mystics971037594
4Las Vegas Aces934Las Vegas Aces95919290
5Chicago Sky1055Chicago Sky921Washington Mystics9587948689
8Phoenix Mercury762Connecticut Sun8699819078
2Connecticut Sun849478
3Los Angeles Sparks923Los Angeles Sparks756856
6Seattle Storm846Seattle Storm69
7Minnesota Lynx74

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

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

Regular season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Brittney Griner 31 31 32.8 46.4 33.3 80.8 7.2 2.4 0.7 2.0 20.7
DeWanna Bonner 34 34 32.9 37.7 27.2 91.6 7.6 2.7 1.3 0.6 17.2
Leilani Mitchell 32 27 30.3 44.1 43.0 82.9 3.0 4.0 0.9 0.3 12.8
Briann January 32 26 26.6 39.0 37.8 83.7 1.3 3.3 0.8 0.1 6.5
Yvonne Turner 29 14 20.5 34.3 32.9 87.8 2.8 2.3 0.6 0.1 6.4
Essence Carson 23 13 18.5 35.2 34.1 78.4 2.2 1.5 0.5 0.3 5.8
Diana Taurasi 6 6 21.5 10.3 4.2 94.4 3.2 5.3 0.3 0.2 4.3
Brianna Turner 29 12 15.9 53.8 0 73.1 4.1 0.5 0.2 0.7 4.0
Camille Little 29 0 14.7 43.5 33.3 80.6 2.4 0.8 0.4 0.3 3.9
Sophie Cunningham 32 5 12.2 35.4 30.4 88.2 1.4 0.8 0.3 0.1 3.1
Sancho Lyttle 20 2 12.5 41.9 25.0 62.5 2.9 0.3 0.6 0.3 2.9
Alanna Smith 18 0 7.4 19.5 11.1 50.0 1.9 0.2 0.3 0.3 1.1

Awards and honors
Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
DeWanna Bonner WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week June 10, 2019 [12]
Briann January WNBA Community Assist Award - May June 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. 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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