Phoenix Mercury Shine as Facilitators in Inaugural 1997 WNBA Season

The Mercury's well-rounded roster and strong passing led to a 16-12 record and playoff berth in the WNBA's first year.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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The 1997 season marked the inaugural campaign for the Phoenix Mercury in the newly formed WNBA. Despite facing stiff competition from teams like the Cleveland Rockers, Houston Comets, and Sacramento Monarchs, the Mercury finished the season with a 16-12 record and earned a playoff berth. While they ultimately lost to the New York Liberty in the postseason, the Mercury showcased a deep, talented roster that excelled at ball movement and facilitating, led by standout point guard Michele Timms.

Why it matters

The Mercury's success in their first WNBA season laid the groundwork for the franchise's long-term viability and popularity in Phoenix. Their ability to build a winning team through a combination of allocated players and strategic additions demonstrated the WNBA's potential to develop competitive, entertaining basketball across the league's new markets.

The details

The Mercury's 16-12 record was fueled by a balanced scoring attack and unselfish play, with five players recording at least 26 assists on the season. Point guard Michele Timms led the way with 135 assists, including a 9-assist, 8-steal performance against the Utah Starzz. Forward Bridget Pettis was second on the team with 78 assists, while Umeki Webb, Nancy Lieberman, and Toni Foster also made significant contributions as facilitators.

  • The 1997 season was the inaugural campaign for the Phoenix Mercury in the newly formed WNBA.
  • The Mercury finished the 1997 regular season with a 16-12 record, earning a playoff berth.
  • In the playoffs, the Mercury lost to the New York Liberty 59-41.

The players

Michele Timms

The Mercury's starting point guard, who led the team with 135 assists on the season.

Bridget Pettis

A forward for the Mercury who recorded 78 assists, the second-highest total on the team.

Jennifer Gillom

A player allocated to the Mercury as part of the WNBA's inaugural season.

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What’s next

The Mercury will look to build on their successful inaugural season and make a deeper playoff run in 1998.

The takeaway

The Phoenix Mercury's strong debut season in the WNBA's inaugural year showcased the team's depth, unselfish play, and commitment to ball movement, laying the foundation for the franchise's long-term success and popularity in the Phoenix community.