2020 Phoenix Mercury season
{{Short description|23rd season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{WNBA season
| team = Phoenix Mercury
| year = 2020
| attendance = 0
| wins = 13
| losses = 9
| conf = Western
| conf_place = 5
| coach = Sandy Brondello
| arena = Originally: Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Rescheduled to: IMG Academy gymnasiums, Bradenton, Florida
| points = Diana Taurasi – 18.7 ppg
| rebounds = Brianna Turner – 9.0 rpg
| assists = Bria Hartley & Diana Taurasi – 4.5 apg
| playoffs = 5th Seed, Lost in Second Round to Minnesota Lynx
| television =
}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://mercury.wnba.com/schedule/#?season=2020&seasontype=01|title=2020 Phoenix Mercury Schedule|website=mercury.wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|accessdate=February 14, 2020}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.allaboutarizonanews.com/phoenix-mercury-change-in-home-court-for-2020-season/|title=Phoenix Mercury Change In Home Court For 2020 Season|publisher=All About Arizona News|date=July 25, 2019|accessdate=February 14, 2020}}
This WNBA season will feature an all-time high 36 regular-season games.{{cite web|url=https://dream.wnba.com/news/atlanta-dream-announce-2020-schedule/|title=Atlanta Dream Announce 2020 Schedule - Atlanta Dream|website=dream.wnba.com|accessdate=February 1, 2020}} 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.{{Cite news|date=2020-04-03|title=WNBA Statement Regarding the Start of the 2020 Regular Season|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-statement-regarding-the-start-of-the-2020-regular-season/|access-date=2020-04-03}} 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.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-15|title=WNBA Announces Plan To Tip Off 2020 Season|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-announces-plan-to-tip-off-2020-season/|access-date=2020-06-17|website=WNBA|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-06-15|title=WNBA announces plans for 2020 season to start late July in Florida|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/mystics/wnba-announces-plans-2020-season-start-late-july-florida|access-date=2020-06-15|website=NBC Sports Washington}}
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=
{{see also|2020 WNBA draft}}
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
! style="{{WNBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}}" width="2%"| Round ! style="{{WNBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}};" width="5%"| Pick ! style="{{WNBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}};" width="10%"| Player ! style="{{WNBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}};" width="10%"| Nationality ! style="{{WNBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}};" width="10%"| School/Team/Country |
1
| 10 | {{USA}} | Virginia |
2
| 18 | {{USA}} | Baylor |
3
| 29 | {{USA}} | Rider |
=Trades/Roster Changes=
Roster
{{sports roster
| team=Phoenix Mercury
| season = 2020
| style = WNBA
| players =
{{sports roster/entry | num = 51 | first = Jessica | last = Breland | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 166 | DOB = 1988-02-23 | yrs = 8 | college = North Carolina | nat = USA}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 10 | first = Nia | last = Coffey | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 182 | DOB = 1995-06-11 | yrs = 3 | college = Northwestern | nat = USA}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 9 | first = Sophie | last = Cunningham | dab = basketball | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 170 | DOB = 1996-08-16 | yrs = 1 | college = Missouri | nat = USA}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 4 | first = Skylar | last = Diggins-Smith | pos = G | ft = 5 | in = 9 | lbs = 145 | DOB = 1990-08-02 | yrs = 6 | college = Notre Dame | nat = USA}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 42 | first = Brittney | last = Griner | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 205 | DOB = 1990-10-18 | yrs = 7 | college = Baylor | nat = USA}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 14 | first = Bria | last = Hartley | pos = G | ft = 5 | in = 8 | lbs = 148 | DOB = 1992-09-30 | yrs = 6 | college = Connecticut | nat = FRA}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 12 | first = Alisia | last = Jenkins | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = | DOB = 1994-02-21 | yrs = R | college = South Florida | nat = USA}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 5 | first = Shey | last = Peddy | pos = G | ft = 5 | in = 7 | lbs = 147 | DOB = 1988-10-28 | yrs = 1 | college = Temple | nat = USA}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 11 | first = Alanna | last = Smith | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 180 | DOB = 1996-09-10 | yrs = 1 | college = Stanford | nat = AUS}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 3 | first = Diana | last = Taurasi | pos = G-F | ft = 6 | in = 0 | lbs = 163 | DOB = 1982-06-11 | yrs = 15 | college = Connecticut | nat = USA }}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 21 | first = Brianna | last = Turner | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 170 | DOB = 1996-07-05 | yrs = 1 | college = Notre Dame | nat = USA}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 1 | first = Kia| last = Vaughn | pos = C | ft =6 | in = 4 | lbs = 205 | DOB = 1987-01-24 | yrs = 10| college = Rutgers | nat = CZE}}
{{sports roster/entry | num = 2 | first = Shatori| last = Walker-Kimbrough | pos = G | ft =5 | in = 9 | lbs = 140 | DOB = 1995-05-18 | yrs = 3| college = Maryland | nat = USA}}
| head_coach =
{{sports roster/entry|nat=AUS| first = Sandy | last = Brondello| college = Western Sydney}}
| asst_coach =
{{sports roster/entry|nat=USA| first = Julie | last = Hairgrove | nolink = 1| college = Arizona}}
{{sports roster/entry|nat=USA| first = Chasity | last = Melvin| college = North Carolina State}}
| ath_train =
{{sports roster/entry|nat=USA| first = Hannah | last = Breck | nolink = 1| college = Boston University}}
| str_cond =
{{sports roster/entry|nat=USA| first = Derrick | last = Nillissen | nolink = 1| college = Iowa Wesleyan}}
}}
Game log
=Regular season=
{{WNBA game log start|Phoenix Mercury|end_year=2020|note=
Total: 13–9}}
{{WNBA game log section|Phoenix Mercury|July|first=yes
}}
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 1
| July 25
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200725/LASPHO/ L 76–99]
| Taurasi (16)
| Griner (9)
| Diggins-Smith (6)
| IMG Academy
0
| 0–1
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 2
| July 29
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200729/PHOIND/ L 100–106]
| Hartley (26)
| Tied (7)
| Tied (5)
| IMG Academy
0
| 0–2
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 3
| July 31
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200731/LVAPHO/ W 102–95]
| Tied (22)
| Turner (9)
| Taurasi (10)
| IMG Academy
0
| 1–2
{{WNBA game log section|Phoenix Mercury|August}}
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 4
| August 2
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200802/PHONYL/ W 96–67]
| Hartley (27)
| Turner (11)
| Taurasi (9)
| IMG Academy
0
| 2–2
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 5
| August 4
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200804/PHOATL/ W 81–74]
| Taurasi (20)
| Turner (7)
| Taurasi (6)
| IMG Academy
0
| 3–2
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 6
| August 6
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200806/CHIPHO/ W 96–86]
| Tied (22)
| Griner (8)
| Taurasi (6)
| IMG Academy
0
| 4–2
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 7
| August 8
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200808/PHOSEA/ L 68–74]
| Griner (20)
| Griner (8)
| Taurasi (5)
| IMG Academy
0
| 4–3
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 8
| August 10
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200810/PHODAL/ W 91–79]
| Diggins-Smith (26)
| Griner (13)
| Diggins-Smith (7)
| IMG Academy
0
| 5–3
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 9
| August 12
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200812/PHOCHI/ L 71–89]
| Tied (15)
| Griner (6)
| Diggins-Smith (4)
| IMG Academy
0
| 5–4
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 10
| August 14
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200814/ATLPHO/ W 96–80]
| Hartley (24)
| Griner (8)
| Hartley (5)
| IMG Academy
0
| 6–4
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 11
| August 16
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200816/DALPHO/ L 89–95]
| Griner (29)
| Taurasi (9)
| Hartley (6)
| IMG Academy
0
| 6–5
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 12
| August 19
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200819/PHOLAS/ L 74–83]
| Taurasi (19)
| Turner (7)
| Hartley (9)
| IMG Academy
0
| 6–6
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 13
| August 21
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200821/MINPHO/ L 80–90]
| Hartley (24)
| Turner (9)
| Hartley (5)
| IMG Academy
0
| 6–7
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 14
| August 23
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200823/PHOWAS/ W 88–87]
| Taurasi (34)
| Turner (17)
| Hartley (5)
| IMG Academy
0
| 7–7
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 15
| August 28
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200828/WASPHO/ W 94–72]
| Diggins-Smith (24)
| Smith (8)
| Taurasi (7)
| IMG Academy
0
| 8–7
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 16
| August 30
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200830/PHOMIN/ W 83–79]
| Diggins-Smith (25)
| Turner (15)
| Peddy (5)
| IMG Academy
0
| 9–7
{{WNBA game log section|Phoenix Mercury|September}}
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 17
| September 1
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200901/PHOLVA/ W 92–85]
| Taurasi (32)
| Turner (13)
| Tied (7)
| IMG Academy
0
| 10–7
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 18
| September 3
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200903/INDPHO/ W 105–81]
| Diggins-Smith (28)
| Turner (12)
| Diggins-Smith (8)
| IMG Academy
0
| 11–7
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 19
| September 5
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200905/NYLPHO/ W 83–67]
| Diggins-Smith (30)
| Turner (13)
| Turner (4)
| IMG Academy
0
| 12–7
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 20
| September 7
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200907/CONPHO/ L 70–85]
| Taurasi (19)
| Turner (8)
| Diggins-Smith (6)
| IMG Academy
0
| 12–8
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 21
| September 9
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200909/PHOCON/ W 100–95]
| Diggins-Smith (33)
| Turner (21)
| Taurasi (7)
| IMG Academy
0
| 13–8
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 22
| September 11
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200911/SEAPHO/#/box-score L 60–83]
| Walker-Kimbrough (24)
| Turner (11)
| Peddy (6)
| IMG Academy
0
| 13–9
{{WNBA game log end|phx|end_year=2020}}
= Playoffs =
{{WNBA game log start|Phoenix Mercury|playoffs=yes|end_year=2020|record=Total: 1–1}}
{{WNBA game log section|Phoenix Mercury|First Round|first=yes|playoffs=yes}}
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 1
| September 15
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200915/WASPHO/ W 85–84]
| Diggins-Smith (24)
| Turner (11)
| Taurasi (6)
| 1–0
{{WNBA game log section|Phoenix Mercury|Second Round|playoffs=yes}}
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 1
| September 17
| [https://www.wnba.com/game/20200917/PHOMIN/ 79–80]
| Taurasi (28)
| Turner (14)
| Taurasi (9)
| 0–1
{{WNBA game log end|PHX|playoffs=yes|end_year=2020}}
Standings
{{2020 WNBA standings|team=PHX}}
Playoffs
{{main|2020 WNBA Playoffs}}
{{trim|{{#section-h:2020 WNBA Playoffs|Bracket}}}}
Statistics
{{WNBA roster statistics legend}}
=Regular season=
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |
style="{{NBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}}" width="16%" | Player
! style="{{NBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}}" width="6%" | GP ! style="{{NBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}}" width="6%" | GS ! style="{{NBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}}" width="6%" | MPG ! style="{{NBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}}" width="6%" | FG% ! style="{{NBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}}" width="6%" | 3P% ! style="{{NBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}}" width="6%" | FT% ! style="{{NBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}}" width="6%" | RPG ! style="{{NBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}}" width="5%" | APG ! style="{{NBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}}" width="6%" | SPG ! style="{{NBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}}" width="6%" | BPG ! style="{{NBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}}" width="6%" | PPG |
---|
Diana Taurasi
| 19 | 19 | 28.1 | 40.9 | 36.5 | 91.2 | 4.2 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 4.5 | 1.0 | 0.4 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 18.7 |
Brittney Griner
| 12 | 12 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 31.8 | 49.7 | 0 | 80.9 | 7.5 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 17.7 |
Skylar Diggins-Smith
| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 22 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 22 | 30.7 | 47.4 | 39.7 | 90.0 | 3.3 | 4.2 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 17.7 |
Bria Hartley
| 13 | 3 | 24.8 | 42.0 | 38.5 | 80.5 | 2.9 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 4.5 | 1.2 | 0 | 14.6 |
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough
| 21 | 10 | 19.0 | 42.9 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 43.1 | 92.0 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 7.3 |
Brianna Turner
| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 22 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 22 | 27.9 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 57.9 | 0 | 64.3 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 9.0 | 1.8 | 1.1 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 2.0 | 7.2 |
Kia Vaughn
| style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 22 | 10 | 18.9 | 48.8 | 0 | 57.9 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 6.1 |
Alanna Smith
| 19 | 0 | 15.6 | 42.2 | 23.3 | 69.0 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 6.1 |
Sophie Cunningham
| 21 | 11 | 18.9 | 38.5 | 23.5 | 88.0 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 5.0 |
Shey Peddy
| 8 | 0 | 17.6 | 29.4 | 10.5 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 100 | 3.0 | 2.4 | style="background:#D3D3D3;" | 1.5 | 0.1 | 4.0 |
Alisia Jenkins
| 2 | 0 | 11.5 | 25.0 | 0 | 66.7 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 |
Nia Coffey
| 15 | 1 | 15.3 | 42.1 | 33.3 | 16.7 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2.7 |
Awards and honors
class="wikitable sortable sortable" style="text-align: center"
! style="{{NBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}}" width="5%" | Recipient ! style="{{NBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}}" width="9%" | Award ! style="{{NBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}}" width="5%" | Date awarded ! style="{{NBA color cell|Phoenix Mercury}}" width="1%" class="unsortable" | Ref. |
Skylar Diggins-Smith
| WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week | September 8, 2020 |
Brianna Turner
| September 29, 2020 |
Diana Taurasi
| rowspan=2 | All-WNBA Second Team | rowspan=2 | October 4, 2020 |
Skylar Diggins-Smith |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://mercury.wnba.com}}
{{Phoenix Mercury}}
{{2020 WNBA season by team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2020 Phoenix Mercury Season}}