Corey Gaines

Tamika Catchings missed the first triple double in WNBA Finals history by just one rebound as the Indiana Fever held off the Phoenix Mercury 93-84 in game two of the best-of-five series at U.S. Airways Center.

Catchings, who wasn’t a big factor in game one before fouling out, stepped up her offensive game on Thursday, scoring 19 points while adding 11 assists, 9 rebounds and 2 steals in the win. Ebony Hoffman and rookie Briann January each scored 16 points for Indiana.

League MVP Diana Taurasi led Phoenix with 20 points, but she and her teammates struggled in the shooting department. The Mercury, the highest scoring team in the league, shot just 39% from the field and were held 13 points under their postseason scoring average. Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter combined to shoot just 12 for 38 from the field under constant defensive pressure by WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Catchings and the rest of her Indiana teammates.

With the series tied at 1-1, the festivities now shift to Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Game three is set for Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. Arizona time.

WNBA Finals Game 2 Postgame Audio

Mercury head coach Corey Gaines

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Mercury players Temeka Johnson and Diana Taurasi

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Phoenix Mercury head coach Corey Gaines summed it up best.

“If you didn’t like women’s basketball, I think you do now,” Gaines said after his Phoenix Mercury won game one of the WNBA Finals 120-116 in overtime over the Indiana Fever in what was the highest scoring game in league history.

Cappie Pondexter and Penny Taylor each had 23 points for the Mercury, and newly-crowned league MVP Diana Taurasi added 22 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists in the win.

Indiana All-Star Tamika Catchings, the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, fouled out with 2:42 remaining in the overtime, and Phoenix outscored the Fever 9-4 from that point to put the game away.

Katie Douglas led the Fever with 30 points. Former ASU guard Briann January had 11 points and 7 assists off the bench.

The best-of-five series continues Thursday night with game two at U.S. Airways Center.

Postgame Press Conferences

Mercury Head Coach Corey Gaines

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Mercury Players Cappie Pondexter and Penny Taylor

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Phoenix coach Corey Gaines:

(How did your team execute tonight with a week before playoffs?) So, so. It was a tough game to play. We grinded it out.

(How was it playing Seattle without Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson and Swin Cash?): Tough. They shot great. They rebounded great. Great team. They all played great.

Diana Taurasi:

This is probably the toughest place to play at, probably in the league. Obviously they were without their core, but they came out and played hard. They did a lot of good things. We struggled in some aspects, but a win is a win at this point in the season. That’s all you want. You can take care of the details tomorrow in practice or the next day.

(keys in overtime?): We just kind of stick to what we do, and hopefully try to outlast people. Sometimes it happens early, sometimes it doesn’t happen at all, and sometimes it happens with two minutes left in overtime. I thought as a group we did a good job of staying together. We were getting a lot of good shots that weren’t going in. But that’s what we have to do. We have to find a way to win.

(on homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs?): It’s as big of a deal as you make it. We’re not worried about who we’re playing, where we’re playing, what time we’re playing, what planet we’re playing on. We’re just concentrating on the people with our jerseys in this locker room.

(Is this team ready for the playoffs?): We’ll see. I think we’re getting close. It’s like any team. Sometimes you take a couple steps forward and sometimes you take a step back. As long as throughout the process you’re trying to get better. There’s always time to get better. That’s what we’re going to try to do.

(Surprised at how well Seattle played with the core of the team?): You’re talking about a team coached by one of the best coaches in the world. You could have put in five Seattle Storm fans and they probably would have given us a game today.

First off, yes I’m still alive, and yes I still follow the Mercury closely, and yes I am at the games. With my new gig at DIME Magazine being more hectic than I originally thought, I sincerely apologize for not updating everyone on the status of the Mercury lately. So, here is a boat-load of updates to hopefully make up for my absence! Also, there is some very exciting stuff coming up that you’ll want to know about and I’ll be posting much more frequently. So, please, keep coming back! (Twitter - @bjyork)

Schedule

At 16-7, the Mercury are (obviously) 1^st place in the Western Conference. However, what isn’t as well-known is how they could finish the season and perhaps set a franchise record for most wins. The Mercury have 11 games left in the 2009 regular season.

· San Antonio, San Antonio, Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles, Connecticut, Detroit, Indiana, Atlanta, Seattle, Los Angeles

5 of those games are home, and 6 are away. The franchise record for most wins in a season was 2007 with 23. There is no reason to think the Mercury cannot win 7-9 of the aforementioned games if they play up to their ability. I see them beating San Antonio, Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles, Connecticut, Detroit, Atlanta, and either the Storm or Sparks to close out the season. That’s 8 wins, and they could conceivably have more if they got really hot.

That would give them a potential win total of 23-25 and either tie or surpass the franchise record. Of course, this is barring any major health issues etc. Perhaps more astonishingly, the Mercury had a full, healthy roster against Indiana for the first time since early July. Before that, it was consistently a question mark too. Still, they were able to come together and play the Mercury basketball we all know and love to sit atop the West.

Hypothetically speaking, how scary could they be when they really start to click with Penny Taylor??!! If nothing else, they are now one of the deepest teams in the league.

MVP Rankings

It should be no surprise that Cappie and Diana are in the top 5 in the MVP race either. It’s hard to quantify or justify who is better, and if I’m honest, it really doesn’t matter because they play so well together and are as unselfish as they come.

This year, perhaps more so than any, DT and CP have proven what a force they are in the league and have shown no signs of letting up. The adversity the team has seen this season has only brought them (and the team) closer.

Rookie Rankings

Another no-brainer is how consistently DeWanna sits atop the Rookie Rankings on WNBA.com. DB has been there for numerous weeks already and despite only playing close to 20 minutes a game, she is becoming more and more comfortable (and in control). I compared her to Shawn Marion when the Mercury drafted her, and it seems like that is a more than fair comparison since DB gets most of her points and rebounds off intangibles, determination, and hustle.

Gaines

There shouldn’t be any question now that Corey Gaines is the perfect coach for this team. We’ve seen improvements on the defensive end of the floor, however gradual they might be, and even improvements offensively which is amazing in and of itself. He brings a disciplined, but fun, attitude to this club and the players love playing for him. Julie and Bridge add to the light atmosphere and provide the players a much needed laugh when need be. It’s great to see.

Meek and Ketia

How good are our PG’s?! They are similar and different at the same time. Meek has a calming presence on the floor and can direct traffic with ease. Ketia is a high-octane energy boost off the bench and is gaining in confidence with each game. For opposing teams, it’s hard to gameplan which guard they’ll face. Both Meek and Ketia are exceptional ball-handlers and are unselfish; two characteristics that not many guards have in the league. Some of the passes Meek and Ketia make are incredible and they both have a knack for knowing where the open player is; and it’s only going to get better.

The Constants – Le’coe, Tangela, and DeWanna

I mentioned this earlier, but about 95% of the Mercury’s plays are run for Diana and Cappie…which is obviously a smart thing with their ability. But, Le’coe, Tangela, and DeWanna can light up the score board at anytime if they get hot, or if the team needs that type of contribution. Perhaps more importantly, they fit in seamlessly with the type of offense and defense the Mercury run which allows freedom and accountability from everyone. They have been, and will be, invaluable come playoff time.

Penny

The Merc have done a perfect job integrating Penny into the lineup thus far. It would’ve been a mistake to throw her in there from the beginning and it also would’ve been a mistake not to play her. Gaines has allowed Penny to compete in practices at a high-level for several weeks now which allows the rest of the team to get used to her and more comfortable. Thus, when she comes in during games, it’s not unusual or weird for the other players. The best part? It’s only going to get better.

Nicole, Mazz, Brooke

They haven’t received many minutes, whether it’s due to the rotation or injuries, but there isn’t a question they all come in and contribute in one way or another when their name is called. Whether it’s getting to the foul line or defending the post by Nicole, hitting a much needed three by Mazz, or getting a key rebound by Brooke the Mercury are comfortable and can count on these ladies.

Stats

The Mercury are having an almost unbelievable year statistically. Here are some of the highlights…

· 2 of the top 5 players in scoring (Diana, Cappie)

· 1^st in ppg as a team (92.0), next closest is 83 (Atlanta)

· 1^st in FG% (45.5)

· 2^nd in 3PR% (39.1)

· 1^st in FT% (85.9)

· 4^th in rebounds (35.0)

· 1^st in assists (18.2 a game)

· 9^th in turnovers (only 14 a game)

· 1^st in blocks (5.6)

· 2 players in the top 3 in assists per game (Cappie 5.3, Meek 5.1)

Be Excited, Be Very Excited

I don’t have to tell the die-hard fans this, but I’ve said all-season long this is a special team and the way they’re playing is justifying that sentiment. It was so nice to see over 10,000 people at the arean vs. the Fever and we need that same type of support in the last 5 home games.

I could not be more excited for the playoffs to start and to see US Airways Center rocking.

Enjoy this Mercury fans, because as we all know, seasons like this don’t come along very often.

What are your thoughs about the Mercury’s stellar season so far? Let’s hear them!

On May 2nd, the Phoenix Mercury held open tryouts for all interested players in getting the chance to fulfill their dream of playing at the professional level.

Kalei Nance and Ieshia Randall were chosen from the May 2nd tryouts at U.S. Airways Center and will be invited to pre-training camp workouts with Mercury staff and players on May 14th and May 15th.

“Kalei and Ieshia were selected because of their skills and determination to strengthen their game,” said Head Coach Corey Gaines. “Opportunity is what the WNBA is all about and we are thrilled to allow the players to showcase their talent at a workout and help them continue to develop as players and reach for their goal of playing in the WNBA.”

Nance played for the University of Missouri-Kansas City and graduated from Desert Vista High School in Ahwatukee.  She is also the niece of NBA veteran, Alton Lister.  Randall played at Graceland University and ranked third in the nation in assists (5.1) during the 2007-2008 collegiate season at the division II school.

It is unclear what their chances are of making the final roster with WNBA now limiting roster size to 11.

Yesterday, the Seattle Storm announced they had come to terms on a deal that would return Lauren Jackson to Seattle for the 2009 season.  It was widely known that Jackson’s decision came down to either the Mercury or Storm but ultimately she decided to return to a familiar stage.  In her 2008 season for the Storm, Jackson posted phenomenal numbers of 20.2 points, 7 rebounds, and almost 2 blockers per game. Obviously, fans of the Storm were ecstatic and fans of the Mercury were left disappointed.

However, hope is far from lost in Phoenix.

We had a chance to catch up with head coach Corey Gaines to get his thoughts on missing out on the Lauren Jackson sweepstakes.  As expected, though obviously he would’ve welcomed Lauren with open arms, he still is extremely confident with the Mercury’s 2009 squad.  Says Gaines,“she’s one of the top players in the league, and anybody in the WNBA would be happy to have her.  I’m happy to have two WNBA Champions and U.S. Olympians on my team, and so I’m satisfied with that and confident about this season.  We definitely wish Lauren the best, though, this season.”

Perhaps Gaines says it best; two WNBA champions and two U.S. Olympians.  Not bad at all.

Of course, he’s talking about gold medalists and champions Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter.  Though they responded to their 2007 championship season with a disappointing 2008 campaign, key acquisitions have been added to the 2009 squad that will not only enhance their offensive prowess, but solidify their front line and shooting attack.  These include veteran guard Temeka Johnson who is a perfect player to get Diana and Cappie open shots, shooting specialist Laurie Koehn who will fit into their high-octane offense seamlessly, and first round pick DeWanna Bonner who is expected to “change the way the game is played” according to Gaines.

The club has high expectations (not only for Johnson, Koehn, and Bonner) but for all acquisitons to help stabilize their defense, maximize their offensive potential, and distribute the ball more effectively.  Of course, as Gaines told Fanster above, any organization would be lucky to have a two-time MVP center on their team.  However, the Mercury still feel confident at the center position with Tangela Smith at the helm.  Though don’t be surprised to see more small ball this season with an athletic player like Bonner getting time at the center position as well.

So, bottom line, the 2009 season is still incredibly bright.  Sure, it would’ve be stellar to have Lauren Jackson teamed up with our unparalleled offensive attack…but I feel more than comfortable with the holes the Mercury have filled this off-season. Oh, by the way, it doesn’t hurt to have Diana and Cappie too.

Coach Gaines certainly agrees.

Auburn guard DeWanna Bonner, a First Team All-American, was selected today by the Phoenix Mercury in the first round, fifth overall, of the WNBA Draft earlier today.

Head coach Corey Gaines was thrilled that Bonner, a player he’s been scouting for two years, was on the board. “She’s definitely going to change the way the WNBA is played because of the way she plays,” Gaines said.

The Mercury didn’t have a 2nd round pick, but did select Sha Brooks, a 5-7 guard out of Florida, who averaged 16.6 points and 4.7 assists per game as a senior last season.

Gaines also discussed the possibility of Lauren Jackson signing on to play with the Mercury this season. Jackson is a 2-time WNBA MVP who has played 8 seasons with the Seattle Storm. Jackson is an unrestricted free agent.