Examining Gillom's Hall-Of-Fame Worthy Career With Phoenix

The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame features some legendary names, and one of the Mercury's first players is one of them.

Jun 8, 2010; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Sparks coach Jennifer Gillom during the game against the Phoenix Mercury at the Staples Center. The Sparks defeated the Mercury 92-91. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Phoenix Mercury have had some great players over the years, and some of them have been honored in a special way. Some of them have had their jerseys retired, and some of them are a part of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

Cappie Pondexter was the most recent Mercury player to be inducted, and she was a part of the 2025 class. She was joined by players like Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles.

Sep 9, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Mercury forward Penny Taylor (13) controls the ball against Chicago Sky guard Epiphanny Prince (10) in the first quarter during game two of the WNBA Finals at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Penny Taylor was inducted in 2022, and she was joined by players like Becky Hammon and DeLisha Milton-Jones. Nikki McCray was a part of the 2012 class, and a few years before her, one of the Mercury's first players was inducted.

Mercury legend enters Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Jennifer Gillom was a part of the 2009 class, and that group included Jennifer Azzi, Cynthia Cooper, Sonja Hogg, Jill Hutchison and Ora Washington.

July 24, 2010; Uncasville, CT, USA; Los Angeles Sparks head coach Jennifer Gillom watches from the sideline as they take on the Connecticut Sun during the first half at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The Sparks defeated the Sun 89-80. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images / David Butler II-Imagn Images

Gillom joined the Mercury, as they received her through allocation. Phoenix received Gillom and Michele Timms during that period, and they built the rest of their roster through drafts. Gillom averaged 15.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals in her first season, and she had an even better year after that.

The Mercury star averaged 20.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.4 blocks in a season where the Mercury reached the WNBA Finals. They finished that season with a record of 19-11, and they beat the Cleveland Rockers to advance to the next round. They faced the Houston Comets, and the Comets won their second championship.

Gillom spent four more seasons with the Mercury, and in 1999, she was named an All-Star. The Mercury star had an excellent career, and in her years, she averaged 13.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and a steal. On top of what Gillom accomplished during her playing career, she is one of the few Mercury players who have their jersey retired.

Feb 20, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke reacts against the Arizona Wildcats at the Galen Center. USC defeated Arizona 77-51. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

There is another Mercury tie in this class, as Cooper was Phoenix's head coach for a period. She became the coach when Cheryl Miller resigned. Cooper coached them in 2001, and she was there for the first 10 games of the 2002 season.

The Mercury are a historic team, and names tied to them have received great honors. As time goes on, more names will be added to the Hall of Fame.

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