How The Mercury Changed After 1998

The Phoenix Mercury made the WNBA Finals for the first time in 1998, and 10 years later, things were a little different.

Aug 8, 2010; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detail view of Phoenix Mercury forward Tangela Smith wears pink Adidas breast cancer awareness shoes at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-Imagn Images / Jennifer Stewart-Imagn Images

The 1998 season was a big year for the Phoenix Mercury, and they made history during that period. They finished the 1997 season with a record of 16-12, and they were 19-11 the following year.

Phoenix played well, and players like Jennifer Gillom and Bridget Pettis helped the team go far. The Mercury reached the WNBA Finals for the first time, and they beat the Cleveland Rockers to get there.

Jul 23, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury mascot Scorch dunks against the Atlanta Dream in the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images / Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

That series was 2-1, and the Mercury started things off with a win. They beat the Rockers 78-68 in the first game, and Gillom was the star. She had 21 points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal. Michele Timms was the second-leading scorer, and she had 16 points. She also had three assists, two rebounds and two steals.

Michelle Brogan was the last player to score in double figures, and she had 10 points. Brogan also had two rebounds, two assists and a block. Phoenix started the series on a good note, and while the Mercury lost the second game, they bounced back in the third.

Fans stand for free tee shirts during the second quarter between the Phoenix Mercury and the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at Footprint Center in Phoenix. / Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Pettis was the leading scorer in that game, and she had 27 points. She did well in other areas, as she had 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block. Then, outside of Pettis, the Mercury had two players who scored 10 or more points. Brogan had 14, and Gillom had 11.

Mercury face defending champions

The Mercury were headed to the Finals, and they faced the Houston Comets. The Comets established themselves as a threat, as they beat the New York Liberty to win it all the year prior. They had another strong season, and after beating the Charlotte Sting in the previous round, they were back in the Finals.

A Women’s National Basketball Association trophy sits on display at WNBA Live before the WNBA All-Star Game on Friday, July 18, 2025, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. / Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Houston defeated Phoenix, and the franchise had its second championship. Then, the Comets would win two more after that.

Years later, the Mercury would reach the Finals once again. They beat the Detroit Shock, and they had their first championship. They had a shot at repeating, but they missed the playoffs the following year. They were two games below .500, and while that normally is not a big issue, it kept them out of the postseason.

The Mercury had to wait a year before their second championship, but in the end, they came out victorious. The 1998 team and 2008 team were in different spaces, but they are both a part of franchise history.

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