Why Phoenix's Star Was Acknowledged During A Big Season

The Phoenix Mercury had a big year in 1998, and the team's star received recognition for her team's success.

June 4, 2010; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Sparks head coach Jennifer Gillom reacts from the bench during the first half at US Airways Center against the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury defeated the Sparks 90-89. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-Imagn Images / Jennifer Stewart-Imagn Images

The Phoenix Mercury's first season was a success, and they kept that momentum going with their second. The Mercury finished the 1997 season with a record of 16-12, and in 1998, they were 19-11.

Phoenix was second in the Western Conference, and the Houston Comets were in first. The Comets were the defending champions, and they finished the 1998 season with a record of 27-3. The Mercury handed them their first loss, as Bridget Pettis helped her team get a 69-66 win. She had 20 points in that outing, and Jennifer Gillom and Toni Foster scored in double figures as well.

May 16, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; A view of the WNBA logo on the basket padding during the first quarter of the game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images / Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

The Mercury had an excellent year, and they reached the WNBA Finals for the first time. Things did not go their way, as the Comets won their second championship. Despite the loss, the Mercury made history, and that season set the tone for teams that came after them.

With the way Phoenix played, the team found itself involved in different award races. It started with the most prestigious award, and continued from there. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) award went to Cynthia Cooper, but Gillom finished second in that race.

May 30, 2010; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Sparks coach Jennifer Gillom during the game against the Atlanta Dream at the Staples Center. The Dream defeated the Sparks 101-82. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Cooper received 37 first-place votes, and Gillom received eight. Both players had remarkable seasons, and in Gillom's case, she averaged a career-high 20.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.4 assists.

Phoenix's star had quite the season, and she almost became the franchise's first MVP. That would happen years later, as Diana Taurasi won the award in 2009.

Mercury star involved in another race

Gillom was tied to another award, as she earned three points in the Sportsmanship Award race. She was fourth in that race, and Suzie McConnell-Serio was first. She had 18 points, while Ticha Penicheiro had 11 points and Vickie Johnson had four. Gillom won this award a few years later, and she was the first Mercury player to do it.

The Mercury forward added another accolade to her resume, as she was a member of the All-WNBA First Team. She was joined by Cooper, McConnell-Serio, Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson.

Jul 9, 2022; Chicago, IL, USA; A detail shot of a basketball during practice for the 2022 WNBA All-Star Game. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images / David Banks-Imagn Images

In what was a special year for the Mercury, Gillom was recognized for her play. She had a big year, and she put the Mercury on a path to success. They did not win the Finals, but getting to that point was historic.

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Gillom has a special place in the franchise's history, and she paved the way for future Mercury stars.

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