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2020 Phoenix Mercury season

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.[1]

2020 Phoenix Mercury season
CoachSandy Brondello
ArenaOriginally: Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Rescheduled to: IMG Academy gymnasiums, Bradenton, Florida
Attendance0 per game
Results
Record13–9 (.591)
Place5th (Western)
Playoff finish5th Seed, Lost in Second Round to Minnesota Lynx
Team Leaders
PointsDiana Taurasi – 18.7 ppg
ReboundsBrianna Turner – 9.0 rpg
AssistsBria Hartley & Diana Taurasi – 4.5 apg

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.[2]

This WNBA season will feature an all-time high 36 regular-season games.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5][6]

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

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WNBA draft

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See also: 2020 WNBA draft
Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country
1 10 Jocelyn Willoughby   United States Virginia
2 18 Te'a Cooper   United States Baylor
3 29 Stella Johnson   United States Rider

Trades/Roster Changes

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Date Details
February 11, 2020 Traded F DeWanna Bonner to Connecticut in exchange for the 7th and 10th pick in the 2020 WNBA draft in addition to a first-round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft.[7]
February 12, 2020 Traded the 5th and 7th pick in the 2020 WNBA draft in addition to a first-round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft to Dallas in exchange for Skylar Diggins-Smith.[8]
February 13, 2020 Re-signed C Brittney Griner[9]
Signed G Bria Hartley[10]
February 19, 2020 Acquired F Jessica Breland and F Nia Coffey in exchange for G Briann January, the 17th pick in the 2020 WNBA draft, and the team's second round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft[11]
February 24, 2020 Signed C Kia Vaughn[12]
April 17, 2020 Acquired G Shatori Walker-Kimbrough from New York in exchange for the draft rights to G/F Jocelyn Willoughby.[13]
July 12, 2020 F Jessica Breland medically excused for 2020 season.[14]

Roster

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2020 Phoenix Mercury roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs
F 51 United States  Breland, Jessica 6' 2" (1.88m) 166 lb (75kg) 1988-02-23 North Carolina 8
F 10 United States  Coffey, Nia 6' 1" (1.85m) 182 lb (83kg) 1995-06-11 Northwestern 3
G 9 United States  Cunningham, Sophie 6' 1" (1.85m) 170 lb (77kg) 1996-08-16 Missouri 1
G 4 United States  Diggins-Smith, Skylar 5' 9" (1.75m) 145 lb (66kg) 1990-08-02 Notre Dame 6
C 42 United States  Griner, Brittney 6' 9" (2.06m) 205 lb (93kg) 1990-10-18 Baylor 7
G 14 France  Hartley, Bria 5' 8" (1.73m) 148 lb (67kg) 1992-09-30 Connecticut 6
F 12 United States  Jenkins, Alisia 6' 1" (1.85m) – 1994-02-21 South Florida R
G 5 United States  Peddy, Shey 5' 7" (1.7m) 147 lb (67kg) 1988-10-28 Temple 1
F 11 Australia  Smith, Alanna 6' 4" (1.93m) 180 lb (82kg) 1996-09-10 Stanford 1
G/F 3 United States  Taurasi, Diana 6' 0" (1.83m) 163 lb (74kg) 1982-06-11 Connecticut 15
F 21 United States  Turner, Brianna 6' 3" (1.91m) 170 lb (77kg) 1996-07-05 Notre Dame 1
C 1 Czech Republic  Vaughn, Kia 6' 4" (1.93m) 205 lb (93kg) 1987-01-24 Rutgers 10
G 2 United States  Walker-Kimbrough, Shatori 5' 9" (1.75m) 140 lb (64kg) 1995-05-18 Maryland 3
Head coach
Australia  Sandy Brondello (Western Sydney)
Assistant coaches
United States  Julie Hairgrove (Arizona)
United States  Chasity Melvin (NC State)
Athletic trainer
United States  Hannah Breck (Boston University)
Strength and conditioning coach
United States  Derrick Nillissen (Iowa Wesleyan)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured  Injured

Game log

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Regular season

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2020 game log
Total: 13–9
July
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 July 25 Los Angeles Sparks L 76–99 Taurasi (16) Griner (9) Diggins-Smith (6) IMG Academy
0 		0–1
2 July 29 Indiana Fever L 100–106 Hartley (26) Tied (7) Tied (5) IMG Academy
0 		0–2
3 July 31 Las Vegas Aces W 102–95 Tied (22) Turner (9) Taurasi (10) IMG Academy
0 		1–2
August
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
4 August 2 New York Liberty W 96–67 Hartley (27) Turner (11) Taurasi (9) IMG Academy
0 		2–2
5 August 4 Atlanta Dream W 81–74 Taurasi (20) Turner (7) Taurasi (6) IMG Academy
0 		3–2
6 August 6 Chicago Sky W 96–86 Tied (22) Griner (8) Taurasi (6) IMG Academy
0 		4–2
7 August 8 Seattle Storm L 68–74 Griner (20) Griner (8) Taurasi (5) IMG Academy
0 		4–3
8 August 10 Dallas Wings W 91–79 Diggins-Smith (26) Griner (13) Diggins-Smith (7) IMG Academy
0 		5–3
9 August 12 Chicago Sky L 71–89 Tied (15) Griner (6) Diggins-Smith (4) IMG Academy
0 		5–4
10 August 14 Atlanta Dream W 96–80 Hartley (24) Griner (8) Hartley (5) IMG Academy
0 		6–4
11 August 16 Dallas Wings L 89–95 Griner (29) Taurasi (9) Hartley (6) IMG Academy
0 		6–5
12 August 19 Los Angeles Sparks L 74–83 Taurasi (19) Turner (7) Hartley (9) IMG Academy
0 		6–6
13 August 21 Minnesota Lynx L 80–90 Hartley (24) Turner (9) Hartley (5) IMG Academy
0 		6–7
14 August 23 Washington Mystics W 88–87 Taurasi (34) Turner (17) Hartley (5) IMG Academy
0 		7–7
15 August 28 Washington Mystics W 94–72 Diggins-Smith (24) Smith (8) Taurasi (7) IMG Academy
0 		8–7
16 August 30 Minnesota Lynx W 83–79 Diggins-Smith (25) Turner (15) Peddy (5) IMG Academy
0 		9–7
September
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
17 September 1 Las Vegas Aces W 92–85 Taurasi (32) Turner (13) Tied (7) IMG Academy
0 		10–7
18 September 3 Indiana Fever W 105–81 Diggins-Smith (28) Turner (12) Diggins-Smith (8) IMG Academy
0 		11–7
19 September 5 New York Liberty W 83–67 Diggins-Smith (30) Turner (13) Turner (4) IMG Academy
0 		12–7
20 September 7 Connecticut Sun L 70–85 Taurasi (19) Turner (8) Diggins-Smith (6) IMG Academy
0 		12–8
21 September 9 Connecticut Sun W 100–95 Diggins-Smith (33) Turner (21) Taurasi (7) IMG Academy
0 		13–8
22 September 11 Seattle Storm L 60–83 Walker-Kimbrough (24) Turner (11) Peddy (6) IMG Academy
0 		13–9
2020 season schedule

Playoffs

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2020 playoff game log
Total: 1–1
First Round
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 September 15 Washington Mystics W 85–84 Diggins-Smith (24) Turner (11) Taurasi (6) IMG Academy 1–0
Second Round
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 September 17 Minnesota Lynx 79–80 Taurasi (28) Turner (14) Taurasi (9) IMG Academy 0–1
2020 playoff schedule

Standings

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# Team W L PCT GB Conf.
1 x – Las Vegas Aces 18 4 .818 – 8–2
2 x – Seattle Storm 18 4 .818 – 8–2
3 x – Los Angeles Sparks 15 7 .682 3 5–5
4 x – Minnesota Lynx 14 8 .636 4 4–6
5 x – Phoenix Mercury 13 9 .591 5 4–6
6 x – Chicago Sky 12 10 .545 6 6–4
7 x – Connecticut Sun 10 12 .455 8 7–3
8 x – Washington Mystics 9 13 .409 9 6–4
9 e – Dallas Wings 8 14 .364 10 1–9
10 e – Atlanta Dream 7 15 .318 11 5–5
11 e – Indiana Fever 6 16 .273 12 4–6
12 e – New York Liberty 2 20 .091 16 2–8


Playoffs

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Main article: 2020 WNBA Playoffs
First round:
Single elimination
(September 15)		Second round:
Single elimination
(September 17)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(September 20–29)		WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(October 2–11)
1Las Vegas Aces6283688466
4Minnesota Lynx807Connecticut Sun8775777563
5Phoenix Mercury855Phoenix Mercury791Las Vegas Aces809159
8Washington Mystics842Seattle Storm9310492
2Seattle Storm888992
3Los Angeles Sparks594Minnesota Lynx867971
6Chicago Sky817Connecticut Sun73
7Connecticut Sun94

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage  TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per game Team leader League leader

Regular season

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Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Diana Taurasi 19 19 28.1 40.9 36.5 91.2 4.2 4.5 1.0 0.4 18.7
Brittney Griner 12 12 31.8 49.7 0 80.9 7.5 3.0 0.3 1.8 17.7
Skylar Diggins-Smith 22 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 4.5 1.2 0 14.6
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough 21 10 19.0 42.9 43.1 92.0 1.6 1.5 1.1 0.4 7.3
Brianna Turner 22 22 27.9 57.9 0 64.3 9.0 1.8 1.1 2.0 7.2
Kia Vaughn 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 10.5 100 3.0 2.4 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

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Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
Skylar Diggins-Smith WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week September 8, 2020 [15]
Brianna Turner 1st Team All-Defense September 29, 2020 [16]
Diana Taurasi All-WNBA Second Team October 4, 2020 [17]
Skylar Diggins-Smith

References

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  1. ^ "2020 Phoenix Mercury Schedule". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  2. ^ "Phoenix Mercury Change In Home Court For 2020 Season". All About Arizona News. July 25, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  3. ^ "Atlanta Dream Announce 2020 Schedule - Atlanta Dream". dream.wnba.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  4. ^ "WNBA Statement Regarding the Start of the 2020 Regular Season". April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  5. ^ "WNBA Announces Plan To Tip Off 2020 Season". WNBA. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  6. ^ "WNBA announces plans for 2020 season to start late July in Florida". NBC Sports Washington. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  7. ^ "MERCURY ACQUIRES THREE FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS FROM CONNECTICUT". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  8. ^ "Mercury Welcomes Skylar Diggins-Smith to The Valley". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  9. ^ "Brittney Griner Will Continue to Call The Valley home". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  10. ^ Metcalfe, Jeff (February 13, 2020). "Phoenix Mercury continue roster remake, signing guard Bria Hartley". USA Today. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  11. ^ "Breland, Coffey acquired from Atlanta in exchange for Briann January". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  12. ^ "Kia Vaughn Chooses Phoenix in Free Agency". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  13. ^ Metcalfe, Jeff (April 17, 2020). "Phoenix Mercury trade WNBA first-round draft pick for veteran Walker-Kimbrough". USA Today. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  14. ^ "MERCURY'S BRELAND MEDICALLY EXCUSED FROM 2020 SEASON". mercury.wnba.com. WNBA. July 12, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  15. ^ "Diggins-Smith, Bonner Earn Player Of The Week Honors For Week 6". wnba.com. WNBA. September 8, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  16. ^ "Two Atlanta Dream Players And Seattle Storm's Alysha Clark Headline 2020 WNBA All-Defensive Team". wnba.com. WNBA. September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  17. ^ "A'ja Wilson And Candace Parker Unanimously Selected To 2020 All-WNBA First Team". wnba.com. WNBA. October 4, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
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