2021 Phoenix Mercury season

2021 Phoenix Mercury season
CoachSandy Brondello
ArenaPhoenix Suns Arena
Attendance5,849 per game
Results
Record19–13 (.594)
Place4th (Western)
Playoff finish5th seed, Lost in WNBA Finals to Chicago Sky 1–3
Team Leaders
PointsBrittney Griner – 20.5 ppg
ReboundsBrittney Griner – 9.5 rpg
AssistsSkylar Diggins-Smith – 5.3 apg

The 2021 WNBA season was the 24th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association. The season tipped off on May 14, 2021, at the Minnesota Lynx.[1]

The team returned to the newly renovated Phoenix Suns Arena this season. Originally the team had planned to be elsewhere for the 2021 season, but renovations were finished ahead of schedule.[2]

The start to the season was a mixed bag for the Mercury. They went 3–3 during the first month of the season. June was a streaky month for the team as they won the first two games, but then went on a four game losing streak. The streak was broken by two wins, but followed by a loss to finish the month 4–5. The Mercury lost the first game of July, won the middle two, and lost the last game before the Olympic break. They went into the Olympic break with a 9–10 overall record. The Mercury had a spectacular return from the Olympic break, winning all seven of their games in August. Of the seven games only three were against playoff teams, and two of those three were against the eventual eight seed, New York Liberty. The Mercury extended their winning streak into September, and won their first three games of the month. However, their last three games of the season were against the eventual first, second, and fourth seeded playoff teams, and the Mercury lost all three games to finish the month 3–3. They finished with an overall record of 19–13 and secured the fifth overall seed in the playoffs.

As the fifth seed in the playoffs, the Mercury did not receive a bye played in the First Round. They defeated eight seed New York 83–82 in a close game. As the higher remaining seed in the second round, they traveled to Seattle to face off against the fourth seeded Storm. The Mercury advanced in a thrilling overtime game, 85–80. As the highest seed to advance from the second round, the Mercury played the second seeded Las Vegas Aces in the Semifinals. In a back and forth series the Mercury won games two, three, and five to win the series 3–2 and advance to the Finals. In the Finals, the team faced the Chicago Sky. The Mercury had home court advantage, meaning the first two games were played in Phoenix. The Mercury split those games 1–1 and the series advanced to Chicago. The Sky won both the games at home, and the series 3–1.

Transactions

WNBA draft

See also: 2021 WNBA draft
Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country
3 32 Ciera Johnson  United States Texas A&M

Trades/Roster Changes

Date Details
January 6, 2021 Extended Qualifying Offers to G Marta Xargay, G Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, G Sonja Petrovic, G Shey Peddy, F Nia Coffey, and C Angel Robinson[3]
January 12, 2021 Re-Signed G Shey Peddy to a Training Camp Contract[4]
January 23, 2021 Re-Signed F Nia Coffey to a Training Camp Contract[5]
February 1, 2021 Re-Signed G Diana Taurasi[6]
February 5, 2021 Signed C Kia Vaughn[7]
Rescinded Qualifying Offer to G Shatori Walker-Kimbrough[8]
February 10, 2021 Traded the 6th Overall Pick in the 2021 WNBA draft and a 1st Round Pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft to New York in exchange for G Kia Nurse and F Megan Walker[9]
Waived F Nia Coffey[10]
February 13, 2021 Traded G Yvonne Turner to Atlanta for a 3rd Round Pick in 2022[11]
March 22, 2021 Signed F Sara Blicavs and G Marta Xargay[12]
April 16, 2021 Signed G Tiana Mangakahia, C Avery Warley-Talbert, and C Akela Maize to Training Camp Contracts[13]
April 16, 2021 Signed F Cierra Burdick to a Training Camp Contract[14]
April 25, 2021 Signed C Ciera Johnson to a Rookie Scale Contract[15]
May 8, 2021 Waived G Marta Xargay, C Akela Maize, and C Avery Warley-Talbert[16]
May 10, 2021 Waived F Cierra Burdick[17]
May 12, 2021 Waived G Tiana Mangakahia, F Sara Blicavs, and C Ciera Johnson[18]
May 13, 2021 Temporarily Suspend C Kia Vaughn due to Overseas Commitments[19]
May 14, 2021 Sign F Cierra Burdick to a Hardship Contract[20]
May 26, 2021 Activate C Kia Vaughn from Temporary Suspension List[21]
Release F Cierra Burdick from Hardship Contract
May 27, 2021 Signed G Haley Gorecki to a Hardship Contract[22]
May 27, 2021 Released G Haley Gorecki from the Hardship Contract[23]

Roster

2021 Phoenix Mercury roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs
G 9 United States Cunningham, Sophie 6' 1" (1.85m) 170 lb (77kg) 1996-08-16 Missouri 2
G 4 United States Diggins-Smith, Skylar 5' 9" (1.75m) 145 lb (66kg) 1996-08-16 Notre Dame 7
C 42 United States Griner, Brittney 6' 9" (2.06m) 205 lb (93kg) 1990-10-18 Baylor 8
G 14 France Hartley, Bria 5' 8" (1.73m) 148 lb (67kg) 1992-09-30 Connecticut 7
G 0 Canada Nurse, Kia Injured 6' 0" (1.83m) 168 lb (76kg) 1996-02-22 Connecticut 3
G 5 United States Peddy, Shey 5' 7" (1.7m) 147 lb (67kg) 1988-10-28 Temple 2
F 11 Australia Smith, Alanna 6' 4" (1.93m) 180 lb (82kg) 1996-09-10 Stanford 2
G/F 3 United States Taurasi, Diana 6' 0" (1.83m) 163 lb (74kg) 1982-06-11 Connecticut 16
F 21 United States Turner, Brianna 6' 3" (1.91m) 170 lb (77kg) 1996-07-05 Notre Dame 2
C 1 Czech Republic Vaughn, Kia 6' 4" (1.93m) 205 lb (93kg) 1987-01-24 Rutgers 11
F 2 United States Walker, Megan 6' 1" (1.85m) 175 lb (79kg) 1998-11-23 Connecticut 1
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

Preseason

2021 pre-season game log
May: 0–2 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 8 Seattle L 71–88 Kia Nurse (12) Alanna Smith (8) Nurse
Taurasi (3) 		Phoenix Suns Arena
1,985 		0–1
2 May 10 @ Seattle L 93–103 Kia Nurse (26) Brittney Griner (6) Cierra Burdick (6) Angel of the Winds Arena 0–2
2021 pre-season schedule

Regular season

2020 game log
Total: 19–13 (Home: 7–9; Road: 12–4)
May: 3–3 (Home: 0–2; Road: 3–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 14 @ Minnesota W 77–75 Skylar Diggins-Smith (18) Brittney Griner (12) Taurasi
Diggins-Smith (5) 		Target Center
2,021 		1–0
2 May 16 @ Connecticut L 78–86 Diana Taurasi (19) Brianna Turner (8) Diana Taurasi (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
2,042 		1–1
3 May 18 @ Washington W 91–70 Diana Taurasi (17) Brianna Turner (14) Shey Peddy (6) Entertainment and Sports Arena
1,050 		2–1
4 May 21 Connecticut L 67–84 Skylar Diggins-Smith (20) Griner
Turner (5) 		Diana Taurasi (4) Phoenix Suns Arena
4,101 		2–2
5 May 26 Las Vegas L 79–85 Brittney Griner (27) Brittney Griner (11) Skylar Diggins-Smith (11) Phoenix Suns Arena
4,082 		2–3
6 May 29 @ Dallas W 89–85 Brittney Griner (27) Brittney Griner (16) Skylar Diggins-Smith (7) College Park Center
1,717 		3–3
June : 4–5 (Home: 2–4; Road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
7 June 1 @ Chicago W 84–83 Skylar Diggins-Smith (24) Nurse
Turner (8) 		Shey Peddy (6) Wintrust Arena
1,217 		4–3
8 June 3 Chicago W 77–74 Skylar Diggins-Smith (28) Brittney Griner (12) Brianna Turner (6) Phoenix Suns Arena
3,819 		5–3
9 June 9 Dallas L 81–85 Brittney Griner (27) Brittney Griner (16) Skylar Diggins-Smith (5) Phoenix Suns Arena
3,618 		5–4
10 June 11 Dallas L 59–77 Brittney Griner (19) Brittney Griner (6) Skylar Diggins-Smith (5) Phoenix Suns Arena
4,261 		5–5
11 June 13 New York L 83–85 Brittney Griner (29) Brittney Griner (14) Skylar Diggins-Smith (5) Phoenix Suns Arena
4,476 		5–6
12 June 16 @ Los Angeles L 80–85 Brittney Griner (30) Brianna Turner (12) Skylar Diggins-Smith (10) Los Angeles Convention Center
514 		5–7
13 June 18 @ Los Angeles W 80–66 Skylar Diggins-Smith (21) Griner
Turner (8) 		Diggins-Smith
Nurse (4) 		Los Angeles Convention Center
520 		6–7
14 June 27 Los Angeles W 88–79 Diana Taurasi (25) Brianna Turner (15) Skylar Diggins-Smith (4) Phoenix Suns Arena
7,304 		7–7
15 June 30 Minnesota L 76–82 Brittney Griner (28) Brittney Griner (7) Diana Taurasi (7) Phoenix Suns Arena
4,122 		7–8
July : 2–2 (Home: 1–1; Road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
16 July 3 Minnesota L 68–99 Skylar Diggins-Smith (12) Brianna Turner (6) Kia Vaughn (4) Phoenix Suns Arena
8,182 		7–9
17 July 7 @ Las Vegas W 99–90 (OT) Brittney Griner (33) Brittney Griner (12) Skylar Diggins-Smith (8) Michelob Ultra Arena
3,013 		8–9
18 July 9 Seattle W 85–77 Brittney Griner (29) Brittney Griner (15) Skylar Diggins-Smith (6) Phoenix Suns Arena
7,554 		9–9
19 July 11 @ Seattle L 75–82 Kia Nurse (28) Brittney Griner (9) Shey Peddy (7) Angel of the Winds Arena
5,110 		9–10
August : 7–0 (Home: 4–0; Road: 3–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
20 August 15 Atlanta W 92–81 Skylar Diggins-Smith (19) Brianna Turner (17) Skylar Diggins-Smith (7) Footprint Center
7,491 		10–10
21 August 17 Indiana W 84–80 Brittney Griner (25) Brianna Turner (11) Diana Taurasi (7) Footprint Center
4,089 		11–10
22 August 19 Washington W 77–64 Brittney Griner (30) Brianna Turner (14) Brittney Griner (5) Footprint Center
5,113 		12–10
23 August 21 @ Atlanta W 84–69 Skylar Diggins-Smith (25) Brittney Griner (12) Skylar Diggins-Smith (7) Gateway Center Arena
2,073 		13–10
24 August 25 @ New York W 106–79 Skylar Diggins-Smith (27) Brianna Turner (15) Diana Taurasi (7) Barclays Center
1,872 		14–10
25 August 27 @ New York W 80–64 Skylar Diggins-Smith (27) Kia Vaughn (11) Skylar Diggins-Smith (7) Barclays Center
2,315 		15–10
26 August 31 Chicago W 103–83 Kia Nurse (21) Skylar Diggins-Smith (8) Skylar Diggins-Smith (10) Footprint Center
5,838 		16–10
September : 3–3 (Home: 0–1; Road: 3–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
27 September 4 @ Indiana W 87–65 Brittney Griner (22) Brianna Turner (11) Diana Taurasi (7) Indiana Farmers Coliseum
N/A 		17–10
28 September 6 @ Indiana W 86–81 Brittney Griner (21) Brittney Griner (10) Diana Taurasi (6) Indiana Farmers Coliseum
N/A 		18–10
29 September 8 @ Atlanta W 76–75 Shey Peddy (18) Brianna Turner (15) Skylar Diggins-Smith (5) Gateway Center Arena
1,215 		19–10
30 September 11 Connecticut L 67–76 Brittney Griner (25) Brittney Griner (12) Skylar Diggins-Smith (5) Footprint Center
9,811 		19–11
31 September 17 @ Seattle L 85–94 Brittney Griner (26) Brittney Griner (13) Brittney Griner (5) Angel of the Winds Arena
6,000 		19–12
32 September 19 Las Vegas L 83–84 Skylar Diggins-Smith (17) Brianna Turner (8) Skylar Diggins-Smith (7) Phoenix Suns Arena
9,724 		19–13
2021 season schedule

Playoffs

2021 playoff game log
Total: 6–5
First round
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 September 23 New York W 83–82 Skylar Diggins-Smith (22) Brittney Griner (10) Brittney Griner (6) Grand Canyon University Arena
5,827 		1–0
Second round
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 September 26 @ Seattle W 85–80 (OT) Brittney Griner (23) Brittney Griner (16) Skylar Diggins-Smith (6) Angel of the Winds Arena
5,375 		1–0
Semifinals
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 September 28 @ Las Vegas L 90–96 Brittney Griner (24) Brianna Turner (8) Griner
Taurasi (6) 		Michelob Ultra Arena
7,009 		0–1
2 September 30 @ Las Vegas W 117–91 Diana Taurasi (37) Brianna Turner (8) Diggins-Smith
Griner
Vaughn (5) 		Michelob Ultra Arena
6,432 		1–1
3 October 3 Las Vegas W 87–60 Brianna Turner (23) Brianna Turner (17) Skylar Diggins-Smith (9) Desert Financial Arena
7,090 		2–1
4 October 6 Las Vegas L 76–93 Diggins-Smith
Taurasi (14) 		Brittney Griner (8) Taurasi
Turner (4) 		Footprint Center
11,255 		2–2
5 October 8 @ Las Vegas 87–84 Brittney Griner (28) Brianna Turner (11) Skylar Diggins-Smith (8) Michelob Ultra Arena
9,680 		3–2
Finals
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 October 10 Chicago L 77–91 Brittney Griner (20) Brianna Turner (9) Skylar Diggins-Smith (4) Footprint Center
10,191 		0–1
2 October 13 Chicago W 91–86 (OT) Brittney Griner (29) Griner
Turner (9) 		Skylar Diggins-Smith (12) Footprint Center
13,685 		1–1
3 October 15 @ Chicago L 50–86 Brittney Griner (16) Brianna Turner (7) Skylar Diggins-Smith (3) Wintrust Arena
10,378 		1–2
4 October 17 @ Chicago L 74–80 Brittney Griner (28) Brianna Turner (12) Skylar Diggins-Smith (8) Wintrust Arena
10,378 		1–3
2021 playoff schedule

Standings

# Team W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1 x – Connecticut Sun 26 6 .813 – 12–3 15–1 11–5 9–1
2 x – Las Vegas Aces 24 8 .750 2 11–4 13–3 11–5 6–4
3 x – Minnesota Lynx 22 10 .688 4 10–5 13–3 9–7 7–3
4 x – Seattle Storm 21 11 .656 5 9–6 11–5 10–6 8–2
5 x – Phoenix Mercury 19 13 .594 7 6–9 7–9 12–4 5–5
6 x – Chicago Sky 16 16 .500 10 10–5 6–10 10–6 6–4
7 x – Dallas Wings 14 18 .438 12 7–8 7–9 7–9 3–7
8 x – New York Liberty 12 20 .375 14 6–9 7–9 5–11 5–5
9 e – Washington Mystics 12 20 .375 14 7–8 8–8 4–12 4–6
10 e – Los Angeles Sparks 12 20 .375 14 2–13 8–8 4–12 1–9
11 e – Atlanta Dream 8 24 .250 18 6–9 4–12 4–12 4–6
12 e – Indiana Fever 6 26 .188 20 4–11 4–12 2–14 2–8

Notes

(#) – League Standing
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings


Playoffs

First round
Single elimination
Sept. 23		Second round
Single elimination
Sept. 26		Semifinals
Best-of-five
Sept. 28 – Oct. 8		WNBA Finals
Best-of-five
Oct. 10 – Oct. 17
2Las Vegas Aces9691609384
4Seattle Storm805Phoenix Mercury90117877687
5Phoenix Mercury835Phoenix Mercury85OT5Phoenix Mercury7791OT5074–
8New York Liberty826Chicago Sky91868680–
1Connecticut Sun95798369–
3Minnesota Lynx766Chicago Sky1012OT688679–
6Chicago Sky816Chicago Sky89
7Dallas Wings64

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Statistics

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

Source:[24]

Regular season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Brittney Griner 30 30 32.8 57.5 44.4 84.6 9.5 2.7 0.4 1.9 20.5
Skylar Diggins-Smith 32 32 32.5 45.2 37.0 81.8 3.2 5.3 1.1 0.8 17.5
Diana Taurasi 16 16 28.4 36.5 33.9 86.1 4.4 4.9 0.2 0.6 15.2
Kia Nurse 32 32 26.1 35.9 35.3 79.0 3.5 1.8 0.5 0.1 9.5
Brianna Turner 32 32 31.1 55.4 0.0 71.7 9.4 1.8 0.8 1.3 7.8
Sophie Cunningham 30 4 17.5 43.7 41.0 70.4 2.0 1.1 0.5 0.2 5.6
Shey Peddy 32 5 17.5 41.2 33.3 92.0 2.3 2.5 0.9 0.1 5.4
Kia Vaughn 28 2 15.8 44.4 0.0 60.0 2.7 1.3 0.2 0.2 4.6
Megan Walker 29 7 14.7 31.1 62.7 63.3 1.3 0.9 0.2 0.3 4.5
Bria Hartley 6 0 8.5 56.3 57.1 0.0 0.7 0.8 0.2 0.0 3.7
Alanna Smith 18 0 6.5 23.5 19.0 25.0 1.3 0.6 0.4 0.3 1.2

Awards and Milestones

Recipient Award/Milestone Date awarded Ref.
Brittney Griner Western Conference Player of the Week June 1 [25]
Diana Taurasi First WNBA player to reach 9,000 career points June 27 vs. Los Angeles Sparks [26]
Skylar Diggins-Smith WNBA All-Star Selection June 30 [27]
Brittney Griner
Diana Taurasi
Brittney Griner Western Conference Player of the Week July 12 [28]
August 23 [29]
Skylar Diggins-Smith August 30 [30]
Brittney Griner September 6 [31]
September 13 [32]
Brianna Turner WNBA All-Defensive First Team September 26 [33]
Brittney Griner WNBA All-Defensive Second Team
Skylar Diggins-Smith All-WNBA First Team October 15 [34]
Brittney Griner

References

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