Starting with a bold truth: Phoenix’s inaugural star power instantly announced that the Mercury were here to compete. The 1997 season launched Phoenix Mercury into the WNBA spotlight, helping set the tone for the league’s early momentum.
Phoenix built a strong roster through smart moves, beginning with the player allocations. Michele Timms and Jennifer Gillom joined the Mercury during that phase, and the team continued strengthening its core through the drafts. In the initial draft, the Mercury added Bridget Pettis and Nancy Lieberman. Later, they brought in players such as Toni Foster and Tia Jackson through subsequent selections.
By the season’s end, Phoenix had assembled a competitive lineup and posted a 16-12 record, topping the Western Conference and earning a playoff berth in their very first year. In the opening round of the playoffs, they faced the New York Liberty, who ultimately defeated them en route to the WNBA Finals.
Even in a debut season with plenty of excitement, individual players stood out in awards discussions. Michele Timms stood out as a standout MVP candidate, finishing fifth in the MVP vote after posting averages of 12.1 points, 5.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game.
Cynthia Cooper captured the MVP honor with 37 first-place votes, cementing her legacy in WNBA history as the season’s top player. Timms also contended for defense, tying for second in the Defensive Player of the Year race with four points, the same total as Elena Baranova; Teresa Weatherspoon ultimately won the award with 22 points.
Although Timms did not crack the All-WNBA First Team, a teammate did: Michele Gillom earned a spot on the All-WNBA Second Team, joined by Wendy Palmer, Rebecca Lobo, Teresa Weatherspoon, and Andrea Stinson.
Phoenix’s coaching staff also garnered attention, with Cheryl Miller finishing third in the Coach of the Year vote, accruing three points; Van Chancellor won the award with 26 points.
Looking ahead, the WNBA would continue to grow, and Timms’ breakthrough season helped lay the groundwork for the league’s future stars.
If you’re curious for deeper dives into the 1997 season and the award races, follow along on X here for ongoing coverage and more player profiles: https://x.com/MercuryOnSI
