Phoenix Mercury Legends

Last Updated on March 15, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

The Phoenix Mercury are one of the WNBA’s signature franchises, with multiple championships, MVP-caliber stars, and several players who helped define different eras of team success. Here are some of the most notable Phoenix Mercury legends. (mercury.wnba.com)

1. Diana Taurasi

Full Name: Diana Lorena Taurasi
Years with the Mercury: 2004–2024
Position: Guard
Notable Achievements:
- Franchise icon and widely regarded as the greatest player in Mercury history
- Led Phoenix to WNBA championships in 2007, 2009, and 2014
- 2009 WNBA MVP
- 2009 and 2014 WNBA Finals MVP
- Retired as the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer and the Mercury’s all-time leader across a long list of franchise categories (mercury.wnba.com)

2. Penny Taylor

Full Name: Penelope Jane Taylor
Years with the Mercury: 2004–2016
Position: Forward
Notable Achievements:
- Key star on all three Mercury championship teams
- One of the best all-around forwards in franchise history
- Two-time All-WNBA selection and two-time WNBA All-Star
- Had her jersey retired by the Mercury
- Later inducted into both the Mercury Ring of Honor and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (mercury.wnba.com)

3. Brittney Griner

Full Name: Brittney Yevette Griner
Years with the Mercury: 2013–2024
Position: Center
Notable Achievements:
- One of the most dominant interior players the franchise has ever had
- Helped Phoenix win the 2014 WNBA championship
- Two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year
- Took over team and league blocked-shot records during her Mercury career
- One of the defining stars of the post-Taurasi title-contending era (mercury.wnba.com)

4. Cappie Pondexter

Full Name: Cappie Marie Pondexter
Years with the Mercury: 2006–2009
Position: Guard
Notable Achievements:
- Dynamic scoring guard who helped power Phoenix’s first title era
- WNBA champion with the Mercury in 2007 and 2009
- 2007 WNBA Finals MVP
- One of the most explosive offensive players in franchise history
- Played a major role in establishing Phoenix as an elite team in the late 2000s (mercury.wnba.com)

5. DeWanna Bonner

Full Name: DeWanna Bonner
Years with the Mercury: 2009–2019, 2025–present
Position: Forward
Notable Achievements:
- Two-time WNBA champion with Phoenix in 2009 and 2014
- One of the most versatile scorers in franchise history
- Set a WNBA record for most points scored off the bench in a game during her first Mercury stint
- Longtime impact player who bridged multiple important eras of Mercury basketball
- Returned to the franchise in 2025 as one of the most accomplished players in team history (mercury.wnba.com)

6. Michele Timms

Full Name: Michele Timms
Years with the Mercury: 1997–2001
Position: Guard
Notable Achievements:
- One of the most important players from the franchise’s original era
- Starting guard on the 1997 inaugural Mercury team
- WNBA All-Star and one of the first major stars in team history
- Member of the Mercury Ring of Honor
- Helped give the franchise early credibility and identity during the league’s first years (mercury.wnba.com)

These players helped shape Phoenix Mercury history, contributing to both team success and individual accolades. (mercury.wnba.com)

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