Last Updated on August 13, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

The Cleveland Rockers 2000 featured a balanced attack led by Merlakia Jones in the backcourt and Chasity Melvin in the frontcourt, with Melvin supplying efficient interior scoring and rebounding. Ann Wauters emerged as another important post contributor, while Jones handled much of the team’s playmaking responsibilities. The Rockers relied on balanced scoring, strong frontcourt production, and solid team defense, with contributions distributed across multiple key players rather than one dominant offensive focal point.

NO. PLAYER POS HT WT DOB COLLEGE
4 Suzie McConnell Serio G July 29, 1966 Penn State
6 Eva Nemcova F 6-3 178 December 3, 1972
11 Tricia Bader Binford G 5-4 125 February 26, 1973 Boise State
12 Ann Wauters C 6-4 193 October 12, 1980
23 Mery Andrade F 6-0 169 December 31, 1975 Old Dominion
25 Merlakia Jones G 5-10 147 June 21, 1973 Florida
28 Chasity Melvin C-F 6-3 185 May 3, 1976 NC State
30 Helen Darling G 5-6 164 August 29, 1978 Penn State
32 Adia Barnes F 5-11 165 February 3, 1977 Arizona
34 Rushia Brown F 6-2 175 May 5, 1972 Furman University
41 Pollyanna Johns Kimbrough C 6-3 165 November 6, 1975 Michigan
42 Vicki Hall F 6-1 180 October 3, 1969 Texas
44 Michelle Edwards G 5-9 150 March 6, 1966 Iowa

HeatingUp Impact Index: Regular Season Team Impact Spotlight

Player Name Role Tier MPG Usage Tier PPG RPG APG STK (SPG + BPG) Impact Index Notes Awards
Eva Nemcova Starter/Star (1.10) 31.6 High (1.20) 13.2 2.9 1.6 1.7 51.22 Cleveland’s offense relied on Nemcova to create spacing from the wing, and she remained the team’s most dangerous perimeter scorer before a season-ending injury cut her campaign short. Early game coverage frequently highlighted how quickly she could swing momentum with consecutive three-pointers when defenses collapsed into the paint. (Wikipedia) None
Chasity Melvin Starter/Star (1.10) 28.3 High (1.20) 11.7 5.4 1.9 1.5 53.86 Melvin matured into Cleveland’s most dependable interior presence, blending physical rebounding with efficient finishing around the rim. During the playoff push, Dan Hughes repeatedly trusted her to anchor the frontcourt, and Associated Press reports praised her work on both backboards in pivotal wins over Orlando. (ESPN) Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Merlakia Jones Starter/Star (1.10) 29.6 High (1.20) 11.0 4.3 2.0 1.0 48.42 Jones embraced the primary attacking role whenever Cleveland needed offense, pushing the ball in transition and driving aggressively instead of settling for jumpers. Playoff reporting noted her willingness to shoulder tougher scoring assignments as the backcourt leader once the rotation tightened. (ESPN) Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Mery Andrade Key Contributor (1.05) 24.9 Medium (1.10) 8.3 3.0 2.3 1.6 35.37 Andrade quietly filled several jobs at once, defending multiple positions while moving the ball and knocking down timely perimeter shots. Coaches valued her versatility more than raw scoring, allowing Cleveland to shuffle lineups without sacrificing defensive intensity. (The Washington Post) Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Rushia Brown Key Contributor (1.05) 22.6 Medium (1.10) 8.4 4.1 1.5 1.7 36.27 Brown gave the Rockers a rugged interior option whose value went well beyond the box score. Associated Press coverage during the Orlando series highlighted her rebounding, physical defense and efficient finishing as Cleveland forced a decisive third game before advancing. (ESPN) Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Suzie McConnell Serio Starter/Star (1.10) 22.0 Medium (1.10) 5.4 1.6 3.7 0.5 26.62 Even in the closing chapter of her WNBA career, McConnell Serio remained the organizer who dictated pace and connected every lineup. ESPN’s postseason coverage reflected how teammates leaned on her leadership, and her retirement after the conference finals marked the end of one of the league’s premier floor generals. (ESPN) Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Ann Wauters Bench (1.00) 18.7 Medium (1.10) 6.2 4.0 1.2 1.5 28.38 The teenage rookie steadily earned Dan Hughes’ confidence as the season progressed, offering size, touch and surprising defensive instincts. Associated Press coverage of the Orlando series singled out her rim protection and efficient finishing as key reasons Cleveland reached the conference finals. (The Washington Post) WNBA All-Rookie Team (2000); Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Vicki Hall Bench (1.00) 18.0 Low (1.00) 4.7 2.9 0.8 0.8 18.40 Hall filled a utility forward role, taking difficult defensive assignments while helping stabilize second-unit lineups. Independent season coverage focused more on her willingness to do the small jobs than on individual offensive production. (Wikipedia) Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Helen Darling Bench (1.00) 17.4 Low (1.00) 4.8 2.0 2.0 1.4 20.40 Darling’s quickness gave Cleveland another ball-handler, and her defensive pressure became increasingly valuable in the postseason. Associated Press game reports noted her scoring burst against Orlando when the Rockers faced elimination. (ESPN) WNBA All-Rookie Team (2000); Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Tricia Bader Binford Bench (1.00) 8.0 Low (1.00) 1.9 0.4 0.8 0.7 7.60 Binford saw limited reserve minutes as an experienced backcourt option. Independent contemporary coverage of her season was sparse, with most mentions appearing in routine game notebooks rather than feature stories. (Basketball Reference) Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Michelle Edwards Bench (1.00) 5.7 Low (1.00) 2.7 0.7 0.3 0.0 7.40 Edwards appeared only briefly before injuries reduced her role. Contemporary reporting offered little player-specific analysis, as attention centered on Cleveland’s younger core during its playoff run. (Wikipedia) Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Pollyanna Johns Kimbrough Bench (1.00) 4.8 Low (1.00) 1.4 1.2 0.2 0.1 5.80 Johns Kimbrough provided emergency frontcourt depth in short appearances. Independent reporting on her individual season was limited, with coverage largely focused on roster depth rather than her on-court contributions. (Basketball Reference) Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Adia Barnes Bench (1.00) 3.6 Low (1.00) 1.6 0.4 0.8 0.0 5.60 Barnes was used sparingly as a reserve wing while Cleveland settled on a consistent rotation. Contemporary independent coverage of her minutes was minimal outside standard game reports. (Basketball Reference) Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Team Totals — 247.5 — 79.3 32.6 21.7 11.6 345.94 Despite losing Eva Nemcova late in the year, Cleveland pieced together one of the WNBA’s toughest defensive teams behind Dan Hughes. Balanced frontcourt play, disciplined half-court execution and strong playoff defense carried the Rockers to the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals before New York ended their season. Eastern Conference Finals (2000)

HeatingUp Impact Index: Playoff Team Impact Spotlight

Player Name Role Tier MPG Usage Tier PPG RPG APG STK (SPG + BPG) Impact Index Notes Awards
Merlakia Jones Starter/Star (1.10) 34.5 High (1.20) 13.8 7.2 1.8 1.2 63.89 Cleveland’s primary shot creator embraced the toughest offensive assignments throughout the postseason, attacking off the dribble even when defenses loaded up on her. Associated Press coverage repeatedly highlighted her late-game confidence, including the decisive jumper against New York during the regular season and her scoring leadership in the playoffs. (The Washington Post) Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Chasity Melvin Starter/Star (1.10) 30.5 Medium (1.10) 8.8 6.7 1.8 1.3 44.04 Working as Cleveland’s interior anchor, Melvin controlled the glass and supplied efficient finishing around the basket instead of forcing offense. Game 2 against Orlando showcased her impact, as a double-double helped the Rockers even the series before advancing. (The Washington Post) Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Rushia Brown Starter/Star (1.10) 27.8 Medium (1.10) 10.5 5.7 1.7 3.1 50.09 Brown’s playoff role centered on physical defense, offensive rebounding and finishing through contact. Independent postseason coverage consistently pointed to her toughness, with Orlando coach Carolyn Peck specifically noting Cleveland’s dominance on the boards after Brown helped dictate the interior battle. (The Washington Post) Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Suzie McConnell Serio Starter/Star (1.10) 24.5 Medium (1.10) 6.5 2.3 4.2 1.0 33.40 McConnell Serio remained the emotional leader and offensive organizer during her farewell postseason. ESPN’s conference finals coverage captured the standing ovation she received after announcing her retirement, reflecting the respect she commanded across the league. (ESPN) Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Mery Andrade Key Contributor (1.05) 27.7 Medium (1.10) 3.5 2.8 2.3 1.5 23.56 Andrade accepted a defense-first assignment on the wing, often guarding difficult perimeter matchups while keeping the offense moving. Although her shot deserted her during the series, coaches continued trusting her because of her versatility and effort away from the ball. (The Washington Post) Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Helen Darling Bench (1.00) 17.7 Low (1.00) 5.5 3.3 2.2 1.2 24.40 Darling changed games with pace and ball pressure, giving Cleveland another creator off the bench. Associated Press reporting highlighted her 15-point effort against Orlando, where her aggressive play helped force a decisive Game 3. (The Washington Post) WNBA All-Rookie Team (2000); Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Ann Wauters Bench (1.00) 17.8 Low (1.00) 4.7 3.0 0.8 1.0 19.00 The teenage rookie offered valuable size in limited minutes and steadily looked more comfortable as the postseason progressed. Associated Press coverage praised her efficient finishing and interior defense during the series-clinching victory over Orlando. (The Washington Post) WNBA All-Rookie Team (2000); Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Vicki Hall Bench (1.00) 11.5 Low (1.00) 3.5 2.5 0.7 0.2 13.80 Hall filled a utility role by defending multiple frontcourt positions and doing the small jobs that rarely appeared in the box score. Independent coverage of the postseason mentioned her primarily for hustle plays and timely rebounding. (The Washington Post) Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Tricia Bader Binford Bench (1.00) 7.2 Low (1.00) 1.6 0.2 0.2 0.4 4.80 Binford saw only brief reserve minutes as Cleveland shortened its playoff rotation. Independent reporting on her individual postseason role was limited beyond game coverage and lineup notes. (Basketball Reference) Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Pollyanna Johns Kimbrough Bench (1.00) 1.5 Low (1.00) 1.8 0.5 0.3 0.0 5.20 Johns Kimbrough appeared only in spot duty as emergency frontcourt depth. Contemporary independent coverage was minimal because Cleveland relied heavily on its established post rotation during the playoff run. (Basketball Reference) Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Adia Barnes Bench (1.00) 1.5 Low (1.00) 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.0 2.60 Barnes made only limited appearances as the coaching staff shortened the bench. Independent postseason reporting focused almost entirely on Cleveland’s core rotation rather than the reserve guards. (Basketball Reference) Eastern Conference Finals (2000)
Team Totals — 213.2 — 60.7 35.7 16.5 11.9 284.78 Cleveland’s postseason identity revolved around disciplined defense, rebounding and balanced frontcourt play. The Rockers recovered from an opening loss to Orlando, reached the Eastern Conference Finals and pushed New York before their season ended one step short of the WNBA Finals. Eastern Conference Finals (2000)