The Phoenix Mercury 2009 relied on an elite, up-tempo offense led by Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter, whose scoring and playmaking powered the league’s highest-scoring attack. Penny Taylor and Tangela Smith added efficient complementary scoring, while Temeka Johnson directed the offense with steady distribution. The Mercury thrived through pace and perimeter shooting but sacrificed defensive consistency, winning with overwhelming offensive production rather than stopping opponents.
Everything still revolved around Taurasi’s shot creation, but 2009 coverage often focused on her improved efficiency and willingness to punish traps with quicker decisions instead of forcing contested jumpers. Phoenix’s spacing was built around the attention she demanded every possession. (WNBA)
WNBA Champion (2009); WNBA Most Valuable Player (2009); WNBA All-Star (2009); All-WNBA First Team (2009)
Cappie Pondexter
Starter/Star (1.1)
31.6
High (1.2)
19.1
4.2
5.0
1.3
78.41
Playing beside Taurasi never reduced her importance. Reporters regularly highlighted Pondexter’s ability to attack rotating defenses, finish difficult drives and close games as a primary scorer when opponents overloaded on Taurasi. (WNBA)
WNBA Champion (2009); WNBA All-Star (2009); All-WNBA First Team (2009)
Tangela Smith
Starter/Star (1.1)
27.1
Medium (1.1)
9.9
5.4
0.8
2.7
45.74
Smith quietly gave Phoenix lineup flexibility as a veteran stretch forward. Independent coverage frequently pointed to her ability to drag opposing post players away from the basket while still protecting the rim on the other end. (WNBA)
WNBA Champion (2009)
DeWanna Bonner
Key Contributor (1.05)
21.3
Medium (1.1)
11.2
5.8
0.4
1.4
43.43
Bonner embraced an instant-offense role off the bench, using her length to attack in transition and finish over smaller defenders. Her energy and versatility became one of the league’s biggest rookie stories as the season progressed. (WNBA)
WNBA Champion (2009); WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year (2009)
Temeka Johnson
Starter/Star (1.1)
26.5
Medium (1.1)
9.6
3.5
4.6
1.0
45.50
Rather than dominate the ball, Johnson kept Phoenix’s pace humming with quick decisions and crisp entry passes. Local and national coverage praised how naturally she fit an offense already loaded with elite scorers.
WNBA Champion (2009)
Le’coe Willingham
Starter/Star (1.1)
21.0
Medium (1.1)
10.0
4.2
1.0
0.9
38.74
Willingham handled much of the physical work that freed Phoenix’s perimeter stars. Coaches trusted her to defend bigger forwards, crash the offensive glass and finish efficiently without needing designed touches.
WNBA Champion (2009)
Penny Taylor
Key Contributor (1.05)
20.2
Medium (1.1)
10.9
2.4
2.3
1.4
39.50
Returning from injury, Taylor played fewer minutes than usual but immediately restored another layer of ball movement and defensive versatility. Her basketball IQ remained obvious even in a limited regular-season role.
WNBA Champion (2009)
Nicole Ohlde
Bench (1.0)
14.8
Low (1.0)
5.2
2.8
0.3
1.2
19.00
Ohlde supplied dependable frontcourt depth, giving Phoenix another experienced interior option when matchups called for extra size. Contemporary coverage of her season was limited outside her reserve responsibilities.
WNBA Champion (2009)
Ketia Swanier
Bench (1.0)
11.8
Low (1.0)
2.8
1.6
1.6
0.6
13.20
Swanier filled backup point guard minutes with aggressive on-ball defense and steady pace. Independent reporting on her rookie campaign was limited, though coaches consistently valued her defensive pressure.
WNBA Champion (2009)
Kelly Mazzante
Bench (1.0)
14.0
Low (1.0)
3.4
1.3
0.5
0.4
11.20
Mazzante’s role remained straightforward as a spacing specialist whose shooting stretched second-unit defenses. Independent coverage from the season was limited because her minutes were highly situational.
WNBA Champion (2009)
Allie Quigley
Bench (1.0)
5.3
Low (1.0)
1.7
0.8
0.2
0.0
5.40
Quigley appeared only briefly before eventually developing elsewhere into an elite shooter. Contemporary independent reporting on her rookie season was limited due to her small role in Phoenix’s rotation.
WNBA Champion (2009)
Brooke Smith
Bench (1.0)
6.9
Low (1.0)
1.0
1.7
0.1
0.2
6.00
Smith served as emergency frontcourt depth behind an experienced championship rotation. Independent season coverage was sparse and focused largely on roster depth rather than individual contributions.
Phoenix’s offense still flowed through Taurasi, but her playoff poise became even more apparent. National coverage repeatedly highlighted how she welcomed late-game double teams, trusting the Mercury’s spacing before taking over herself when possessions broke down. (washingtonpost.com)
WNBA Champion (2009); WNBA Finals MVP (2009)
Cappie Pondexter
Starter/Star (1.1)
30.9
High (1.2)
18.2
3.6
3.5
1.2
69.43
Pondexter thrived as Phoenix’s downhill scorer, attacking gaps created by Taurasi’s gravity. During the Finals, Associated Press coverage emphasized her aggressive Game 4 performance that extended the series and shifted momentum back toward the Mercury. (washingtonpost.com)
WNBA Champion (2009)
Penny Taylor
Key Contributor (1.05)
24.1
Medium (1.1)
14.3
3.5
3.4
0.6
50.59
Returning to a larger role in the postseason, Taylor quietly connected every part of Phoenix’s offense. Her ball movement, timely cuts and clutch free throws in the deciding game drew praise as vital complements to the Mercury’s star backcourt. (washingtonpost.com)
WNBA Champion (2009)
Tangela Smith
Starter/Star (1.1)
26.4
Medium (1.1)
9.9
5.8
0.8
2.2
45.98
Smith’s value stretched well beyond box-score production. Her ability to pull opposing post defenders away from the paint became especially important in the Finals, including timely three-point shooting that helped seal the championship in Game 5. (washingtonpost.com)
WNBA Champion (2009)
Temeka Johnson
Starter/Star (1.1)
24.3
Medium (1.1)
7.5
1.9
3.1
0.9
32.67
Johnson embraced the role of tempo setter, keeping Phoenix organized while rarely forcing offense. Playoff observers regularly noted how quickly she advanced the ball and allowed the Mercury’s elite scorers to attack before defenses were set. (WNBA)
WNBA Champion (2009)
Le’coe Willingham
Starter/Star (1.1)
23.1
Medium (1.1)
8.2
4.4
0.9
0.9
34.37
Willingham handled many of the physical assignments that let Phoenix’s perimeter stars stay aggressive offensively. Her willingness to defend bigger forwards and battle on the offensive glass gave the Mercury valuable balance throughout the playoffs.
WNBA Champion (2009)
DeWanna Bonner
Key Contributor (1.05)
16.9
Medium (1.1)
8.8
4.3
0.3
1.0
33.26
Bonner brought instant athleticism off the bench, changing games with transition runs and disruptive length. Even in a reserve role, postseason coverage frequently mentioned the energy she injected whenever Phoenix’s rotation needed another spark.
WNBA Champion (2009); WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year (2009)
Nicole Ohlde
Bench (1.0)
13.6
Low (1.0)
2.6
2.7
0.4
0.7
12.80
Ohlde provided experienced interior depth when Phoenix needed additional size. Independent playoff discussion around her was limited, with most attention focused on the Mercury’s perimeter-driven rotation.
WNBA Champion (2009)
Ketia Swanier
Bench (1.0)
10.1
Low (1.0)
2.2
1.0
1.4
0.2
9.60
Swanier filled backup point guard minutes by applying defensive pressure and maintaining pace. Contemporary playoff reporting on her individual role was limited because Phoenix leaned heavily on its veteran core.
WNBA Champion (2009)
Brooke Smith
Bench (1.0)
6.0
Low (1.0)
4.0
0.0
0.0
1.0
10.00
Smith appeared only briefly during the postseason. Independent coverage was minimal, reflecting her emergency frontcourt role behind Phoenix’s established championship rotation.
WNBA Champion (2009)
Kelly Mazzante
Bench (1.0)
3.5
Low (1.0)
0.0
0.5
0.0
0.0
1.00
Mazzante saw only limited playoff action as Phoenix shortened its rotation. Contemporary independent coverage of her postseason contributions was limited due to her small role.
