Last Updated on September 1, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The Phoenix Mercury 2016 relied on Diana Taurasi’s scoring, perimeter shooting, and playmaking to lead the offense, while Brittney Griner anchored the paint with efficient interior scoring, rebounding, and elite shot-blocking. Candice Dupree added consistent frontcourt scoring, and Leilani Mitchell provided steady ball distribution and outside shooting. The Mercury combined balanced offense with strong interior defense, though rebounding was less of a defining strength than their rim protection.
Roster
| NO. | PLAYER | POS. | HT. | WT. | DOB | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Diana Taurasi | G | 6-0 | 163 | June 11, 1982 | UConn |
| 4 | Candice Dupree | F | 6-2 | 178 | August 16, 1984 | Temple |
| 5 | Sonja Petrovic | F | 6-2 | 169 | February 18, 1989 | — |
| 8 | Mistie Bass | F | 6-3 | 189 | December 2, 1983 | Duke |
| 10 | Lindsey Harding | G | 5-8 | 139 | June 12, 1984 | Duke |
| 11 | Courtney Williams | G | 5-8 | 147 | May 11, 1994 | South Florida |
| 12 | Alex Harden | G | 6-0 | 173 | March 27, 1993 | Wichita State |
| 13 | Penny Taylor | F | 6-1 | 165 | May 24, 1981 | — |
| 20 | Isabelle Harrison | F | 6-5 | 193 | September 27, 1993 | Tennessee |
| 21 | Nirra Fields | G | 5-9 | 158 | December 3, 1993 | UCLA |
| 21 | Marta Xargay | G | 5-11 | 160 | December 20, 1990 | — |
| 24 | DeWanna Bonner | F-G | 6-4 | 140 | August 21, 1987 | Auburn |
| 42 | Brittney Griner | C | 6-9 | 219 | October 18, 1990 | Baylor |
| 45 | Kelsey Bone | C | 6-4 | 220 | December 31, 1991 | Texas A&M |
| 45 | Noelle Quinn | G | 6-0 | 178 | January 3, 1985 | UCLA |
Regular Season Per Game
| PLAYER | POS | AGE | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diana Taurasi | G | 34 | 33 | 33 | 29.8 | 17.8 | 3.0 | 3.9 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 2.6 | 13.8 | 5.5 | .396 | 7.7 | 2.7 | .350 | 4.7 | 4.2 | .909 |
| DeWanna Bonner | F | 28 | 34 | 24 | 31.3 | 14.5 | 5.4 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 10.7 | 4.5 | .424 | 4.5 | 1.5 | .329 | 4.9 | 3.9 | .798 |
| Brittney Griner | C | 25 | 34 | 34 | 29.2 | 14.5 | 6.5 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 9.6 | 5.2 | .548 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.9 | 4.1 | .831 | |
| Penny Taylor | F | 35 | 25 | 25 | 25.7 | 12.5 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 8.4 | 4.1 | .488 | 4.0 | 1.6 | .396 | 3.0 | 2.7 | .907 |
| Candice Dupree | F | 31 | 32 | 32 | 29.1 | 11.3 | 5.3 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 8.8 | 4.8 | .541 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 2.3 | 1.8 | .792 |
| Sonja Petrovic | F | 27 | 31 | 13 | 14.8 | 5.1 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 3.9 | 1.6 | .421 | 1.0 | 0.4 | .344 | 1.5 | 1.5 | .957 |
| Mistie Bass | F | 32 | 33 | 1 | 13.2 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 1.1 | .463 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.7 | .815 | |
| Marta Xargay | G | 25 | 15 | 6 | 19.7 | 5.7 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 5.0 | 2.0 | .400 | 2.6 | 0.9 | .333 | 1.1 | 0.8 | .706 |
| Lindsey Harding | G | 32 | 21 | 0 | 15.7 | 3.9 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 3.9 | 1.4 | .370 | 0.2 | 0.1 | .400 | 1.1 | 1.0 | .870 |
| Isabelle Harrison | F | 22 | 26 | 1 | 7.5 | 3.1 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 1.2 | .525 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | .680 | |
| Kelsey Bone | C | 24 | 20 | 0 | 9.7 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 1.3 | .388 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.5 | 0.4 | .700 |
| Alex Harden | G | 23 | 28 | 1 | 7.5 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 0.6 | .450 | 0.4 | 0.1 | .250 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .500 |
| Noelle Quinn | G | 31 | 13 | 0 | 9.9 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 0.5 | .241 | 0.8 | 0.1 | .100 | 0.5 | 0.5 | .857 |
| Nirra Fields | G | 22 | 4 | 0 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.3 | .143 | 0.3 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.5 | 0.3 | .500 |
| Courtney Williams | G | 22 | 6 | 0 | 4.2 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 0.2 | .111 | 0.2 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.3 | 0.2 | .500 |
Playoff Per Game
| PLAYER | POS | AGE | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diana Taurasi | G | 34 | 5 | 5 | 30.8 | 23.6 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 13.6 | 7.0 | .515 | 7.4 | 3.2 | .432 | 6.6 | 6.4 | .970 |
| Brittney Griner | C | 25 | 5 | 5 | 31.2 | 13.4 | 6.0 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 8.4 | 5.4 | .643 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.2 | 2.6 | .813 | |
| Penny Taylor | F | 35 | 5 | 5 | 26.0 | 11.2 | 4.4 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 7.6 | 2.8 | .368 | 3.2 | 1.0 | .313 | 4.8 | 4.6 | .958 |
| DeWanna Bonner | F | 28 | 5 | 0 | 24.2 | 10.8 | 4.2 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.8 | 9.4 | 4.0 | .426 | 2.2 | 0.0 | .000 | 3.4 | 2.8 | .824 |
| Candice Dupree | F | 31 | 5 | 5 | 31.4 | 9.6 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 8.6 | 4.2 | .488 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.000 | |
| Marta Xargay | G | 25 | 5 | 5 | 24.2 | 7.8 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2.6 | 5.4 | 2.4 | .444 | 2.2 | 0.6 | .273 | 3.0 | 2.4 | .800 |
| Isabelle Harrison | F | 22 | 3 | 0 | 13.7 | 5.3 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 4.3 | 2.7 | .615 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | .000 | |
| Sonja Petrovic | F | 27 | 2 | 0 | 12.5 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 4.5 | 2.0 | .444 | 2.0 | 1.5 | .750 | 1.0 | 0.0 | .000 |
| Lindsey Harding | G | 32 | 5 | 0 | 9.2 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 1.2 | .462 | 0.2 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.4 | 0.0 | .000 |
| Mistie Bass | F | 32 | 5 | 0 | 7.8 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 0.6 | .333 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 1.000 | |
| Alex Harden | G | 23 | 2 | 0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.000 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Kelsey Bone | C | 24 | 2 | 0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diana Taurasi | Starter/Star (1.1) | 29.8 | High (1.2) | 17.8 | 3.0 | 3.9 | 1.0 | 67.06 | Functioned as Phoenix’s offensive engine, constantly creating off high ball screens and stretching defenses well beyond the arc. Even with fluctuating shooting efficiency, independent season coverage consistently highlighted the attention she drew from opposing defenses and the leadership she provided while steering the Mercury’s attack. | WNBA All-Star (2016), All-WNBA First Team (2016) |
| Brittney Griner | Starter/Star (1.1) | 29.2 | High (1.2) | 14.5 | 6.5 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 67.06 | Anchored the interior on both ends, with coaches and analysts regularly pointing to her rim protection as the foundation of Phoenix’s defensive identity. Her shot-blocking altered offensive game plans well beyond the box score while remaining an efficient scoring option inside. | WNBA All-Star (2016), All-WNBA Second Team (2016), WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2016), All-Defensive First Team (2016) |
| DeWanna Bonner | Starter/Star (1.1) | 31.3 | High (1.2) | 14.5 | 5.4 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 63.04 | Worked as a versatile scoring forward who comfortably shifted between wing and frontcourt roles. Contemporary reporting often praised her ability to attack mismatches, defend multiple positions and provide secondary creation alongside Phoenix’s star backcourt. | WNBA All-Star (2016) |
| Penny Taylor | Starter/Star (1.1) | 25.7 | Medium (1.1) | 12.5 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 1.9 | 52.51 | Played a stabilizing all-around role after returning from injury, bringing smart ball movement, spacing and veteran decision-making. Coverage throughout the season frequently noted how her experience helped balance Phoenix’s high-powered offense despite reduced minutes. | WNBA Champion (2014) |
| Candice Dupree | Starter/Star (1.1) | 29.1 | Medium (1.1) | 11.3 | 5.3 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 46.95 | Operated as an efficient interior scorer whose reliable mid-range game complemented Phoenix’s perimeter stars. Analysts regularly described her as a dependable frontcourt presence who quietly filled important offensive possessions without demanding high usage. | WNBA All-Star (2016) |
| Marta Xargay | Key Contributor (1.05) | 19.7 | Low (1.0) | 5.7 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 23.94 | Filled a complementary guard role by moving the ball, defending multiple backcourt assignments and keeping the offense organized. Independent coverage frequently highlighted her basketball IQ and willingness to accept difficult defensive matchups as a rookie. | |
| Sonja Petrovic | Key Contributor (1.05) | 14.8 | Low (1.0) | 5.1 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 18.27 | Served as a flexible reserve forward who brought energy, floor spacing and positional versatility. Observers often pointed to her willingness to do the smaller team-oriented jobs that rarely appeared in traditional statistics. | |
| Lindsey Harding | Bench (1.0) | 15.7 | Low (1.0) | 3.9 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 16.60 | Provided experienced depth behind the starting guards, helping organize second-unit possessions and maintain tempo. Season reporting generally emphasized her veteran presence more than her scoring production. | |
| Mistie Bass | Bench (1.0) | 13.2 | Low (1.0) | 2.9 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 12.80 | Filled short frontcourt stretches with physical rebounding and interior defense. Independent coverage described her as dependable depth capable of matching up against stronger post players when called upon. | |
| Isabelle Harrison | Bench (1.0) | 7.5 | Low (1.0) | 3.1 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 10.80 | Showed flashes as an energetic interior reserve before settling into a limited role. Contemporary reporting viewed her athleticism and finishing ability as long-term developmental strengths despite inconsistent opportunities. | |
| Kelsey Bone | Bench (1.0) | 9.7 | Low (1.0) | 3.0 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 12.80 | Used primarily as a backup post, bringing strength around the basket and offensive rebounding. Coverage suggested Phoenix valued her physical presence even as her rotation minutes fluctuated throughout the year. | |
| Alex Harden | Bench (1.0) | 7.5 | Low (1.0) | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 6.40 | Played limited reserve minutes while supplying defensive energy and ball pressure. Reports from the season focused on her effort level and willingness to defend rather than offensive production. | |
| Noelle Quinn | Bench (1.0) | 9.9 | Low (1.0) | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 9.00 | Worked as a veteran depth guard who helped steady second-unit possessions. Limited independent coverage noted her value came through experience, communication and lineup flexibility instead of scoring. | |
| Courtney Williams | Bench (1.0) | 4.2 | Low (1.0) | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 4.00 | Appeared briefly as a rookie reserve with only a small sample of playing time. Limited contemporary coverage was available, though evaluators continued to praise her attacking mentality and long-term scoring upside. | |
| Nirra Fields | Bench (1.0) | 4.3 | Low (1.0) | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.60 | Saw very limited court time, leaving little independent season reporting beyond roster depth discussions. Available coverage primarily framed her season as a developmental opportunity. | |
| TEAM TOTALS | — | 252.6 | — | 98.8 | 38.8 | 22.8 | 14.8 | 412.89 | Phoenix combined elite perimeter creation with dominant interior defense, balancing veteran experience and versatile frontcourt play throughout the regular season. | WNBA Semifinals (2016) |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Playoff Team Impact Spotlight
| PLAYER NAME | ROLE TIER | MPG | USAGE TIER | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | IMPACT INDEX | NOTES | AWARDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diana Taurasi | Starter/Star (1.1) | 30.8 | High (1.2) | 23.6 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 78.67 | Phoenix leaned on Taurasi as its unquestioned offensive hub throughout the playoff run. Her shot-making against New York carried into the semifinals, with postseason coverage emphasizing that nearly every late-clock possession flowed through her ability to create off the dribble or punish defenses from deep. (WNBA) | WNBA All-Star (2016), All-WNBA First Team (2016) |
| Brittney Griner | Starter/Star (1.1) | 31.2 | High (1.2) | 13.4 | 6.0 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 62.83 | Griner remained the defensive anchor while finishing efficiently around the rim, and playoff reporting repeatedly highlighted how her interior presence forced opponents to alter both shot selection and paint attacks. Her two-way influence extended well beyond the block totals. (WNBA) | WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2016), All-WNBA Second Team (2016), All-Defensive First Team (2016), WNBA All-Star (2016) |
| Penny Taylor | Starter/Star (1.1) | 26.0 | Medium (1.1) | 11.2 | 4.4 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 51.45 | Rather than chasing shots, Taylor filled gaps across the lineup with passing, timely cuts and veteran decision-making. Analysts consistently pointed to her composure and versatility as an important stabilizing influence during Phoenix’s postseason push. (WNBA) | |
| DeWanna Bonner | Key Contributor (1.05) | 24.2 | Medium (1.1) | 10.8 | 4.2 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 40.19 | Coming off the bench by design, Bonner embraced a sixth-player scoring role that changed games with aggressive drives and transition offense. Coverage after the opening rounds noted her fourth-quarter bursts as a major reason Phoenix advanced despite the lineup adjustment. (Phoenix Mercury) | WNBA All-Star (2016) |
| Candice Dupree | Starter/Star (1.1) | 31.4 | Medium (1.1) | 9.6 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 38.24 | Dupree quietly balanced the frontcourt with dependable mid-post scoring and disciplined positioning. Independent playoff analysis often described her as the steady interior complement who allowed Phoenix’s perimeter stars to attack more freely. | WNBA All-Star (2016) |
| Marta Xargay | Key Contributor (1.05) | 24.2 | Low (1.0) | 7.8 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 0.4 | 28.98 | Xargay’s value came through organization and defensive effort more than volume scoring. Her move into the starting lineup gave Phoenix another ball-handler, and observers noted the cleaner spacing and improved perimeter defense she provided. | |
| Isabelle Harrison | Bench (1.0) | 13.7 | Low (1.0) | 5.3 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 22.60 | Harrison supplied energetic frontcourt minutes in a limited playoff sample. Contemporary independent coverage was sparse, but available reporting viewed her rebounding activity and physical play as useful depth off the bench. | |
| Sonja Petrovic | Bench (1.0) | 12.5 | Low (1.0) | 5.5 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 19.00 | Petrovic filled a utility wing role, spacing the floor and moving the ball without disrupting the offense. Independent reporting generally highlighted her willingness to accept low-usage assignments in important playoff minutes. | |
| Lindsey Harding | Bench (1.0) | 9.2 | Low (1.0) | 2.4 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 8.80 | Harding handled reserve point guard duties and helped settle second-unit possessions. Limited playoff coverage emphasized her experience and decision-making rather than offensive production. | |
| Mistie Bass | Bench (1.0) | 7.8 | Low (1.0) | 1.6 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 8.00 | Bass was used in short frontcourt stretches to provide physicality and extra rebounding. Limited independent playoff reporting was available beyond noting her depth role in the rotation. | |
| Alex Harden | Bench (1.0) | 2.0 | Low (1.0) | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.00 | Harden appeared only briefly during the postseason. Limited contemporary coverage was available, with her role largely confined to emergency backcourt depth. | |
| Kelsey Bone | Bench (1.0) | 4.0 | Low (1.0) | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.00 | Bone saw only spot minutes in the playoffs. Independent postseason reporting was limited, reflecting her minimal role behind Phoenix’s established frontcourt rotation. | |
| TEAM TOTALS | — | 216.0 | — | 93.9 | 34.7 | 18.3 | 8.9 | 369.76 | Phoenix advanced to the WNBA semifinals behind elite shot creation from Diana Taurasi, dominant interior defense from Brittney Griner and a deep veteran rotation that successfully blended starters with impactful reserve contributions. | WNBA Semifinalist (2016) |