Why the Mercury Keep Falling Short Against This Western Power

The Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm are longstanding Western Conference rivals in the WNBA, with both teams experiencing success over the years. The Storm have won four championships, placing them among elite teams like the Houston Comets and Minnesota Lynx. The rivalry dates back to 2000, when the Mercury finished the season with a 20-12 record, made the playoffs, but lost to the Los Angeles Sparks, marking their last postseason appearance until 2007.

In their inaugural 2000 season, the Storm had a 6-26 record and acquired two Mercury players, Edna Campbell and Toni Foster, in the expansion draft. The teams faced each other multiple times that year, with the Mercury dominating the matchups. In their first meeting, Phoenix defeated Seattle 82-49, led by Brandy Reed's 24 points, while other players like Bridget Pettis and Michelle Brogan contributed double-figure scoring. Subsequent games saw Phoenix win 65-55, with Reed scoring 25 points, and Tonya Edwards and Jennifer Gillom adding to the tally. In the season finale, the Mercury secured another victory at 85-63, with five players scoring in double digits, including Edwards, Lisa Harrison, Gillom, Reed, and Adrian Williams-Strong.

Overall, the Mercury and Storm have played 94 games, and despite Phoenix's wins in the 2000 season, Seattle holds a 56-38 advantage in the series. This highlights the ongoing competitiveness between the two franchises, with Phoenix needing to improve their record in future matchups as they continue to face off in intense battles.