Phoenix Mercury 2019 season preview

Story and photos by Devin Millington, June 2019 Issue.

This winter saw the Phoenix Mercury heating up and not always for the good. For instance, one of the first off-season moves was to fire Assistant Coach Todd Trexel after he was charged with domestic violence. The charges against Trexel were later dropped by prosecutors due to Trexel’s fiancé's refusal to cooperate. Nonetheless, this situation has provided the Mercury with an exciting opportunity to elevate former Mercury player (and wife of Diana Taurasi) Penny Taylor to assistant coach. Taylor spent the 2018 season taking care of her infant son Leo, born just weeks before the season opener. Don’t be surprised to see an all-female coaching staff!

Regarding player moves, the Mercury tried to sign

Sparks guard and Baylor alum Odyssey Sims, but the Sparks matched the Mercury

offer for the restricted free agent, ending the chance to reunite Sims with her

college center, Brittney Griner. 

Days later, the Mercury successfully snatched flamboyant guard and 10-year veteran Essence Carson away from the Sparks. The six-foot guard joins an already bloated backcourt, which could make for an interesting pre-season. XFactor member and basketball aficionado Lorri Cap gave a thumb’s up to the Carson acquisition, saying, “It comes down to winning championships and Carson has the rings and experience. The Mercury organization has been focusing on the notion that experience wins championships, so I’m excited to see how she plays with our ladies and give (Carson) support, even though she came from LA.”

Injured forward Sancho Lyttle re-signed with the

Mercury, but her health status is still a bit of a mystery. Lyttle blew out her

ACL midseason last year and has been rehabbing away from the team facilities,

according to a Mercury senior official. “All player contracts are up to Jim

(Pittman). I’m sure Jim was confident in Sancho’s health when the contract was

signed. The team will know exactly what’s up with Sancho once she reports to

training camp,” says Bryce Marsee.

Brittney Griner

The

Draft

Mercury

General Manager Jim Pittman selected Stanford forward Alanna Smith in the first

round (eighth pick) of the 2019 WNBA draft in April. The Aussie has been

coached by Mercury head coach Sandy Brondello for their national team, so the

pick was not surprising. Smith was the most efficient scorer in 2018-19 and

averaged 19.6 PPG and 8.6 RPG last season with Stanford. Late in the first

round, Pittman took part in a multi-team trade, resulting in the Mercury

trading away center Marie Gülich for Notre Dame star forward Brianna Turner.

The team then picked up Missouri standout Sophie Cunningham. In the final round

of the draft, Pittman selected Louisville guard Arica Carter.  Of all the players selected, Alanna Smith

will likely be the only rookie the Mercury keep, but Brianna Turner could come

out of training camp in the 12th player slot. 

Bonner’s

Back, Again

After

missing the 2017 season, DeWanna Bonner resumed her place among the Mercury Big

Three, playing so large the WNBA named her Comeback Player of the Year for

2018. That kind of play also brings about labels, as in Core Player. 2019 marks

the second year in a row the Mercury has saddled Bonner with the designation.

Bonner is in a unique situation, as her wife and former Mercury starting

forward Candice Dupree is now with the Indiana Fever. It’s fair to say they’d

like to be on the same team again. With Bonner likely to be tagged as a Core

Player for an additional two years, a reunion will likely not happen for a

while.

Winter

Hibernation

Taurasi

just experienced her first full winter of resting. Briann January rested and

rehabbed after off-season shoulder surgery. January also spent the winter as a

member of the Arizona State University Women’s basketball coaching staff. Mercury

forward Camille Little has been MIA, not showing up overseas or in the news.

Cap speculates Little will not be with the Mercury this summer. 

Around

the W

Health is always the key to any successful run at a

championship and since this is a women’s game, pregnancy always affects teams.

This year the Dallas Wings are dealing with all-star guard Skylar

Diggins-Smith’s pregnancy. The Wings are also dealing with their star center

Liz Cambage demanding a trade. The Minnesota Lynx’s perennial all-star Maya

Moore is sitting out the 2019 season, making theirs a season of somnambulating

and likely missing the playoffs. Meanwhile, the defending champions Seattle

Storm suffered a monumental blow when 2018 MVP Breanna Stewart tore her

Achilles tendon while playing for Russia in Euro League’s Championship game in

mid-April. Stewart had surgery to repair the tear and will likely sit out the

entire 2019 WNBA season.

Diana Taurasi

Predictions

With

all the tumult and injuries throughout the league, it’s tough to predict who

will find success. The West has been the stronger conference for several years,

but the East may be making a comeback. Connecticut will be a contender with

Atlanta battling them in the rankings. As for the West, it looks like Phoenix

will battle their arch rival, the Los Angeles Sparks, for the top spot. If the

Mercury can stay healthy and find a couple of lucky pennies, they have the best

shot at taking it all. And if the Mercury win their fourth WNBA Championship,

most people will expect Taurasi to retire, but she won’t. 2020 will be her

final year in the W!


WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

Keep readingShow less
by Spectrum Medical Care Center

Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz

When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.

I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.

Keep readingShow less

Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area

Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!

Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.

Keep readingShow less