The Phoenix Mercury, established in 1997, is one of the original franchises of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and is not a part of the League Expansion teams that were introduced later. It is based in Phoenix, Arizona. Over the years, the Mercury has been home to some of the most iconic players in women’s basketball, including Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner. The Mercury has won three WNBA championships in 2007, 2009, and 2014, showcasing a blend of experienced and young talent.
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How many times has the Phoenix Mercury made the playoffs?
The Phoenix Mercury have qualified for the WNBA playoffs 18 times in their history. These playoff appearances are spread across different decades, which proves that the team is a force to be reckoned with in the league. The Mercury’s playoff run is composed of five WNBA Finals appearances in 1998, 2007, 2009, 2014, and 2021.
Phoenix Mercury Playoff Record
The Phoenix Mercury have qualified for the WNBA playoffs 18 times, have won three championships, and have been to the finals five times. It has been to the finals five times in 1998, 2007, 2009, 2014, and 2021, with championships won in 2007, 2009, and 2014. Some of the greatest players in the history of the game, such as Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner have played for the franchise and have been instrumental in their playoff runs.
| Season | Position (West Conference) | Regular season | Playoff Results | Head coach | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | PCT | ||||
| 1997 | 1st | 16 | 12 | .571 | Lost WNBA Semifinals (New York, 0–1) | Cheryl Miller |
| 1998 | 2nd | 19 | 11 | .633 | Won WNBA Semifinals (Cleveland, 2–1) Lost WNBA Finals (Houston, 1–2) | Cheryl Miller |
| 2000 | 4th | 20 | 12 | .625 | Lost Conference Semifinals (Los Angeles, 0–2) | Cheryl Miller |
| 2007 | 1st | 23 | 11 | .676 | Won Conference Semifinals (Seattle, 2–0)Won Conference Finals (San Antonio, 2–0)Won WNBA Finals (Detroit, 3–2) | Paul Westhead |
| 2009 | 1st | 23 | 11 | .676 | Won Conference Semifinals (San Antonio, 2–1)Won Conference Finals (Los Angeles, 2–1)Won WNBA Finals (Indiana, 3–2) | Corey Gaines |
| 2010 | 2nd | 15 | 19 | .441 | Won Conference Semifinals (San Antonio, 2–0)Lost Conference Finals (Seattle, 0–2) | Corey Gaines |
| 2011 | 3rd | 19 | 15 | .559 | Won Conference Semifinals (Seattle, 2–1)Lost Conference Finals (Minnesota, 0–2) | Corey Gaines |
| 2013 | 3rd | 19 | 15 | .559 | Won Conference Semifinals (Los Angeles, 2–1)Lost Conference Finals (Minnesota, 0–2) | Corey Gaines (10–11)Russ Pennell (9–4) |
| 2014 | 1st | 29 | 5 | .853 | Won Conference Semifinals (Los Angeles, 2–0)Won Conference Finals (Minnesota, 2–1)Won WNBA Finals (Chicago, 3–0) | Sandy Brondello |
| 2015 | 2nd | 20 | 14 | .588 | Won Conference Semifinals (Tulsa, 2–0)Lost Conference Finals (Minnesota, 0–2) | Sandy Brondello |
| 2016 | 4th | 16 | 18 | .471 | Won First Round (Indiana, 1–0)Won Second Round (New York, 1–0)Lost WNBA Semifinals (Minnesota, 0–3) | Sandy Brondello |
| 2017 | 3rd | 18 | 16 | .529 | Won First Round (Seattle, 1–0)Won Second Round (Connecticut, 1–0)Lost WNBA Semifinals (Los Angeles, 0–3) | Sandy Brondello |
| 2018 | 2nd | 20 | 14 | .588 | Won First Round (Dallas, 1–0)Won Second Round (Connecticut, 1–0)Lost WNBA Semifinals (Seattle, 2–3) | Sandy Brondello |
| 2019 | 5th | 15 | 19 | .441 | Lost First Round (Chicago, 0–1) | Sandy Brondello |
| 2020 | 5th | 13 | 9 | .591 | Won First Round (Washington, 1–0)Lost Second Round (Minnesota, 0–1) | Sandy Brondello |
| 2021 | 4th | 19 | 13 | .594 | Won First Round (New York, 1–0)Won Second Round (Seattle, 1–0)Won WNBA Semifinals (Las Vegas 3–2)Lost WNBA Finals (Chicago 1–3) | Sandy Brondello |
| 2022 | 4th | 15 | 21 | .417 | Lost First Round (Las Vegas 0–2) | Vanessa Nygaard |
| 2024 | 4th | 19 | 21 | .475 | Lost First Round (Minnesota 0–2) | Nate Tibbetts |
| 2025 | 3rd | 27 | 17 | 0.614 | Won First Round (New York, 2-1) | Nate Tibbetts |
Number of conference finals won
The Phoenix Mercury have won the conference finals five times. They won the Conference Finals in 1998, 2007, 2009, 2014, and 2021.
Number of WNBA championships won
The Phoenix Mercury have won three WNBA championships, showcasing their dominance in the league. Below is a detailed account of the years they have won the coveted title and the finals results.
| Year | Head Coach | Against | Finals Score |
| 2007 | Paul Westhead | Detroit Shock | 3-2 |
| 2009 | Corey Gaines | Indiana Fever | 3-2 |
| 2014 | Sandy Brondello | Chicago Sky | 3-0 |
Phoenix Mercury's Last Playoff Appearance
The Phoenix Mercury’s last appearance in the WNBA Playoffs is in the ongoing 2025 season.
What is the biggest playoff series comeback in the Phoenix Mercury's history?
Arguably, one of the largest playoff series comebacks for the Phoenix Mercury was in the 2007 WNBA Finals. The Mercury was up against the Detroit Shock, and they were trailing 2-1 in the best-of-five series. The Mercury, as underdogs, demonstrated a lot of heart and fight throughout the series. They were able to win the fourth game on the road, thus extending the series to the fifth and final game. The Mercury won the last game with 108-92 and won the Franchise’s first WNBA title since their inception in 1997.
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FAQs on Phoenix Mercury
A. The Phoenix Mercury's latest appearance in the WNBA Finals was in 2021.
A. The Phoenix Mercury has had a history of big rivalry with the Seattle Storm as they have had very competitive matchups in their history.
A. Yes, the Phoenix Mercury have won 3 WNBA Championship titles in 2007, 2009 and 2014.
