Phoenix Mercury: Heating Up the Court for Fifteen Seasons

You want fast action, fun, and entertainment this summer? Come out and cheer on the Phoenix Mercury at the US Airways Center. The team’s season officially tips off June 4 against the WNBA defending champion, Seattle Storm. The home opener against San Antonio is scheduled for Friday, June 17.

The Mercury was one of the eight original WNBA clubs and is part of the longest-running professional women’s team sports league in the United States. The league now consists of twelve teams. To celebrate Season 15, the Mercury will be bringing back key players and coaches from the past as well as celebrating the future of the league with lots of theme games, giveaways, and surprises. Dads and Daughters is one of the big programs.

“We want the fathers to bring their daughters out to the game to see these incredible women play professional sports,” says Bret Burchard, communications manager for the Mercury. “Talk about family entertainment. Tickets start as low as $10 for a professional athletic event.”

The newly chosen 2011 Phoenix Mercury Hip Hop Squad will be entertaining the crowds before and during the game.

When the WNBA began in 1997, skeptics definitely voiced their opinion that professional women’s sports would never lure in a crowd. However, fans from all age groups showed up to watch the Mercury.

“At the very beginning, there was intrigue and excitement,” Burchard says. “Attendance was pretty high and even a little higher the second year. Things dropped off a little after that, which is understandable because it wasn’t new anymore. But in the last four or five years, attendance is growing. Television broadcasting is helping.”

In fact, the Mercury will have five of its games nationally televised, including its home opener on ABC and four home games on ESPN2. The players’ roster is strong, with returning and new players including Diana Taurasi, Kara Braxton, Candice Dupree, Marie Ferdinand-Harris, and Nakia Sanford.
“There will always the doubters about women’s professional sports,” Burchard says. “So, we built a campaign targeting those who doubted the WNBA. We tell them, ‘Give it a try’ and ‘Don’t knock it until you try it.’ Web sites are being created to give away comp tickets to get those doubters to the stadium.”

The Mercury won its first championship in 2007 and became the first team to win a championship on the road. In 2009, the Mercury earned its second title by defeating the Indiana Fever.

The team is under the same ownership as the Suns. Managing partner Robert Sarver has been with the franchise since the 2004–05 season. Ann Meyers Drysdale is president and general manager of the Mercury. Corey Gaines returns for his fourth season as head coach for the club.

For tickets, call (602) 252-WNBA or visit wnba.com/mercury. You can also sign up on the Web site for the official Mercury e-newsletter, “Forecast PHX.” Each issue contains breaking news on players, interviews, contests, special offers, and behind-the-scenes content.

By Lee Nelson

Photos courtesy Barry Gossage/Getty Images/NBAE