On Friday, the Phoenix Mercury secured a WNBA championship by defeating the Indiana Fever 94-86, in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals.Diana Taurasi scored 26 points in the deciding game and won Finals MVP honors. The Mercury overcame a 2-1 series deficit to claim the title.
It's the Mercury's second WNBA title in three seasons. It's an impressive feat. But is it the most impressive feat? Does this make the Mercury the best sports dynasty in Arizona history?
Yes and yes.
Several professional sports franchises in Arizona have won on a consistent basis. The Phoenix Suns won 50-plus games four seasons in a row (2004-2008). The Arizona Cardinals advanced to the Super Bowl last season. The Arizona Diamondbacks, in 11 seasons, have four playoff appearances, including a World Series title in 2001. Every sports franchise in the state has enjoyed some type of success, but not every franchise has enjoyed the Mercury's level of success. The Mercury has been dominant, leading the league is scoring four seasons in a row. They are the third to lead the league in scoring, field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage, and the first to do it twice.
Since the the birth of the franchise in 1997, the Mercury has claimed three conference titles in addition to their two championships. They've had winning records in four of the last six seasons. Need star power? The Suns have Charles Barkley, Kevin Johnson, Dan Majerle, Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire. The Arizona Cardinals have Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald. The Diamondbacks have Luis Gonzalez, Randy Johnson and Kurt Schilling. Outside of Gonzalez, Schilling and Johnson, no other player has meant more or made a bigger impact than Taurasi. She has averaged 19 points or more for five seasons in a row. She has a Finals MVP award and a regular season Most Valuable Player award. Taurasi's return, among others, is one of the reasons why the Mercury are thinking repeat.
They have a flare for the dramatic, too. So that also makes them compelling. Facing elimination, down 2-1 in the series, the Mercury were able to win two consecutive games filled with pressure and adversity. Along with the Diamondbacks' World Series run, it was one of the best championship comebacks in recent memory.
It's not difficult to see. Right now the Mercury are the most dominant and successful sports franchise in Arizona history--and it's not even close.
Can you please break up the text? Who's going to read a huge block of text?
ReplyDelete