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Mercury Win WNBA Record 29th Game

By Ben York, PhoenixMercury.com
Posted: August 17, 2014

No WNBA team has won 29 games in a single season...before tonight, that is.

With a 78-65 win over the Seattle Storm on Sunday, the Mercury set a new WNBA single-season record with its 29th victory of the year.

The previous mark was set by Los Angeles (28-4 in both 2000 and 2001) and Seattle (28-6 in 2010).

Phoenix finished the 2014 regular season at a franchise and league-best 29-5 (.852). The Mercury - who have home court advantage throughout the postseason - will face the Los Angeles Sparks in the opening round of the 2014 WNBA Playoffs beginning in Phoenix at US Airways Center on Friday, August 22.

Brittney Griner had 18 points and 10 rebounds for Phoenix. Candice Dupree scored 16 points and Penny Taylor added 11. The Mercury held the Storm to just 37 percent shooting from the floor and 28 percent from beyond the arc.

Phoenix never relinquished their lead after scoring the first six points of the game. The Mercury is now 23-0 on the season when leading at halftime.

The Mercury finished the season with three players leading the league in a statistical category: Diana Taurasi in assists (5.7), Brittney Griner in blocks (3.85) and Erin Phillips in three-point field goal percentage (43.4).

In fact, as Mercury Communications Manager John Steinmiller pointed out, Diana Taurasi became the first ever WNBA player to lead the league in scoring one season and assists in another season.

Winning 29 games in a WNBA season is certainly a feat to be proud of. However, each Mercury player and coach will celebrate briefly tonight, but their attention will instantly shift toward preparing for the postseason.

The Mercury hosts the Sparks in Game 1 of the 2014 WNBA Western Conference Semi-Finals on Friday, August 22 at 7 p.m.

X-FACTOR

Penny Taylor had a quiet, effective game of 11 points, four rebounds and four assists - exactly what she's been doing all season long.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

With a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds, Griner finished the regular season strong.

STAT(S) OF THE NIGHT

11 - the number of points scored by Erin Phillips who didn't miss a single field goal (4-of-4, 2-of-2 from deep).

TWEET OF THE NIGHT