2015 Top 5, No. 3: Mercury All-Stars

Fri, Sep 11, 2015, 7:00 PM

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The 2015 WNBA Playoffs are just around the corner, and PhoenixMercury.com is counting down the top 5 plays and/or moments of the regular season! To purchase playoff tickets, click here.

No. 3: Mercury All-Stars

The 2015 WNBA All-Star Game was, essentially, “Mercury Central.”

Three players (Brittney Griner, Candice Dupree, DeWanna Bonner), three coaches (Sandy Brondello, Julie Hairgrove, Todd Troxel) and our athletic trainer (Tamara Poole) traveled to Connecticut to represent the team in this year’s festivities.

Indeed, they had an amazing time.

Relive the epic weekend through PhoenixMercury.com’s coverage below:

July 23, 2015: 8:37 P.M. EST

After a full day of traveling (in the middle seat, but that’s neither here nor there), my fellow PhoenixMercury.com brethren, Brad Faye, and I made it to Connecticut!

We brought Sandy Brondello with us.

Well, her bobblehead at least.

Little did we know that the forthcoming cab ride from Hartford to the Mohegan Sun Resort/Arena would be rather harrowing.

https://twitter.com/bjyork/status/624388321502957568

Fortunately, after a couple hours of driving down random roads and neighborhoods in Bridgeport — wherever the heck that is — we made it.

July 24, 2015: 9:00 A.M. EST

Some of the WNBA’s biggest names gathered in Uncasville, Conn., for the Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star 2015 game on Saturday. Before the teams practiced, however, All-Star Brittney Griner took part in a WNBA Fit Clinic Friday morning.

BG is the absolute best when it comes to interacting with kids, so she was completely in her element during the clinic.

July 24, 2015: 12:10 P.M. EST

We caught up with Candice Dupree and Brittney Griner for a fun little interview before they made their way to meetings and practice. We had a rather special guest show up…but you’ll have to wait for the video to find out what happened.

July 24, 2015: 3:30 P.M EST

After the East All-Stars wrapped up their practice, it was time for media availability.

It’s always an interesting time since every All-Star and coach is on the same floor at once, so speaking with players is a free-for-all. Nevertheless, we caught up with Mercury assistant coaches Todd Troxel and Julie Hairgrove who, along with Sandy, are coaching in the game for the first time.

DeWanna Bonner made their interview hilarious.

Once media availability wrapped up at 4:15, it was the West’s turn to take the practice floor. Brondello started with a few warm-up drills (which included a set play where Griner would shoot a three-pointer) she let the team have some fun.

And “fun” is exactly what Brittney Griner provided.

July 24, 2015: 6:30 P.M EST

Sandy Brondello is amazing to work with if you’re a member of the media, or (in our case) in the Digital department. Her answers are always thoughtful, she’s naturally friendly and it’s easy to converse with her.

Brad and I thought it would be fun to start a series of videos where we simply grab a cup of coffee with a player or coach and have a conversation.

We started with the first person to ever be an All-Star as a player who would also later become an All-Star coach: Sandy Brondello.

July 25, 2015: 2:55 P.M. EST

This is one of my favorite photos of the weekend. First-time WNBA All-Star DeWanna Bonner takes a minute to soak in the scenery.

July 25, 2015: 3:25 P.M. EST

The players begin to perform their usual warm-up routines, but I notice something a bit different.

BG is shooting a lot of three-pointers.

Even better? She was making them.

July 25, 2015: 2:55 P.M. EST

Nailed it.

July 25, 2015: 5:50 P.M. EST

In a 117-112 win, Brittney Griner finished with 21 points, nine rebounds, one dunk and one three pointer. Candice Dupree added six points while DeWanna Bonner dished out five assists.

July 25, 2015: 7:19 P.M. EST

Sandy was all smiles after a successful weekend.

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