PHOENIX – The three-time WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury today announced the addition of longtime player and coach Taja Edwards to the team’s coaching staff ahead of the 2023 WNBA season. Edwards joins Nikki Blue and Tully Bevilaqua on Head Coach Vanessa Nygaard’s bench.
“We are thrilled to have Taja join our team,” said Nygaard. “She comes with a wealth of experience from a variety of programs in college and the NBA G League. She is smart, tactical, hard-working and creative. She will be both an asset to our players and a fabulous addition to our coaching staff.”
Edwards comes to the Mercury with a diverse skillset and more than 10 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, most recently serving as assistant head coach for TCU Women’s Basketball for the 2022-23 season. Prior to TCU, Edwards served as manager of basketball operations and player development for the Greensboro Swarm (the G League affiliate of the Charlotte Hornets), where she managed day-to-day operations including planning and coordination within the department. Edwards was also responsible for providing G-League scouting and player evaluation reports to the Hornets front office.
Edwards’ vast coaching experience includes two years serving as the offensive coordinator and director of recruiting at Loyola Marymount from 2019-21. Prior to her time in Los Angeles, Edwards served as the defensive coordinator and director of recruiting at Dartmouth (2017-19), regional recruiting coordinator at USC (2014-17), post player developmental coach at Cal State Fullerton (2013-14) and assistant coach and video coordinator at Mississippi (2012-13).
A California native, Edwards played collegiately at Fresno State from 2007-11, where she helped guide the Bulldogs to 98 overall wins and four-consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. She was part of three regular-season and WAC Championships, as well as three different WAC Tournament Championships.
The three-time WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury return to Footprint Center this summer, tipping off the season on Sunday, May 21 against the Chicago Sky in the Fry’s Food Stores Welcome Home Opener. Tickets for all Phoenix Mercury home games are on sale now at PhoenixMercury.com/TIX.