PHOENIX – The Phoenix Mercury will permanently honor the most prominent figures in team history with a reimagined Ring of Honor, unveiling new banners in a halftime ceremony during the team’s Fry’s Food Stores Home Opener on Saturday, May 18.“The Mercury is one of the original WNBA franchises and it’s important that we celebrate our 28-year history and those who have helped the organization become one of the league’s premier franchises,” said Mat Ishbia, owner of the Phoenix Mercury and Phoenix Suns. “We look forward to recognizing the outstanding contributions of our Ring of Honor members and cementing their legacy in Mercury history with these new permanent banners.”
The banners commemorating the Ring of Honor members will be suspended from the rafters above the east sideline of the seating bowl. The uniform number and last name will be featured on the banners of the player inductees, while non-players will have their years of tenure and last name displayed.
As part of the reimagined Ring of Honor celebration, the Mercury commissioned local artists Antoinette Cauley and Paige Reesor to create murals of the Mercury greats, which debuted in October alongside the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor murals. Fans can view the murals on the upper level of the arena throughout the CarMax Concourse.
The five current members of the Ring of Honor that will have permanent banners unveiled are Jennifer Gillom, Cheryl Miller, Bridget Pettis, Penny Taylor and Michele Timms. Ring of Honor members, as well as other Mercury alumni, will be in attendance on May 18 for the ceremony.
Jennifer Gillom (#22) – Originally inducted on June 6, 2006
Gillom, the originator of the “Mighty Mercury” chant still used today, became the first player in franchise history after being awarded to Phoenix in the league’s initial allocation. During her six years in a Mercury jersey, Gillom helped lead the franchise to playoff appearances in three of its first four seasons, including a berth in the 1998 WNBA Finals.
Cheryl Miller – Originally inducted on June 6, 2006
Miller, a basketball legend and member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 1995, was named the first head coach and general manager of the Phoenix Mercury ahead of the WNBA’s inaugural season. She coached the Mercury for four seasons, leading the team to three playoff appearances and a trip to the WNBA Finals in 1998.
Bridget Pettis (#32) – Originally inducted on June 6, 2006
Pettis scored the first points in team history during the league’s inaugural season, playing six total seasons in Phoenix and establishing a franchise record with 154 consecutive games played. Following her on-court career, she continued as an assistant coach with the Mercury, winning WNBA Championships in 2007 and 2009.
Penny Taylor (#13) – Originally inducted on July 9, 2017
Taylor, selected first overall by Phoenix in the 2004 Cleveland Dispersal Draft, helped lead the Mercury to WNBA titles in 2007, 2009 and 2014, joining Diana Taurasi as the only members of all three Mercury championship teams. The Australia native played 10 seasons in a Mercury uniform and finished her decorated career in the top five of nearly every statistical category in the franchise record books.
Michele Timms (#7) – Originally inducted on June 6, 2006
Timms, an Aussie sensation and member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024, became the second player in Mercury history after being awarded to the team during the league’s initial allocation. The high-energy point guard played five seasons in Phoenix and still ranks in the top five on the franchise’s all-time assists and steals lists.
Tickets for the home opener and all 2024 regular season home games are on sale now and can be purchased at phoenixmercury.com/single-game-tickets.