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The Mercury succeeded in 2004 in finding the one player to orchestrate a turnaround in a franchise that had been taking giant backward steps.
Diana Taurasi was the focal point as Phoenix more than doubled its win output from the previous year, but even her arrival fell short of being an unqualified success because the team missed the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.
Next season presents the new challenge of contending for a WNBA championship. While coach Carrie Graf and General Manager Seth Sulka like the team's chemistry, they won't be content with another .500 season (17-17).
For a team that was carried by its perimeter players, the top priority is getting stronger in the middle. The Mercury also must come up with the mentality to consistently put away an opponent on the ropes.
"We need to grow and develop," Graf said. "I think a Blind Freddie knows that we're not as potent in the paint as a lot of other teams. That's not do discredit our post play. We've got wonderful people in there who play great roles, but we don't have a dominating inside presence that big teams do."
Sulka said he's not looking to change the team's core, but it's difficult to say exactly what that core is.
One thing is certain: Neither Taurasi nor Penny Taylor is going anywhere. Taurasi had a memorable first year, is a shoo-in as Rookie of the Year and might have warranted some MVP consideration if the team had made the playoffs. Taylor was the team's most consistent performer.
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Inside, Plenette Pierson performed at a high level during the team's bid for the playoffs and will be looked to for continued improvement. Slobodanka Tuvic improved her play but isn't a dominant center. That brings it around to Maria Stepanova, the 6-foot-8 Russian Olympian, whose rights are held by the Mercury. Her anticipated return for the stretch drive never materialized.
Sulka is not giving up on her. He said she had legitimate reasons for not rejoining the team.
"We're absolutely open to next year," he said. "We prefer her to drafting someone."
Four rookies were on the roster, but only Taurasi saw significant playing time. Lindsay Taylor, a 6-foot-8 developmental project, could get a bigger opportunity next year. Shereka Wright and Ashley Robinson will have to show considerable improvement to warrant additional time.
Graf said that while a .500 mark in the West is a successful result, she would trade that in a second for playoff berth.
"But once I reflect and get over the bummer of not making the playoffs, we have to say this is a team that won only eight games last year," she said. "We were loaded with rookies, we had a rookie coach, and we're coming from the cellar on the way up.
"We're in the toughest conference. We played the toughest teams four times. Seventeen wins is a pretty good effort. But is it satisfying? No, because we set our sights higher, but it's not a shabby effort either."
COPYRIGHT 2004, AZCENTRAL.COM. Used with permission.
