"I'm thrilled to add Edwina Brown and Lenae Williams to this Mercury team," said first-year Mercury coach John Shumate. "Edwina brings three years of experience and athleticism to this team while Lenae will add another scoring weapon to the mix."

Brown, 5'9", 163, was the third overall pick in the 2000 WNBA Draft and spent her first three WNBA seasons with the Shock. In 92 games in Detroit, Brown averaged 5.9 points and 2.4 assists per game. After a stellar collegiate career at Texas, Brown won the 2000 Wade Trophy, going to the best women's college player in the nation as well as being named ESPN.com's National Women's Basketball Player of the Year. As a senior, Brown averaged 21.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 6.0 apg and 2.9 steals per game. The 24-year old Brown also earned a gold medal as the starting point guard on the 1998 Jones Cup team.

Williams, 5'11", 151, spent her rookie season with the Shock and averaged 2.7 points per game in 27 games. A 2002 graduate of DePaul, Williams was selected by the Shock in the second round, 18th overall in the 2002 WNBA Draft.

The Mercury sent their second round (16th overall) pick, Ujhelyi and their third round (31st overall) pick, Quarles to Detroit to complete the deal. The Mercury will tip-off their seventh season in the WNBA at 7 pm on Thursday, May 22 inside America West Arena when they host Yolanda Griffith and the Sacramento Monarchs. Phoenix will continue their home-stand on Saturday, May 24 when Sheryl Swoopes and the Houston Comets come to town for a 7 pm contest.