The Phoenix Mercury has signed Washington Mystics guard Laurie Koehn (pronounced KANE) to a training camp contract, General Manager Ann Meyers Drysdale announced today.

“I was excited about the opportunity to bring Laurie into training camp this season,” said Head Coach Corey Gaines. “She’s proven to be one of the league’s best pure shooters, which is a valuable asset in our system.”

In four seasons in Washington, the 5-8 guard averaged 2.5 points in just 5.3 minutes per game on 43.7 percent shooting from the field and an even more impressive 44.9 percent shooting from long range. Koehn appeared in 30 games for the Mystics in 2008, posting averages of 2.4 points, 0.4 rebounds and 0.1 assists in 4.8 minutes per game. The underutilized wing ranked first in the WNBA last season in three-point field goals per 40 minutes (6.39).

One of the league’s best three-point shooters, Koehn was the winner of the 2007 Three-Point Shoot Out at the 2007 WNBA All Star Game, scoring a league-record 25 points. In 2006, she shot a career-best 52.4 (22-46) percent from behind the arc. In her rookie campaign with the Mystics in 2005, Koehn led the league in three-point shooting percentage, connecting on 46.7 percent (35-75) of her shots from long-range.

The Hesston, Kansas native attended Kansas State University and graduated in 2005 as the NCAA's all-time career three-point leader with 392 made treys. Koehn shared the court with new Mercury teammate Nicole Ohlde for three seasons from 2001-2004 where the two were leading scorers for the Wildcats.

The Phoenix Mercury tips off a summer of savings on Saturday, June 6 when the team takes on the San Antonio Silver Stars at 7 p.m. at US Airways Center. The first 6,000 people through the doors on opening night will receive a free commemorative t-shirt courtesy of Arizona Lottery. To purchase tickets to the home opener, visit phoenixmercury.com or call 602.252.WNBA. Lower-level seats start at just $10. Season tickets and a variety of other flexible game packages are available.