Phoenix Proves There’s No "I" in Mercury

The Mercury were on their collective game Friday against the Seattle Storm, and it paid off with an 84-76 win at America West Arena. It was a true team effort that pushed Phoenix above the .500 mark for the first time this season and ended Seattle’s perfect 2-0 start.

In the win, Diana Taurasi became the only WNBA rookie to ever start the season with three consecutive 20-plus point games, ending the night with 22 points and five assists.

“She’s just shooting the ball fantastic,” Penny Taylor said about the No. 1 draft pick. “She’s taking great shots when she’s open and she’s knocking them down. And we’re smart enough to get her the ball, so she’s doing great.”

But for the first game this season, Taurasi didn’t lead the Mercury in scoring. That honor went to Anna DeForge. The guard tied a career high with 24 points and also chimed in with seven rebounds. A great game with only one regret…

“If I made my two free throws,” a smiling DeForge said, “I would have beat it. I’ll be in the gym shooting those free throws, that’s for sure.”

Taylor continued her all-around great play in the victory. The Mercury’s leading rebounder finished up with 13 points, eight boards and three assists in 35 minutes. And it was a very physical 35 minutes. Nursing a banged-up ankle, Taylor was all over the floor making sure the Storm earned every bucket. Stopping Storm standout Lauren Jackson was priority No. 1.

“Lauren is obviously strong and athletic so we really had a challenge there,” Taylor added. “We knew what we were up against. Keep them off the boards. We just prepared for the game a whole lot better, knowing what to do with Lauren and Sue Bird. They got their points but we held them and kept the reins on them.”

Speaking of Bird, this game was the first reunion for her and fellow UConn alum Taurasi. With 22 points, Bird was on the receiving end of some of that “Dee” wit when the Storm had time added back on the clock during a timeout.

A joking Diana asked her former college teammate, "'Did you buy more time? Did you give the ref a stipend to go to Majerle’s Restaurant? What’s the deal?' We were just messing around.”

KAYTE”S “KONTRIBUTION”

If Kayte Christensen is ever looking to leave the WNBA, maybe she's got a future as a clairvoyant. Storm star Lauren Jackson would probably welcome the career change. Just hours after winning the WNBA Offseason Community Assist Award, Christensen gave the reigning WNBA MVP and the whole Seattle team a tough time on the boards. An appreciative AWA crowd applauded No. 20’s five hard-fought rebounds in 20 minutes played.

"I had dreams about defending her last night," Christensen said about Jackson, "so I knew that it was going to be a good night if I was dreaming about it. Overall, I think everybody that was on her tonight did a pretty good job. She had 20 points, but she had to work for them. She doesn’t like to do that. She usually gets her points pretty easily, so credit our defense tonight."

Diana Taurasi added, "Kayte came out and gave us a big time energy boost, and we need that when we play great players like Lauren. She stepped up her level of play and made Lauren match her intensity level. She’s a great competitor. That’s what Kayte brings to the table."

LINDSAY TAYLOR MAKES DEBUT

It took a few games, but Chandler native Lindsay Taylor made her regular season debut vs. the Storm. The center got a rousing ovation when she came off the bench for a few minutes in the first half. Prior to the game, Taylor was told "there was a chance" she'd see some action. And since her family attends every Mercury game, they were right there to see the UC Santa Barbara standout get her first taste of pro competition.

"My family used to come here even when I wasn’t on the team," Lindsay laughed. "They’ve always been Mercury fans.

"I got to play in the exhibition games, so I wasn’t nervous tonight. I just wanted to do whatever I could… crash the boards and pick up our rebounding. So that’s what I tried to do."