MERCURY: Taurasi Makes Immediate Impact With WNBA Fans

The arrival of Diana Taurasi boosted merchandise sales in Phoenix and throughout the league.

(Barry Gossage/WNBA Photos)

Taurasi Makes Immediate Impact With WNBA Fans

Posted: July 28, 2004

NEW YORK,– Phoenix Mercury rookie Diana Taurasi ranks second in WNBA jersey sales and player page views on WNBA.com, with more than 168,000 page views received to date during the 2004 WNBA Season. The first overall pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft has also contributed to an 87% increase in Mercury merchandise sales vs. last year, as well as a 200% increase in traffic to the Mercury’s site this season, making it the most popular team site on WNBA.com.

In the WNBA.com player page views rankings Taurasi trails only Seattle Storm center and reigning WNBA MVP, Lauren Jackson who has received more than 274,000 player page views. Jackson’s current and Taurasi's former teammate Sue Bird ranks third on the list with nearly 90,000 player page views, followed by Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie (nearly 82,000 page views) and Washington Mystics forward Chamique Holdsclaw (more than 58,000 page views).

Leslie currently leads the WNBA’s list of most popular player jerseys with the highest number of sales at the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue in New York City and the WNBA Store on WNBA.com followed by Taurasi, New York Liberty guard Becky Hammon, Sparks guard Teresa Weatherspooon and Bird. The Liberty, Sparks, and Storm top the league’s list of most popular team merchandise.

This season, WNBA.com has seen double digit increases in both player page views and visits when compared to last season, with more than 30 million page views (up more than 20%) and 4.5 million visits (up 10%).

WNBA.com Top 10 Player Pages

WNBA Top 10 Jersey Sales

1. Lauren Jackson – Seattle 1. Lisa Leslie – Los Angeles

2. Diana Taurasi – Phoenix 2. Diana Taurasi – Phoenix

3. Sue Bird – Seattle 3. Becky Hammon – New York

4. Lisa Leslie – Los Angeles 4. Teresa Weatherspoon – Los Angeles

5. Chamique Holdsclaw – Washington 5. Sue Bird – Seattle

6. Cheryl Ford – Detroit 6. Sheryl Swoopes – Houston

7. Alana Beard – Washington 7. Nykesha Sales – Connecticut

8. Swin Cash – Detroit 8. Chamique Holdsclaw – Washington

9. Becky Hammon – New York 9. Tamika Catchings – Indiana

10. Sheryl Swoopes – Houston 10. Tari Phillips – New York

WNBA.com Top Team Sites

WNBA Top Team Merchandise Sales

1. Phoenix Mercury 1. New York Liberty

2. Detroit Shock 2. Los Angeles Sparks

3. Seattle Storm 3. Seattle Storm

4. Los Angeles Sparks 4. Detroit Shock

5. New York Liberty 5. Phoenix Mercury

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WNBA.com Top 10 Player Pages	WNBA Top 10 Jersey Sales
1. Lauren Jackson – Seattle	1. Lisa Leslie – Los Angeles
2. Diana Taurasi – Phoenix	2. Diana Taurasi – Phoenix
3. Sue Bird – Seattle	3. Becky Hammon – New York
4. Lisa Leslie – Los Angeles	4. Teresa Weatherspoon – Los Angeles
5. Chamique Holdsclaw – Washington	5. Sue Bird – Seattle
6. Cheryl Ford – Detroit	6. Sheryl Swoopes – Houston
7. Alana Beard – Washington	7. Nykesha Sales – Connecticut
8. Swin Cash – Detroit	8. Chamique Holdsclaw – Washington
9. Becky Hammon – New York	9. Tamika Catchings – Indiana
10. Sheryl Swoopes – Houston	10. Tari Phillips – New York

WNBA.com Top Team Sites	WNBA Top Team Merchandise Sales
1. Phoenix Mercury	1. New York Liberty
2. Detroit Shock	2. Los Angeles Sparks
3. Seattle Storm	3. Seattle Storm
4. Los Angeles Sparks	4. Detroit Shock
5. New York Liberty	5. Phoenix Mercury