Familiar Mercury Face Rejoins Organization
Michele Timms, the Phoenix Mercury career leader in assists, is returning to the WNBA franchise as an assistant coach, as announced today by Mercury Vice President/General Manager Seth Sulka.
Timms joins the staff of fellow Australian Carrie Graf, who begins her second season as Head Coach in 2005.
“We’re delighted to bring Timmsy back to our organization,” says Sulka. “Her knowledge of the game and experience as a player will be an invaluable asset to Coach Graf, and our roster of young, talented players.”
Timms spent five seasons in a Phoenix uniform. On her career she averaged 7.5 ppg, 4.8 apg and 2.7 rpg while seeing action in 116 games. Her 551 assists is tops in Mercury history, and she also holds the franchise record for assists in a season (158, 1998), and is the franchise leader in career playoff assists (32).
“No one is as synonymous with the Phoenix Mercury as Michele Timms,” says Graf, who served as a Mercury assistant coach during Timms’ playing career. “To have someone of Timmsy’s caliber on our staff will help us as we work to get back to the championship level Michele enjoyed as a player.”
Timms was an original member of the Mercury, joining Phoenix in the WNBA allotment draft in 1997. She was the starting point guard for the Mercury during its 1998 WNBA Finals appearance, and was selected to play in the inaugural WNBA All-Star Game in 1999. On August 7, 2002, Michele became the first player in franchise history to have her number (7) retired.
Prior to coming to the United States, Timms played professionally in her native Australia as well as in Germany, and was member of the 1996 and 2000 Australian Olympic Women’s Basketball teams.
This will be Timms’ second stint as a Mercury assistant coach. She joined the staff of Interim Head Coach Linda Sharp midway through the 2002 season, after beginning the season as a club broadcaster.
Timms spent the 2004 season in Australia with her new baby daughter, Kalsie.
The Mercury begins its ninth season as a charter member of the WNBA at home on Saturday, May 21, when they host the Sacramento Monarchs at America West Arena. Season tickets are available in a variety of packages. For information on Mercury season tickets, call (602) 252-WNBA or CLICK HERE for online ticket information.
