A year ago, life was simple for Anna DeForge. The Mercury needed scoring. DeForge is a shooter.

It was a perfect match. So perfect that DeForge, who had flunked her previous test in the WNBA, ended up leading the Mercury in scoring, averaging 11.9 points per game.

"It worked out for me," said the 5-foot-10 DeForge, the all-time leading scorer in Wisconsin high school girls history.

Life, though, has taken quite a turn for DeForge. After winning only eight games last year, the Mercury upgraded in the offseason and brought in several new players, most notably rookie point guard Diana Taurasi and high-scoring veteran forward Penny Taylor. DeForge, a guard, was left looking for role again.

That was evident in the Mercury's season-opening loss to Sacramento. DeForge failed to score, missing all seven of her shots.

"I was just very upset with my personal performance," DeForge said Tuesday after practice, preparing for the Mercury's game Friday against Seattle at America West Arena. "Whenever you come out of a game like that and you're not used to that type of outcome personally, I just knew I'd come back stronger and better. I just knew I had to. Maybe it was good motivation for me, just a little bit of a reality check."

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After regrouping, DeForge jelled with her new teammates much better Saturday. She made some baskets early and ended up scoring 17 points in the Mercury's victory at Connecticut. DeForge said she decided to work hard on other aspects of her game and let the scoring come to her.

"I'm a scorer and I'm always going to be a scorer," said DeForge, who played at the University of Nebraska. "I'm trying to improve my overall game. I just don't want to be one thing; I don't want to be known as, 'OK, she's just a shooter.' I want to be a good all-around player and that's what I try to do every day."

While DeForge normally won't get as many shots in a game as she did last year, she figures to get some open looks. Defenses tend to pay more attention to Taurasi and Taylor, sometimes leaving DeForge wide open.

"Everybody in the league still knows that I can hit an open jump shot," said DeForge. "If that is somebody's defensive philosophy, I welcome it."

DeForge is more than happy to have players to share the scoring load with her.

"It is scary in the sense we have a lot of weapons," said DeForge, who finished third last season in balloting for the league's most improved player. "Everybody on our team has the ability to score. On any given night, you just don't know who's going to put up numbers for you.”

DeForge first entered the WNBA with Detroit in 2000. She was less than spectacular and was out of the league until making the Mercury last season. DeForge didn’t have to worry about making the roster this season.

"Mentally, it's a good place to be," said DeForge. "By no means am I satisfied. By no means am I complacent. I just think that your approach to the game is a lot better."

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