Remembering A Mercury Legend And Her Draft Class

The Phoenix Mercury struggled in 2012, and like before the 2004 season, they received the first pick. The first time around, the Mercury selected Diana Taurasi. She had a strong rookie season, and she only got better from there. The second time Phoenix received the first pick, things were a little different. The Mercury selected Lindsey Harding in 2007, and they traded her to the Minnesota Lynx. That move paid off, as they received Tangela Smith in return. Smith helped them make history, as the Mercury won a championship later that year. Later on, when they had the first pick of the 2013 WNBA Draft, they selected Brittany Griner. Griner was a center from Baylor, and she had a remarkable college career. In her final year at Baylor, she averaged 23.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 4.1 blocks and 2.4 assists. The year before that, she averaged 23.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5.2 blocks and 1.6 assists. Baylor won a championship in her third year, and with that win, she showed that she was ready to dominate at the next level.