Telisha Quarles' Virginia Days Lead To Mercury Drafting Her

In 2003, the Phoenix Mercury had four draft picks. They finished the 2002 season with a record of 11-21, and they wanted to recover from that period. However, that did not happen, and the Mercury had an even tougher year after that. Phoenix finished the 2003 season with a record of 8-26, and that led to something special. Before all of that, the Mercury drafted talented players, and some of them played during the 2003 season. In some instances, players were drafted, but they did not suit up for the team. Telisha Quarles fell in that category, and before she was drafted, she attended Virginia. Quarles played well during that time, and in her final season, she averaged 15.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals. Virginia faced Iowa in that year's tournament, and Quarles and her teammates lost that game. Iowa picked up a 69-62 win, and Quarles put up a fight. She had 17 points, two rebounds and two steals. Quarles was one of two players who scored in double figures, as Anna Crosswhite had 12 points.