Why Candice Dupree Was Key In Phoenix's 2011 Season

Candice Dupree joined the Phoenix Mercury in 2010. They acquired her before the start of the season, and they gave up a big name. The Mercury moved Cappie Pondexter, and she went to the New York Liberty. In her first season with the Liberty, Pondexter had a big year with New York, and she averaged a career-high 21.4 points, 4.9 assists and 4.5 rebounds. Dupree had a nice season of her own, as she averaged 15.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and a steal. She made her playoff debut that year, and she averaged 20.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 assists. She made an impact right away, and she continued to contribute in her remaining years with the Mercury. The Mercury forward played well in 2011, and she averaged 14.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists. Dupree's best game during the regular season was a 27-point game against the Washington Mystics. She had seven rebounds and three assists to go along with her points. Phoenix had another player who scored in double digits, as Taurasi had 21 points