Why Mercury's Gillom Had A Big 1998 Season

The Phoenix Mercury were just getting started in 1997, and they needed to build their roster to prepare for the season. As one of the WNBA's original teams, they had a chance to add players in a variety of ways. For starters, the Mercury received two players through allocation, and those two players became the team's first All-Stars. Phoenix acquired Jennifer Gillom and Michele Timms during that time, and they continued to add players through drafts and signings. Both Gillom and Timms had strong seasons in 1997, as they helped the team reach the playoffs. They played well all season, and their impact helped the team make history. Gillom led the way for Phoenix, as she averaged 15.7 points and 5.4 rebounds that year. Then, Bridget Pettis averaged 12.6 points and Timms was right behind her as she averaged 12.1. After the team's successful season, Gillom had an even bigger year. In 1998, the Mercury star averaged 20.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.4 assists. She had the best year of her career, and as