Why Phoenix Redeemed Itself After Missing The Playoffs

In 1999, the Phoenix Mercury finished the season with a record of 15-17. They were fourth in the Western Conference, and teams like the Houston Comets and the Los Angeles Sparks were well above .500. Phoenix missed the playoffs for the first time, and it came right after the franchise's first WNBA Finals appearance. The Mercury faced the Houston Comets that year, and the Comets beat them 2-1. Houston had its second championship, and the Comets won two more after that. The Mercury did not capitalize on that momentum, and they had to wait a year before getting back into the playoffs. While they missed the postseason, the Mercury added some strong talent. They selected Edna Campbell in the first round of the 1999 WNBA Draft, and she averaged 9.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists in her rookie season. In the second round of that year's draft, the Mercury added Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil. Davis-Wrightsil played a single season, and she averaged 9.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists. The Mercury had two more p