Jul 22, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; A view of the shoes of Dallas Wings forward Maddy Siegrist (20) during the second half against the Los Angeles Sparks at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Why The Mercury Regressed In 2002

Originally posted on Phoenix Mercury On SI
By Davion Moore | Last updated Jan 13, 2026 8:00 AM ET

The Phoenix Mercury missed the playoffs for the second time in 2001, as they finished that season with a record of 13-19. That was their worst record up to that point, and the following year they regressed even more.

Phoenix finished the season with a record of 11-21, and they were towards the bottom of the Western Conference. There was only one team that had a worse record, and it was the Minnesota Lynx. The Lynx finished that season with a record of 10-22.

Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Mercury's leading scorer was Jennifer Gillom, and she averaged 15.3 points. She also averaged 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists. The Mercury did not have another player who averaged 10 or more points, but there was a player who was close.

Gordana Grubin averaged 9.9 points, and she also averaged 3.3 assists, two rebounds and 1.1 steals. Grubin started her WNBA career in 1999, and she played for the Los Angeles Sparks. Then, after spending some time with the Indiana Fever, she joined the Mercury in 2002. Her best game during that season was a 23-point game against the Sparks.

The veteran player also had seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block. That was her only season with the Mercury, and after that, she spent time with the Houston Comets, and she returned to the Sparks.

Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Mercury's woes continue

It was a rough year for the Mercury, and it started with a loss to the Comets. Houston beat Phoenix 61-56, and Grubin was the leading scorer. She had 17 points, three rebounds and three assists. Gillom had 12 points, and Lisa Harrison had 10. Then, the Mercury won their next four games. However, the season did not go as planned.

Gillom and her team missed the playoffs once again, and when it came to Phoenix's other basketball team, they were back in the postseason.

The Phoenix Suns finished the season with a record of 44-38, and they were the eighth seed of the Western Conference. They added a talented rookie in Amar'e Stoudemire, and he entered the league straight out of high school. He averaged 13.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and an assist that season.

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Stoudemire and the Suns were knocked out in the first round, as the San Antonio Spurs beat them 4-2. The Suns quickly bounced back from their 2001-02 season, but in the Mercury's case, they were still out of the playoffs.

This article first appeared on Phoenix Mercury On SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: