August 28th 2023.
The Phoenix Mercury have been dealt a heartbreaking blow with their 77-74 loss to the Dallas Wings on Sunday, ending their 10-year playoff appearance streak. This streak was the WNBA’s longest active streak, and the last time the Mercury missed the playoffs was all the way back in 2012. It’s been a trying year for the Mercury, with Diana Taurasi playing just 8 games due to injury and Penny Taylor missing the whole season after tearing her ACL in the off-season.
Head Coach Vanessa Nygaard was fired in her second season after the team got off to a dismal 2-10 start. Franchise players Griner and Taurasi have only appeared in 25 games, with Taurasi dealing with a toe injury and Griner taking a three-game mental health break after spending 10 months in a Russian prison. Additionally, All-Star point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith had her issues with the franchise, claiming the team accused her of signing a contract extension knowing she was pregnant despite her denial.
Interim coach Nikki Blue commented on the season, saying “It was a season that was not ideal. However, we still have a couple games left, so our season is not over yet. Although we might miss the playoffs this year, we still are going to focus on winning these next couple games.”
The Mercury had a rough season last year too, but still managed to make the playoffs with a 15-21 record to extend the streak for one more year. They’re now tied for the second longest streak in WNBA history with the Minnesota Lynx, who made the playoffs every year from 2011 to 2021. The current longest active playoff streak in the WNBA is now held by the Chicago Sky.
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