Phoenix Mercury Win WNBA Championship

“The Future” – These are the words inked on Cappie Pondexter’s right shoulder. Sunday afternoon in Detroit the future became the present for Pondexter and the rest of the Phoenix Mercury when they captured the team’s first WNBA Championship by beating an aggressive Detroit Shock team 108-92.

The Mercury jumped out to a quick lead in the first quarter of 22-9, shooting over 70% in the first quarter. The Might Mercury did not look back from there, the once lively home crowd of 22,000 stood shocked, no pun intended. It was obvious throughout the contest that the younger, more finesse Mercury team was simply hungrier for the title.

The three-headed monster of Pondexter, Penny Taylor, and Diana Taurasi combine for 73 of team’s 108 points and once again proved dominant on Detroit’s home court. The Shock had no response for the trio - just when they thought they had Taurasi under control Taylor and Pondexter both got hot.

As Detroit’s star point guard Deanna Nolan put it, “Them making shots was part of it, but our defense wasn’t there, and we didn’t get key rebounds.”

Pondexter was name WNBA Finals MVP finishing with 26 points, 10 assists, and 3 rebounds. Along with several key baskets down the stretch to end any hopes for a late Detroit comeback.

Phoenix became the first WNBA Champion to win the title on the road. Paul Westhead became the first coach to win a title both in the NBA, 1980 Los Angeles Lakers, and the WNBA.

Westhead told the team afterwards, “Thanks for the joy you’ve given me. This has been fun.”

There will be a championship rally for the team on Tuesday at 12:30 in the Casino Arizona Pavilion at the US Airways Center, fans are invited to come show their Mercury spirit and congratulate the CHAMPS!

To read the full story check out: http://www.wnba.com/mercury/news/recap_070916.html