Looking Back At The Mercury's 2009 Championship

The Phoenix Mercury won their second WNBA championship in 2009, adding to titles won in 2007 and 2014. They finished the 2009 regular season with a 23-11 record, the best in the Western Conference, led by league MVP Diana Taurasi who averaged 20.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks.

In the playoffs, the Mercury defeated the San Antonio Stars 2-1 in the first round, overcoming an initial loss. They then advanced by beating the Los Angeles Sparks 2-1 in the next round, setting up a WNBA Finals appearance against the Indiana Fever.

The Finals against the Fever was a competitive five-game series. Phoenix won a high-scoring overtime opener 120-116, fueled by Cappie Pondexter and Penny Taylor. Indiana responded by winning Games 2 (93-84) and 3 (86-85) on a late Ebony Hoffman jumper. Facing elimination, the Mercury won Game 4 decisively (90-77) to force a decisive Game 5, which they won to claim the championship 3-2.

Diana Taurasi was named Finals MVP for her performance, marking her first Finals MVP award. The 2009 championship is remembered as one of the franchise's most memorable accomplishments.