The Phoenix Mercury are making their fifth WNBA Finals appearance, beginning with Game 1 on Oct. 3 in Las Vegas. The 5 p.m. MST matchup with the Aces will be televised on ESPN.
Phoenix is going for its league-record-tying fourth title to match the Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm and Houston Comets. Also, the Mercury have surpassed the Los Angeles Sparks‘ five Finals berths for the second-most ever, behind the Lynx’s seven.
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Here’s a look back at the Mercury’s five previous Finals appearances.
Mercury lost, WNBA dynasty continued in 1998
1998 WNBA Finals matchup: Phoenix Mercury vs. Houston Comets
How Mercury got there: The No. 3 seed Mercury, led by coach Cheryl Miller and top scorer Jennifer Gillom, beat the No. 2 Cleveland Rockers in the semifinals, 2-1. No. 1 Houston defeated the Dawn Staley-led No. 4 Charlotte Sting in the other semifinal. Back then, only four teams made the playoffs. Therefore, the semifinals made up the opening round.
1998 WNBA Finals result: Led by Hall of Fame trio Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson, the Comets won, 2-1. That was the Comets’ second in their four-title dynasty through the league’s first four seasons.
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1998 Finals MVP: Cynthia Cooper
Mercury begin their dynasty in 2007
2007 Finals matchup: Phoenix Mercury vs. Detroit Shock
How Mercury got there: Phoenix went from a rebuild missing the playoffs during the previous six seasons, drafting No. 1 overall pick Diana Taurasi in 2004, and became the 2007 playoffs’ Western Conference No. 1 seed. The Mercury swept No. 4 Seattle Storm in the conference semifinals, 2-0, and did the same to the Becky Hammon-led San Antonio Silver Stars in the conference finals.
2007 WNBA Finals result: In the decisive Game 5, Cappie Pondexter and Mercury Ring of Honor inductees Taurasi and Penny Taylor dethroned the champion Shock. The 108-92 blowout victory raised the Mercury’s first title banner.
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2007 WNBA Finals MVP: Cappie Pondexter
Taurasi leads Mercury to 2009 title
2009 Finals matchup: Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever
How Mercury got there: The West’s No. 1 Mercury had 2-1 series victories over the No. 4 San Antonio Silver Stars in the conference semifinals and No. 3 Los Angeles Sparks in the conference finals.
2009 WNBA Finals result: The Mercury’s then-coach Corey Gaines adopted his predecessor and mentor Paul Westhead’s breakneck-speed style “system” to win their second title in three years. They beat the East’s No. 1 Fever in the decisive Game 5 at home.
2009 WNBA Finals MVP: Diana Taurasi
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Mercury end 2014 with franchise’s most wins, title
2014 Finals matchup: Phoenix Mercury vs. Chicago Sky
How Mercury got there: Mercury coach Sandy Brondello led the Mercury to a team record 29 wins and the West’s No. 1 seed. They swept the No. 4 L.A. Sparks in the conference semifinals, 2-0, then defeated the defending champion and No. 2 Minnesota Lynx in the conference finals, 2-1.
2014 WNBA Finals result: Taurasi, Taylor and the Mercury’s second-year center Brittney Griner led a sweep of the Sky, 3-0, including Taurasi’s go-ahead and-one shot in Game 3’s final second. That one-handed leaner is widely considered to be the greatest play in Mercury history.
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2014 WNBA Finals MVP: Diana Taurasi
Mercury’s 2021 Finals loss
2021 Finals matchup: Phoenix Mercury vs. Chicago Sky
How Mercury got there: The Mercury were an inconsistent .500 team for most of the 2021 regular season, but then won 10 straight before losing their final three. They entered the playoffs with a 19-13 record and secured the No. 5 seed. The Mercury got hot again, beating No. 8 New York Liberty and No. 4 Seattle Storm in first-round single elimination games, then edged No. 2 Aces in the semifinals, 3-2.
2021 WNBA Finals result: The No. 6-seeded Sky got revenge against Phoenix in Game 4 to win their franchise’s first title. Chicago was led by veteran Candace Parker and Kahleah Copper, who’s now with the Mercury. This was the last Finals appearance for Taurasi and Griner as teammates.
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2021 WNBA Finals MVP: Kahleah Copper
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Look back at Phoenix Mercury’s 5 previous trips to WNBA Finals
