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Diana Taurasi, Mercury start training camp with championship in sight

By Brendon Kleen

SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 27: Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury reacts during the game against the Seattle Storm during a WNBA game on August 27, 2017 at Key Arena in Seattle, Washington. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Brashear/NBAE via Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 27: Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury reacts during the game against the Seattle Storm during a WNBA game on August 27, 2017 at Key Arena in Seattle, Washington. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Brashear/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX — With Diana Taurasi in tow to start camp for the first time since 2004, surrounded by nearly a dozen new faces, the Phoenix Mercury on Monday practiced for the first time in a season in which they hope to redeem their championship aspirations following a home heartbreak in Game 3 of the semifinal round against the Sparks last September.

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“There’s a lot of promise, but you know how that happens,” Taurasi said. “We’ve had a lot of promise in the past and sometimes it pans out into gold, and sometimes it’s fool’s gold.”

Welcoming Sancho Lyttle (signed to a new contract earlier this year), Briann January (acquired in a trade with the Fever) and Marie Gulich (the No. 12 pick in this month’s WNBA Draft) onto the court for the first time, Day 1 was about introductions for the Mercury.

“I felt really comfortable just going to (Taurasi) and asking her questions and discussing what we were doing,” Gulich said. “The way she plays basketball with this poise and calmness and still that speed, I think she’s an amazing example.”

Always the vocal leader and heart of the Mercury, Taurasi was tasked Monday with corralling the team during drills. The 14-year veteran was buzzing around the court, teaching and coaching her new teammates.

It was difficult to miss Gulich, in the middle of everything on both ends, taking Brittney Griner’s spot with the starters until Griner returns in a couple weeks. Griner won the Women’s EuroLeague championship with UMCC Ekaterinburg just a week ago, but in her place, Gulich showed the hustle and offensive feel that made her a first-round pick.

“It gives you the look of how fast the game is sometimes,” Gulich said about her time next to Taurasi, January, Lyttle and second-year Australian forward Stephanie Talbot. “It’s good to be on the court with them — if I make a mistake, they all will talk to me. It gives [me] that confidence, too.”

Coach Sandy Brondello made clear her expectation for the upcoming season right away, stating the obvious — this team is built to contend for a championship. The Mercury were active addressing their problems from last season, especially on defense, where young players were given a big opportunity and struggled against the best teams.

“We had to get better defensively, we had to get tougher, and we had to get more athletic,” Brondello said. “We knew who we wanted, and things just fell into place for us.”

Griner is expected back May 10, with the rest of the roster trickling in some time before the team’s media day May 14. Phoenix starts its season May 18 at home against Liz Cambage and a rising Dallas team.

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