Historic thriller opens the WNBA Finals
In the highest scoring game in WNBA history, the Phoenix Mercury defeated the Indiana Fever 120-116 in game one of the 2009 league finals.
The Mercury’s Penny Taylor came off the bench to lead her team with 23 points in the overtime thriller in front of a crowd of 11,617 at US Airways Center. Starting guard Cappie Pondexter had 23 and scored the last five points of the game.
Diana Taurasi, who received her first career MVP award in a ceremony before the game, finished with 22 points and nine rebounds.
Katie Douglas was the leading scorer for the Fever with 30 points while Ebony Hoffman had a career-high 27. She also collected eight rebounds. The franchise’s marquee player, Tamika Catchings fouled out in overtime. She was held to eight points.
Game two in the best-of-five series is Thursday in Phoenix. The series then goes to Indiana and returns to Phoenix for game five if necessary.
