While the Mercury aren’t focused on the current streak, other teams and the league have taken notice of their success. The game on Thursday, which wasn’t originally scheduled to be national televised will be on NBA TV now.
“They are one of the best offensive teams I’ve seen in this league,” Washington coach Mike Thibault said. “They can score from so many different positions, but also play really solid defense now as well.”
Thibault said that what made some of the dominant teams special in the past was that they were able to win championships.
Los Angeles went on to win the 2001 title and then were champions again in 2002. The Houston Comets won the WNBA’s first four titles.
Here are five comparisons of the two teams during their streaks:
FRONTRUNNERS: The Mercury have led games for nearly 83 percent of the time during their streak with the biggest deficit only being 13 points. Phoenix has only trailed for just over nine minutes in the fourth quarter of those games. Los Angeles led for 73 percent of the time during its run, the WNBA said according to information provided by the Elias Sports Bureau.
STAR POWER: Lisa Leslie averaged 19.5 points and 9.6 rebounds to earn the league’s MVP award. She also was the All-Star MVP and postseason MVP to become the first female player to win all three awards in the same season. Taurasi and Griner are putting up MVP-type numbers this year, but neither was the All-Star MVP with that award going to Atlanta rookie Shoni Schimmel.
HOME COOKING: The Sparks went 16-0 at home that season to become the first team to go unbeaten at home. Seattle accomplished the feat in 2010. Phoenix has been nearly as good, winning 12 of its 13 games at home this season.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Of the Sparks’ 18 wins, six came away from home during their run. If the Mercury can beat Minnesota they’ll have won eight road games. While Los Angeles had to play one game in Washington, Phoenix hasn’t had to come to the East Coast during its streak. After playing the Lynx, the Mercury return home to face the Indiana Fever before taking on Atlanta in a potential record-breaking game on Tuesday night.
LEAGUE SIZE: Not to diminish the Sparks’ streak at all, but the league had 16 teams in 2001, now there are just 12 in the WNBA meaning that each team’s talent pool has increased.
