The Phoenix Mercury missed the playoffs for the first time in 1999, and they finished the season with a record of 15-17. While that was not a bad record, it was not enough to get them into the postseason.
Before that, the Mercury made the playoffs twice, and they went further the second time. Phoenix faced the New York Liberty in their 1997 playoffs run, and the Liberty beat them 59-41. New York’s win led to Rebecca Lobo, Teresa Weatherspoon and their teammates making the WNBA Finals, and they faced the Houston Comets. The Comets made history as they became he first team to win a WNBA championship.