The Phoenix Mercury's 2005 season was a tale of near misses and a curious absence of extra time! They ended with a 16-18 record, a slight dip from the previous year's .500 record.
But here's the intriguing part: in a league where overtime games are common, Phoenix managed to avoid any extra-time thrillers. This is especially surprising considering their playoff-bound seasons before and after 2005.
The season started with a loss to the Sacramento Monarchs, despite strong performances from Diana Taurasi and Anna DeForge, who both scored 20 points. Belinda Snell also impressed off the bench with 11 points and four rebounds.
The Mercury then suffered another defeat against the Indiana Fever before securing their first win against the Charlotte Sting, thanks to DeForge's 20 points and Taurasi's all-around play.
A three-game losing streak followed, but Phoenix showed resilience. They bounced back with a win against the Los Angeles Sparks, only to experience an inconsistent run of results.
And this is the part most fans might miss: the entire season passed without a single overtime game! This is quite the anomaly, given the team's history and the league's tendency for close matches.
Fast forward to 2006, and the Mercury added another star to their roster, pushing them closer to playoff contention. But it was the following year, in 2007, when they finally made their playoff return, winning it all in a dominant fashion.
So, was the lack of overtime games in 2005 a blessing in disguise, allowing the team to conserve energy for future success? Or did it indicate a lack of competitive edge? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
