Former Mercury forward Penny Taylor named Hall of Fame finalist

Penny Taylor, who played 10 seasons for the Phoenix Mercury from 2004-2016, was named one of 12 finalists for the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame this week.

The Class of 2022 will be announced on Feb. 14.

Phoenix drafted Taylor in the 2004 dispersal draft after her previous team, the Cleveland Rockers, folded.

The forward from Melbourne, Australia, spent the rest of her career with the Mercury, where she won championships in 2007, 2009 and 2014.

She scored 30 points in Phoenix’s title-clinching Game 5 victory over the Detroit Shock in 2007.

Taylor was a three-time All-Star in her 13-season career, and she was named All-WNBA in 2007 and 2011.

She set career-highs in points with 17.8 and rebounds with 6.3 during that 2007 campaign.

She has the fourth-most points scored and minutes played in Mercury history, and only Diana Taurasi has more assists.

Taylor also found success in international basketball for the Australia Women’s National Basketball Team. She won silver medals at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.

Becky Hammon, who played 16 WNBA seasons and was recently named head coach of the Las Vegas Aces, is also a finalist.

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