Penny Taylor honored

Three-time WNBA champion and Mercury great Penny Taylor was honored in a postgame retirement ceremony.

Former and current teammates and coaches presented Taylor with gifts on the court, and video montages of her playing career were shown to the fans in attendance. A banner with her last name was unveiled in the rafters.

“I’m extremely proud of her,” Brondello said. “I’m proud that I had the privilege to play with her, to coach her and just to see her grow.”

Taylor, who married Taurasi in May, is now the team’s director of player development and still resides in the Valley.

“The city and the organization has given me the opportunity to create a home here,” Taylor said. “I can’t say enough about how they’ve welcomed me and how much that means to me.”

The first 10,000 fans in attendance received a commemorative towel honoring Taylor. The Mercury also presented a Mercury 81, Liberty 69 NEW YORK (69) Charles 11-21 6-9 29, E.Prince 3-14 2-2 8, Rodgers 6-18 0-0 14, Vaughn 3-8 1-2 7, Zellous 2-6 0-2 5, Hartley 0-2 0-0 0, L.Allen 0-2 0-0 0, R.Allen 1-3 0-1 2, Raincock-Ekunwe 0-0 0-0 0, Stokes 1-4 0-0 2, Zahui B. 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 28-79 9-16 69.

PHOENIX (81) D.Robinson 3-7 4-4 10, Griner 13-17 5-5 31, Little 1-5 0-2 2, Talbot 0-5 2-2 2, Taurasi 6-12 2-3 19, A.Robinson 1-2 0-0 2, Cannon 0-0 0-0 0, Currie 2-4 2-2 7, George 0-2 0-0 0, Mitchell 3-4 2-2 8, Turner 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 29-60 17-20 81. New York 19 23 12 15 — 69 Phoenix 26 25 19 11 — 81 3-Point Goals—New York 4-18 (Rodgers 2-10, Zellous 1-1, Charles 1-2, Hartley 0-1, E.Prince 0-4), Phoenix 6-18 (Taurasi 5-9, Currie 1-1, George 0-2, Talbot 0-3, Little 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds— New York 38 (Stokes 12), Phoenix 37 (Griner 13). Assists—New York 13 (E.Prince 4), Phoenix 15 (D.Robinson 6). Total Fouls—New York 18, Phoenix 17. Technicals—Charles. $10,000 check to the American Cancer Society on her behalf.

Section 113 at Talking Stick Resort Arena was temporarily renamed as “Penny Taylor Section 13” and will remain as such for Mercury games and arena functions until the end of the season.

Taylor, who was born in Australia, scored 4,606 points in her career and spent 10 seasons with the Mercury.

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