MINNEAPOLIS -- Cynthia Cooper now has four WNBA titles, two
MVP awards and one victory as a head coach.
Reserve guard Bridget Pettis scored 26 points and Jennifer
Gillom added 20 as the Phoenix Mercury beat Minnesota 89-80
Saturday night, handing Cooper her first coaching victory and
spoiling the Lynx's home opener.
"It felt great," Cooper said. "I don't think the weight is
off your shoulders. But to get it on the road, the team showed a
lot of character."
The 37-year-old Cooper ended her playing career after the
Houston Comets won their fourth WNBA title last season. She was
named the head coach of the Mercury on Jan. 8.
"Coaching definitely was a challenge initially," Cooper said.
"Ultimately, it was my decision. I don't think it was a huge
transition, because I've been around basketball for so long. My
heart was in it."
Cooper has faced her share of challenges, including the
suspension of Brandy Reed. The Mercury (1-2) also was coming off an
83-70 loss to Seattle and an 81-62 loss to Utah. They had to play
the second half without Adrain Williams, sidelined with a knee
injury, and Trisha Fallon, held out because of shortness of breath.
"I wasn't sure we'd have enough players left," Gillom said.
Pettis was challenged by Cooper to become more of an offensive
threat. Pettis responded by scoring more points in 29 minutes as a
reserve than she did in any game in the past three seasons.
"I'm an emotional player, and that's what we need off the
bench," Pettis said. "I've been in this situation before."
Tonya Edwards scored 17 points for the Mercury. Lisa Harrison
had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Katie Smith led the Lynx with 22 points. Maylana Martin matched
her career high with 14 points for Minnesota (1-1).
The Lynx missed their first eight shots and hit just two of
their first 15.
Minnesota, trailing 26-14, went on an 11-2 run and climbed into
contention. But Phoenix led 40-36 at halftime.
The Lynx grabbed a 44-42 with 17:50 remaining in the second
half, but the Mercury scored the next nine points and never trailed
again.
"They were 0-2, and going 0-3 is like going 0-9 in the NBA,"
Lynx coach Brian Agler said of the Mercury. "They did what they
had to do to win."
The announced attendance was 10,040.
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