Bold statement up front: Phoenix’s international talent story isn’t just a footnote in WNBA history—it’s a turning point that helped shape a franchise’s path to the Finals. And this is the part most people miss when they skim the record books. Here’s a refreshed, beginner-friendly version that preserves every key detail while making the narrative clearer and more engaging.
The 1998 season is one of the Phoenix Mercury’s most historic chapters. That year, a talented group of players propelled the team to its first WNBA Finals appearance, and the Mercury would go on to reach the Finals five more times in the years that followed.
Jennifer Gillom delivered a standout season, arguably the best of her career. She averaged 20.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.4 assists, finishing second in the MVP race and playing a pivotal role in Phoenix’s playoff push.
Phoenix’s roster was a blend of established stars and international newcomers. The Mercury’s 1998 lineup included Michele Timms from Australia, Marlies Askamp from Germany, and Mikiko Hagiwara from Japan. Timms had a strong debut year, emerging as an MVP candidate in the WNBA’s inaugural season. She averaged 12.1 points, 5.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.6 steals.
The connection to Australia runs deep, with Timms representing the country’s growing ties to the Mercury and the league as a whole. German player Marlies Askamp and Japanese player Mikiko Hagiwara complemented the squad, bringing diverse skills and international experience.
The Mercury continued to expand their international footprint in the following season, adding players through the draft as well. One notable addition was Maria Stepanova, a Russian center drafted in the first round that year. Stepanova posted 3.3 points and 1.9 rebounds in the 1998 season and later emerged as a Most Improved Player candidate in 2001, averaging 10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, two blocks, 1.3 assists, and 1.3 steals. After a break from the league, she returned to Phoenix in 2005.
Andrea Kuklová, coming from Czechoslovakia, was another international addition who had previously played for various overseas teams before joining the Mercury. In her first season with Phoenix, she averaged 3.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists.
The Mercury also bolstered their international contingent with two more Australian players: Kristi Harrower and Michelle Brogan. Harrower appeared in 30 games in 1998, averaging 2.3 points, and she remained with Phoenix through 1999 before missing the 2000 season for the Olympics.
Brogan enjoyed a productive 1998 campaign, delivering 9.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.4 assists. She sat out the 1999 season for maternity leave but returned to contribute in 2000.
In short, these international additions played a meaningful role in Phoenix’s historic 1998 run. They brought diverse styles, competitive experience, and global basketball perspectives that helped the Mercury reach new heights.
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