Phoenix Mercury Fan Club

The Associated Press caught up with Penny Taylor at the FIBA Diamond Ball tournament. She says that she will not be returning to the Phoenix Mercury after the Olympics.

“I did make it clear to the team that I wouldn’t be coming back this season after the Olympics,” Taylor said. “I want them to be able to get a team together and didn’t want to leave any doors open.”

Instead Taylor will be returning to Australia to rest and spend time with her family.

“I wanted to make sure they had their opportunity to get a full strength team and not wait for anyone,” Taylor said. “It’s disappointing, but it gave me the opportunity to prepare for this major event.”

Taylor’s decision comes as a surprise to Diana Taurasi.

“Whoa, that’s the first I’m hearing of it,” said Taurasi over breakfast. “It just means the same thing it’s meant the last two months. We’ll go with what we have. We just got to keep playing and fighting. We’re good enough if we get rolling as we’ve beaten the good teams. We’ve just been too average. This league is very good, and we’re just not playing at a good level.”

The surprise is also felt by the Mercury Fans. Taylor was a key player in the Championship win last season averaging 17.8 points and 6.3 rebounds. She lead the team with 30 points in the deciding game 5 of the finals against Detroit.

“Taylor was a key player in the championship win last season,” says one Mercury Fan, “it’s a disappointment that she will not be returning this season. It would be nice to see the 3 [Taylor, Pondexter, and Taurasi] play together again.”

Filed under: Olympics, Phoenix Mercury, Players