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Phoenix Acquires Kelly Miller from Indiana
Posted: Feb. 3, 2006
The Phoenix Mercury today completed a sign-and-trade deal with Indiana that will net the team Kelly Miller, an athletic, versatile player that can play both the point and shooting guard positions. In return, Phoenix will send Indiana Anna DeForge, who had been a restricted free agent since February 1, in a sign-and-trade deal.
“I am excited about the opportunity of coaching Kelly Miller,” said Mercury Head Coach Paul Westhead. “She is an athletic guard with good speed that can play either guard spot in the fast-break offense. She has really good three-point range and can score off the dribble as well. Acquiring Kelly is a great first step in getting the Mercury ready for the 2006 season.”
In 2005 for the Fever, Miller started each of the 34 games and finished as the team’s second leading scorer behind Tamika Catchings averaging 10.2 points per game. During her five year WNBA career she has shot 39% from three-point range, one the league’s best career marks from long range. Last season, Miller, 27, ranked 10th in the WNBA in free throw percentage (.848), 12th in three-point field goals made (37) and 16th in assists per turnover (1.5).
“Kelly is a great addition to Mercury organization,” said General Manager Seth Sulka. “She has earned a stellar reputation for her involvement with the community and her commitment to the game of women’s basketball. The difficult part in adding a quality player like Kelly to the team is that you have to give up a good player in the process. Anna DeForge has been a tremendous player and a great representative of the Mercury organization and we wish her continued success throughout her WNBA career.”
The 5-10 guard was a co-recipient of the WNBA’s Most Improved Player Award in 2004. She has played in every WNBA game during the past four seasons, starting 68 straight games for the Fever over the past two seasons. She was originally drafted by the Charlotte Sting in 2001 WNBA draft as the number 2 overall pick. Kelly and her twin sister Coco are the highest scoring sisters in WNBA history.
Kelly enjoyed a very successful collegiate career at the University of Georgia. Following her junior season, she and Coco, were named co-recipients of the 2000 James E. Sullivan Award, given to the nation’s top amateur athlete for all sports. Kelly was also named as the SEC Player of the Year twice, beating out former Fever teammate and Olympian Tamika Catchings in 1999-00 and was a First-Team Kodak and AP All-American in 2000 and 2001.
Coach Westhead will lead the Mercury into this 10th Anniversary season on the road vs. 2005 WNBA Champions, the Sacramento Monarchs on Saturday, May 20. The Mercury’s home opener is slated for May 25, 2006 vs. Seattle Storm. Regular season action runs through August 13. Lower-level season tickets are on sale now and start at just $189 for 17 games. For information, click here or call 602-252-WNBA.
http://www.wnba.com/mercury/news/miller_060203.html
Posted: Feb. 3, 2006
The Phoenix Mercury today completed a sign-and-trade deal with Indiana that will net the team Kelly Miller, an athletic, versatile player that can play both the point and shooting guard positions. In return, Phoenix will send Indiana Anna DeForge, who had been a restricted free agent since February 1, in a sign-and-trade deal.
“I am excited about the opportunity of coaching Kelly Miller,” said Mercury Head Coach Paul Westhead. “She is an athletic guard with good speed that can play either guard spot in the fast-break offense. She has really good three-point range and can score off the dribble as well. Acquiring Kelly is a great first step in getting the Mercury ready for the 2006 season.”
In 2005 for the Fever, Miller started each of the 34 games and finished as the team’s second leading scorer behind Tamika Catchings averaging 10.2 points per game. During her five year WNBA career she has shot 39% from three-point range, one the league’s best career marks from long range. Last season, Miller, 27, ranked 10th in the WNBA in free throw percentage (.848), 12th in three-point field goals made (37) and 16th in assists per turnover (1.5).
“Kelly is a great addition to Mercury organization,” said General Manager Seth Sulka. “She has earned a stellar reputation for her involvement with the community and her commitment to the game of women’s basketball. The difficult part in adding a quality player like Kelly to the team is that you have to give up a good player in the process. Anna DeForge has been a tremendous player and a great representative of the Mercury organization and we wish her continued success throughout her WNBA career.”
The 5-10 guard was a co-recipient of the WNBA’s Most Improved Player Award in 2004. She has played in every WNBA game during the past four seasons, starting 68 straight games for the Fever over the past two seasons. She was originally drafted by the Charlotte Sting in 2001 WNBA draft as the number 2 overall pick. Kelly and her twin sister Coco are the highest scoring sisters in WNBA history.
Kelly enjoyed a very successful collegiate career at the University of Georgia. Following her junior season, she and Coco, were named co-recipients of the 2000 James E. Sullivan Award, given to the nation’s top amateur athlete for all sports. Kelly was also named as the SEC Player of the Year twice, beating out former Fever teammate and Olympian Tamika Catchings in 1999-00 and was a First-Team Kodak and AP All-American in 2000 and 2001.
Coach Westhead will lead the Mercury into this 10th Anniversary season on the road vs. 2005 WNBA Champions, the Sacramento Monarchs on Saturday, May 20. The Mercury’s home opener is slated for May 25, 2006 vs. Seattle Storm. Regular season action runs through August 13. Lower-level season tickets are on sale now and start at just $189 for 17 games. For information, click here or call 602-252-WNBA.
http://www.wnba.com/mercury/news/miller_060203.html
