PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Mercury are WNBA champions for the second time in three seasons.
The team leaned on their 'big three' to pull out a 94-86 victory over the tenacious Indiana Fever in the deciding Game 5 Friday night.
League MVP Diana Taurasi scored 26 points, Cappie Pondexter 24, and Penny Taylor sank two crucial free throws with 37.7 seconds left as the Mercury held off a late rally to win the intense series 3-2.
Tammy Sutton-Brown scored 22 points, and Jessica Davenport had a career-high 18 for Indiana in its first finals appearance. Temeka Catchings added 16 points and nine rebounds for the Fever.
WNBA Champions By Year:2009 -- Phoenix Mercury
2008 -- Detroit Shock
2007 -- Phoenix Mercury
2006 -- Detroit Shock
2005 -- Sacramento Monarchs
2004 -- Seattle Storm
2003 -- Detroit Shock
2002 -- Los Angeles Sparks
2001 -- Los Angeles Sparks
2000 -- Houston Comets
1999 -- Houston Comets
1998 -- Houston Comets
1997 -- Houston Comets
