Mercury at 30: Tangela Smith returns on staff after being key player in ’07 & ’09 championships

Only once in three decades has a WNBA No. 1 overall draft pick not played initially for the team that drafted her. The seemingly audacious decision to trade the first pick was made in 2007 by the Phoenix Mercury, then with a new general manager and a fortunate lottery draw given the worst odds out of six teams to land that selection. Tangela Smith, acquired in what proved to be a masterpiece trade by GM Ann Meyers Drysdale, is back with the Mercury this season as an assistant coach.