Phoenix Gets A Center - Oh Wait That's the Mercury

[George O'Brien]

Stepanova Will Return to Boost Inside Game


Jim Gintonio
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 26, 2004
Maria Stepanova, the 6-foot-8 Russian Olympian, will rejoin the Mercury for the team's WNBA's stretch run in September. The Mercury holds the rights to Stepanova, who last played for Phoenix in the 2001 season.

She is expected to be with the team Sept. 4, when it plays its first home game after the Olympic break, but could be in uniform next Wednesday in Detroit or Sept. 3 in Houston.

Stepanova's return will put the team one over the 13-player limit. General Manager Seth Sulka said no decision has been reached yet on how that will be resolved.
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Stepanova was just beginning to get good when she got pregnant and returned to Russia. She played 23 minutes in the Russian loss to USA (66-62) in the semi-finals scoring 11 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.

The Mercury are at 12 and 13, but Stepanova could have a big impact on their otherwise small lineup.

For whatever it's worth, she's a real fox.

 

[PhxGametime]

She played well against USA - she's really cute (Mercury have quite a few, although they traded away Adrian Williams). I didn't see the whole game and I have been fan of Mercury only the last 2 years - so it was first game I've seen of her and she looks pretty good.

 

[BC867]

Stepanova was just beginning to get good when she got pregnant and returned to Russia. She played 23 minutes in the Russian loss to USA (66-62) in the semi-finals scoring 11 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.

The Mercury are at 12 and 13, but Stepanova could have a big impact on their otherwise small lineup.

I've been hoping that Maria would return to the Mercury someday.

If circumstances had allowed her to play a steady career in the WNBA, only Lisa Leslie would have kept her from being the #1 Center in the league.

Better late than never. This should make the Mercury a solid team.

 

[NJYAJ09]

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shes pretty hot.

 

[binkar]

You are so desperate for posts.

 

[minercon]

Another Russian girl we have rights to is Illona Korstan or something like that. She was a point guard and I thought she was excellent. They did not play her a lot as she was acquired late one year, but she was good and as far as this old lady is concerned....she was the best looking girl in the entire league. She did not play with us last year either.

 

[binkar]

Can we take this to the "Other Arizona Sports" forum please?

 

[Yuma]

She's the best professional center in Phoenix right now!