This is from the 'East Valley Tribune', an news publication from
Arizona. Near the end of the article, it shows that Nancy is very
interested in the chance to coach the Phoenix Mercury.

Read below.
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MERCURY DON'T RENEW GRAF'S CONTRACT
By Matt Paulson, Tribune
September 3, 2005


After missing the playoffs by one game each of the past two years,
the Phoenix Mercury on Friday concluded it will take another coach to
lead them to the postseason.

In a decision that general manager Seth Sulka said was mutual, the
Mercury did not renew Carrie Graf's contract, which expired at the
end of the season.

"We were not looking to do this the day after the season ended,"
Sulka said. "We took some time to digest what happened and together
made this decision."

Graf inherited a team coming off an 8-26 in campaign when she was
hired in April 2004. With an overhauled roster, Graf led Phoenix to a
17-17 finish in her first season. This year the Mercury started 3-11
then rebounded with a 13-4 stretch before finishing 16-18.

"We made a good decision when we hired Carrie," Sulka said. "She was
a top-line assistant for two teams (Phoenix and Seattle) and she
deserved a chance to be a head coach. (Under her) we made a lot of
strides, we improved by nine games the first year and competed for
playoff spots until the last day each year. . .

"But that being said, it was a major disappointment we didn't make
the playoffs. With the team we had and the addition of Kamila
Vodichkova, we should have taken the next step."

Graf has already returned to her native Australia, where she will
coach the Canberra Capitals of the Women's National Basketball League
during the WNBA offseason.

In a statement released by the team Graf said, "I'm proud of what I
accomplished with the Mercury the last two seasons, and I'm leaving
the team in a strong position for the future. But we didn't achieve
our goal of getting this team to the playoffs."

No decisions have been made regarding assistants Michele Timms and
Julie Brase.

Sulka said Phoenix will begin searching for a new coach immediately
and wants to have a replacement hired as soon as possible.

Timms, who was one of the Mercury's most popular players when she
suited up for them from 1997-2001, and Hall of Famer and former
Phoenix player Nancy Lieberman would seem to be likely candidates.

Sulka didn't rule either of them out but said, "I haven't officially
spoken with anyone yet."

Timms couldn't be reached for comment.

Lieberman coached the Detroit Shock from 1998-2000 and compiled a 46-
48 record, leading them to the playoffs in 1999. Each of the past two
years, she has coached the Dallas Fury of the National Women's
Basketball League, a semipro league which runs from January-April and
features several WNBA players. Lieberman said she has "tremendous
desire" to coach again in the WNBA.

"Of any opportunity, my heart would be in Phoenix," said Lieberman,
who played for the Mercury in 1997 and currently works as a studio
analyst for ESPN.

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