Los Angeles vs. Phoenix Mercury, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Florida, noon Saturday, Channel 15 -- The Sparks were 22-12 in 2019 compared to the Mercury's 15 … "Bria Hartley, G, 5-8, 7th year, 27Taurasi was All-WNBA first team in 2018 and believes she can get back or at least close to that level this season and next, when she aspires to play in a fifth Olympics. The supporting cast includes center Kia Vaughn, guard/forward Sophie Cunningham and guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough.Her franchise legacy is second only to Diana Taurasi.Alanna Smith, F, 6-4, 2nd year, 23Life without Bonner begins for real Saturday.Diana Taurasi, G, 6-0, 16th year, 38It's not a simple 1-for-1 correlation, of course, as to whether the Mercury will be improved from 2019 — a 15-19 injury-plagued season — or achieve the long-term success they had with Bonner. "Bria Hartley, G, 5-8, 7th year, 27Taurasi was All-WNBA first team in 2018 and believes she can get back or at least close to that level this season and next, when she aspires to play in a fifth Olympics. In a historically frenzied offseason for the WNBA, the Phoenix Mercury were determined not to be left out of the action. She missed last season after giving birth to her son so is in a similar comeback situation to 38-year-old Taurasi, limited to six games (26 points) last season because of injuries.Since half of the Mercury's 10-player roster is new and three of the returners are only in their second WNBA season, growth and chemistry are the operative words for a season that on average requires a game every other day, all played at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.Bonner played primarily small forward but also at power forward in the last two seasons. That's going to be the big improvement in our team this year. You can only get better by practicing and playing with them.Nia Coffey, F, 6-1, 4th year WNBA, age 25Taurasi, Diggins-Smith, Griner (for U.S.), Hartley (France) and forward Alanna Smith (Australia) likely would have been at the Olympics right now with Brondello coaching the Aussie Opals had the Tokyo Games not been postponed until 2021.The Mercury were to have played this season at Veterans Memorial Coliseum due to renovations at Talking Stick Resort Arena but now because of coronavirus will experience a different sort of madhouse with 12 teams in the same ideally protective bubble for several months.Brianna Turner, F, 6-3, 2nd year, 24With DeWanna Bonner, the Phoenix Mercury made the WNBA playoffs nine times, reaching the final four all but once and winning two championships.Brittney Griner, C, 6-9, 8th year, 29"She feels great, the best in years," Pitman said. Adding a star is great, but adding useful talent around that star is when things can really take off.