Australian stars Penny Taylor and Erin Phillips have combined for 11 points as the Phoenix Mercury thrashed the Chicago Sky 83-62 in game one of the WNBA finals in Phoenix.
Taylor had nine points and nine assists for the Mercury, while guard Phillips chimed in with two points and four rebounds on Sunday.
Brittney Griner set the tone for a dominating Phoenix performance with a playoff-record eight blocked shots, including five in the first quarter.
Candice Dupree made her first 10 shots and scored 26 points for the Mercury in their 19th consecutive home victory as they shot a finals record 58.5 per cent from the field,.
Sylvia Fowles scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Chicago but was just right of 20, usually against Griner in a matchup of the last two WNBA defensive players of the year.
Phoenix led from the opening basket, were up by 22 at the half and by as many as 30 in the third period.
Game two of the best-of-five series is on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning AEST) in Phoenix.
The Mercury won the WNBA title in 2007 and 2009, while Chicago is in the finals for the first time.
Once the WNBA finals are over, Taylor and Phillips will join the Opals squad in Turkey for the world championships.
