Jennie Simms' College Career Was a Scoring Masterclass, But Did the Mercury Fully Leverage Her Talent?
Jennie Simms brought her considerable talents to the Phoenix Mercury during a particularly turbulent time. The team was navigating the challenging 2022 season without the formidable presence of Brittney Griner, a significant hurdle that tested their resilience. While the Mercury had reached the WNBA Finals in 2021, the subsequent season presented a stark contrast. Despite making the playoffs, their postseason journey was cut short by a decisive sweep from the Las Vegas Aces. This challenging period saw the team finish with a 15-21 record, and Simms was one of the new faces brought in to bolster the roster. In her debut season with Phoenix, she participated in 23 games, starting in four, and contributed an average of 3.4 points and 2.2 rebounds. Her role continued to be limited in 2023, playing just six games, during what was one of the Mercury's more difficult seasons.
But here's where it gets interesting... before her stints with the Washington Mystics and Indiana Fever, Simms was an absolute force on the college hardwood. Her collegiate journey began at West Virginia before she transferred to Old Dominion, and it was there that she truly showcased her scoring prowess.
And this is the part most people miss... Simms delivered some truly electrifying performances for Old Dominion. Her absolute peak came in a game against Florida International, where she erupted for an astonishing 45 points. To put that into perspective, that's more points than many players score in an entire week! She also added 11 rebounds, three assists, and two steals in that dominant outing. In that particular game, Old Dominion had another player, Ashley Betz-White, who also scored in double figures with 12 points, alongside three rebounds, three steals, and two assists. The Monarchs emerged victorious, defeating the Panthers with a final score of 80-67.
Her scoring outbursts didn't stop there. A few years later, Simms unleashed a 43-point barrage against Marshall, complemented by four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. In that game, she was the sole player to reach double-digit scoring, leading her team to a hard-fought 73-69 victory, marking their seventh win. And the offensive fireworks continued with a 41-point performance against Florida Atlantic. In that contest, she filled the stat sheet with 13 rebounds, six assists, three blocks, and two steals, guiding Old Dominion to a resounding 93-73 win.
Across her entire college career, Simms consistently put up eye-popping numbers, averaging an impressive 20.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. While her role with the Mercury might not have been as prominent as her college days, she was undoubtedly a valuable addition. Her presence provided much-needed depth and offensive capability during a period when the Mercury were seeking solutions.
Now, here's a question for you: Given Simms' incredible college scoring ability, do you think the Phoenix Mercury could have utilized her talents more effectively during her time with the team? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below – we'd love to hear your perspective!
