Phoenix's fast start made the Mercury the WNBA's first road champion.

Penny Taylor scored 30 points and the Mercury cruised to a 108-92 victory Sunday over the defending champion Detroit Shock in the fifth and deciding game of the WNBA finals. Cappie Pondexter added 26 and Diana Taurasi had 17 for Phoenix, the first road team to win the title away from home.

The Shock lost the last two games of the series, foiling their bid to become the third WNBA team to win back-to-back championships.