Phoenix Xavier Prep’s longtime girls basketball coach and Phoenix Mercury All-Star Jennifer Gillom, who led the team to the 2024 Open Division title, is retiring from the program, The Arizona Republic has learned.
Gillom, 61, will be replaced by former Mercury and Seattle Storm player development coach, Elijah Knox.
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Gillom built the all-girls Catholic school team into a perennial powerhouse, which produced a multitude of Division I college recruits. She coached the Gators for two different stints: from 2004-10 and again beginning in 2017.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Kahleah Copper poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Kahleah Copper poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Kahleah Copper poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Kahleah Copper poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Sha Carter poses for a picture during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward Valeriane Ayayi poses for a picture during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Kahleah Copper poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Sha Carter poses for a picture during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward Noemie Brochant poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Kiana Williams poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward Peyton Williams poses for a picture during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury center Natasha Mack poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury center Natasha Mack poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Kahleah Copper poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Kiana Williams poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Sha Carter poses for a picture during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Kahleah Copper poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Kahleah Copper poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Sha Carter poses for a picture during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Kahleah Copper poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward Noemie Brochant poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forwards DeWanna Bonner (L) and Alyssa Thomas poses for a picture during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward Peyton Williams poses for a picture during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Kiana Williams poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward Valeriane Ayayi poses for a picture during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Kiana Williams poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury center Natasha Mack poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Kahleah Copper poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward Noemie Brochant poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury center Kyara Linskens poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Sha Carter poses for a picture during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts poses for a picture during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Kahleah Copper poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward Valeriane Ayayi poses for a picture during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury center Natasha Mack poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury center Kyara Linskens poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward Peyton Williams poses for a picture during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts poses for a picture during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Sha Carter poses for a picture during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Kahleah Copper poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Kahleah Copper poses for a portrait during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
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The 2026 Phoenix Mercury media day photoshoot
Mercury guard Sha Carter poses for a picture during the Phoenix Mercury media day in Phoenix, on May 6, 2026.
Gillom began with the WNBA at its inception in 1997, playing through 2003. She helped lead the Mercury to the 1998 WNBA Finals when they lost to the Houston Comets. She’s credited for starting the Mercury home crowd’s “Mighty Mercury” chant and is in the franchise’s Ring of Honor.
Gillom had some overlap years, 2008-10, coaching in the WNBA and with Xavier. She was an assistant with the Minnesota Lynx from 2008-09, then the Sparks from 2010-11. Gillom’s last two coaching jobs in the league were for the Washington Mystics in 2012 and the Connecticut Sun from 2013-15.
After years of losses in the AIA state playoffs, including two straight 6A conference finals in 2018 and 2019, Xavier won its first and only Open Division title over Phoenix Desert Vista in 2024 and finished the season 26-4.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Xavier basketball coach, ex-Mercury star Gillom retires
