The WNBA's Phoenix Mercury showed off its new jerseys Monday. The notable change is the absence of either "Phoenix" or "Mercury" across the front of the kits. The team branding has been replaced by ... corporate branding, as seen in European football. The WNBA granted its franchises permission to enter jersey sponsorship agreements, and the Mercury took the plunge, reportedly netting $1 million from the identity protection company.The NBA will follow suit, right? Well, maybe. League spokesman Tim Frank told me there are no plans for corporate branding on NBA player jerseys. But the league has studied the idea for several years and will continue to look it. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he loves the idea and even joked that for the right price, FanHouse can get on the front of Dirk's jersey. Let's make a deal, provided those magnificently awful Hefty bags of 2004 stay retired.




