Temeka “Meek” Johnson must have made a good impression. Johnson, former LSU point guard and WNBA point guard, signed again with defending WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury last Friday. The 2009 campaign was Johnson’s first with the Mercury. “Temeka has shown her true potential to be a championship-caliber floor general and is also a key component to our success,” said Mercury General Manager Ann Meyers Drysdale in a news release. Johnson started all 34 games for the Mercury last season, averaging 9.6 points and 4.6 assists per game. She posed a significant threat from 3-point land after shooting 41.4 percent from distance. Johnson started her professional career with the Washington Mystics as the sixth-overall pick in the 2005 WNBA Draft. Washington traded her the following season to the Los Angeles Sparks, where Johnson played for two years. Johnson, 27, holds career averages of 7.9 points and 4.4 assists per game in 134 career contests. “Coming to Phoenix last year and being part of this team, playing in coach [Corey] Gaines’ system and winning the championship was a dream come true,” Johnson said in a release. Johnson played in Baton Rouge from 2002-2005, leading the Tigers to Final Four appearances in 2004 and 2005. The New Orleans native earned All-SEC First Team honors in the same span, along with SEC Tournament MVP in 2003. She finished her LSU career with 945 assists, best in the Southeastern Conference and fifth overall in NCAA history. The 2005 Rookie of the Year will be entering her sixth season of WNBA service. The Mercury open their season May 15 against Los Angeles. —————Contact Chris Branch at [email protected]