The three-time WNBA Champ Phoenix Mercury have called Tammie Jo Shults as the group's 2018 Female of Ideas. Shults, who was just one of the first lady competitor pilots in the U.S. Navy and will certainly be honored throughout the Mercury's matchup with the Atlanta Dream on Friday, August 17 at Speaking Stick Hotel Sector at 7 p.m." Tammie Jo's years of solution to our nation as a participant of the United States Navy make her a hero, and trailblazing the method as one of the Navy's very first woman boxer pilots make her motivational, " stated Mercury Chief Operating Police officer Vince component of the WNBA's Inspiring Women platform, the Mercury yearly honors one deserving prospect at a video game. Shults will get the honor in an unique event at halftime of the August 17 video game. Shults was the very first lady to fly an F/A -18 Hornet in the United State Navy and was granted her final active-duty ranking as a Lieutenant Leader in 1995. After leaving the military, Shults signed up with Southwest Airlines as a commercial pilot. Shults joins an elite team of amazing ladies that have been recognized by the Mercury, including Robin Roberts, Ali Vincent, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Billie Jean King, Picabo Street, Hope Solo, Lisa Fernandez, Jordan Wieber Mercury Jersey, Mo' ne Davis, Holly Rowe and Gabby all-time leading marker Diana Taurasi and 2017 WNBA racking up champ Brittney Griner return to Phoenix metro this summertime to lead the Mercury in a quest for the franchise business's WNBA-record tying fourth champion.