View source for Erin Phillips

{{short description|Australian rules footballer (born 1985)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2011}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = 
| honorific_suffix   = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|OAM|size=100}}
| image              = Erin Phillips 2019.1.jpg
| caption            = Phillips playing Australian rules football for {{AFL Ade}} in 2019
| alt                = Close-up photo of Phillips in a Port Adelaide home guernsey
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1985|5|19}}
| birth_name         = Erin Victoria Phillips
| birth_place        = [[Melbourne]], Victoria, Australia
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Tracy Gahan]]|2014}}
| occupation         = Dual-sport athlete in [[basketball]] and [[Australian rules football]], WNBA assistant coach
| known_for          = 2× [[List of WNBA champions|WNBA champion]] ([[2012 WNBA Finals|2012]], [[2014 WNBA Finals|2014]])<br />
[[FIBA World Championship for Women|FIBA World Championship]] gold medallist ([[2006 FIBA World Championship for Women|2006]])

3× [[List of AFL Women's premiers|AFLW premiership player]] ([[2017 AFL Women's Grand Final|2017]], [[2019 AFL Women's Grand Final|2019]], [[2022 AFL Women's season 6 Grand Final|2022 (S6)]])
2× [[List of AFL Women's best and fairest winners|AFLW league best and fairest]] (2017, 2019)
}}

'''Erin Victoria Phillips''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|OAM}} (born 19 May 1985) is an Australian [[basketball]] player and former [[Australian rules football]] player. She played nine seasons in the [[Women's National Basketball Association]] (WNBA) for five different teams and is a two-time WNBA champion. She also represented Australia on the [[Australia women's national basketball team|women's national basketball team]], winning a gold medal at the [[2006 FIBA World Championship for Women]] and serving as a co-vice captain at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]]. She also played for the [[Adelaide Football Club|Adelaide]] and [[Port Adelaide Football Club]]s in the [[AFL Women's]] (AFLW) competition, retiring in 2023. She is a three-time [[List of AFL Women's premiers|premiership player]] and two-time [[AFL Women's best and fairest|league best and fairest]]. She was inducted into the [[Australian Football Hall of Fame]] on 10 June 2025.

Phillips's father [[Greg Phillips|Greg]] played professional Australian rules football for {{SANFL Por}}, where he was an eight-time premiership player and earned an induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame. Phillips played only Australian rules football until age 13, switching to basketball because of the lack of professional opportunities for female footballers at the time. She made her debut in the [[Women's National Basketball League]] (WNBL) for the [[Adelaide Lightning]], her hometown team, at the age of 17 and was named to the All-WNBL Team three times by the age of 22, finally winning a WNBL championship in 2008 in her last year with the team. Phillips was drafted into the WNBA in 2005 by the [[Connecticut Sun]]. With the [[Indiana Fever]], she established herself as a starter and won her first WNBA title in 2012. She won another WNBA title two years later with the [[Phoenix Mercury]]. During her basketball career, Phillips played both [[point guard]] and [[shooting guard]], excelling at [[three-pointers]] and employing a physical style of play. Following her retirement from the WNBA, she was also an assistant coach for the [[Dallas Wings]], the last team she played for in the league. In 2025, she returns to basketball in the [[NBL1 Central]] with the Woodville Warriors.

With the launch of the AFLW in 2017, Phillips began her football career at age 31 as a co-captain of Adelaide. Despite not having played competitive football in nearly 18 years, she quickly emerged as the league's best player and one of its biggest stars. She won the AFLW best and fairest award by a wide margin in both 2017 and 2019, as well as the [[AFLW Grand Final]] best on ground as a member of Adelaide's premiership teams in both years. Phillips played as a [[Australian rules football positions#Midfield|midfielder]] and was also one of the leading [[goal (Australian rules football)|goal]] scorers in the competition.

==Early life and education==
Erin Victoria Phillips was born on 19 May 1985 in the [[Melbourne]] suburb of [[Carlton, Victoria|Carlton]] to Julie and [[Greg Phillips]],<ref name=book>{{cite book |last1=Hayes |first1=Nicole | last2 = Sometimes | first2 = Alicia |title=A Footy Girl's Guide to the Stars of 2017 |date=2017 |publisher=Black Inc. |isbn=978-1925435535 |page=Erin Phillips}}</ref><ref name="voice">{{cite web |last1=Phillips |first1=Erin |title=It's time to draw the curtain |url=https://www.athletesvoice.com.au/erin-phillips-time-to-draw-the-curtain/ |publisher=Athlete's Voice |access-date=21 March 2020 |date=16 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411163706/https://www.athletesvoice.com.au/erin-phillips-time-to-draw-the-curtain/ |archive-date=11 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> during the time her professional footballer father was playing for [[Collingwood Football Club]] in the [[Australian Football League|Victorian Football League]] (VFL; later renamed Australian Football League, or AFL). Her middle name relates to the state of [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]].<ref name=interview2023/>

The family moved back to Adelaide and Phillips grew up with her two older sisters Rachel and Amy there.<ref name="greg-story">{{cite news |title=Fathers say: Before my child was a star |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/fathers-say-before-my-child-was-a-star-20180901-p5016h.html |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=21 March 2020 |date=1 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321050413/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/fathers-say-before-my-child-was-a-star-20180901-p5016h.html |archive-date=21 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="wnba-qa">{{cite web |title=Get to Know Erin Phillips |url=https://sparks.wnba.com/news/get-to-know-erin-phillips/ |publisher=Los Angeles Sparks |access-date=21 March 2020 |date=13 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321050413/https://sparks.wnba.com/news/get-to-know-erin-phillips/ |archive-date=21 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=interview2023/> Her father played most of his career with the [[Port Adelaide Football Club]] in the [[South Australian National Football League]] (SANFL), where he served as captain for three years, and was inducted into the [[Australian Football Hall of Fame]] in 2020.<ref name="greg">{{cite web |title=Greg Phillips |url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/greg%2Bphillips/11751 |publisher=Australian Football |access-date=21 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321050413/https://australianfootball.com/players/player/greg%2Bphillips/11751 |archive-date=21 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips has said she wanted to be an AFL footballer just like her dad since she was a young child,<ref>{{cite episode |title=Erin Phillips interview | network =Fox Sports | series= Fox Footy AFL 360 |date = 19 March 2019}}</ref> and her father noticed that she was a gifted athlete from a young age.<ref name=greg-story/> 

Phillips attended [[Seaton High School]], in the western Adelaide suburb of [[Seaton, South Australia|Seaton]], during the time her father was at Port Adelaide FC. The whole family would attend every game, including her grandparents and aunts.<ref name=interview2023/>

Phillips began competing in football with the [[SMOSH West Lakes Football Club]] (then known as the St. Michael's Old Scholars and Hindmarsh Football Club) under-9 side, where she was the only girl on the team. Her under-11 team won the grand final.<ref name=book/> She was also named the best and fairest player on her under-13 team.<ref name="open-mike">{{cite podcast |title=Open Mike: Greg and Erin Phillips |url=https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=136714 |website=Whooshkaa |publisher=Fox Footy |access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref> [[John Cahill (footballer)|John Cahill]], one of her father's coaches at Port Adelaide, praised Phillips's ability, saying she was "as good a 14-year old as I've ever seen play football",<ref name=cahill-speech/> and Phillips had the opportunity to train with Port Adelaide on occasion while growing up.<ref name=cahill-speech>{{cite video |title=2015 SANFL Coaches Dinner – John Cahill |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXXJmSFyUJk  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/iXXJmSFyUJk |archive-date=14 December 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=South Australian National Football League |access-date=21 March 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Phillips began playing basketball at the age of 13.<ref name=wnba-qa/> She decided to switch her sporting focus from football to basketball at the age of 14 due to the lack of opportunities at the time for female footballers to play professionally.<ref name=thirteen>{{cite news |last1=McGarry |first1=Andrew |title=Erin Phillips's AFLW success due to mix of fitness, fierceness, strength, smarts and athleticism |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-04/aflw-star-erin-philips-special-talent-explained/10965886 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=21 March 2020 |date=4 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228012514/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-04/aflw-star-erin-philips-special-talent-explained/10965886 |archive-date=28 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Her father had also introduced her to [[Rachael Sporn]], a member of the Australian national basketball team, around this time.<ref name=greg-story/> As a junior, Phillips played for the West Adelaide Bearcats.<ref name=voice/> She represented South Australia Metro in the under-16 and under-18 Australian national championships, winning the Norma Connolly Trophy as a member of the under-16 championship team in 1999.<ref name="sports-tg">{{cite web |title=Erin Phillips Player Profile |url=https://websites.sportstg.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&client=1-4478-56410-93521-5935171&pID=187938049&news_task=DETAIL |publisher=SportsTG |access-date=22 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=U16 Junior Championships History |url=https://australia.basketball/championships/u16s-australian-junior-championship/u16-history/ |publisher=Basketball Australia |access-date=22 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322223723/https://australia.basketball/championships/u16s-australian-junior-championship/u16-history/ |archive-date=22 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips was also a member of the South Australia under-20 championship team in 2004, where she won the Bob Staunton Award as the most outstanding player in the women's tournament.<ref>{{cite web |title=U20 & Ivor Burge Championships History |url=https://australia.basketball/championships/u20-champs/history-u20-ivor-burge-championships/ |publisher=Basketball Australia |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-date=29 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929072935/https://australia.basketball/championships/u20-champs/history-u20-ivor-burge-championships/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Basketball career==

{{Infobox basketball biography
| image = Erin Phillips 2019 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Phillips coaching for the [[Dallas Wings]] in 2019
| alt = Close-up photo of Phillips wearing glasses while coaching
| team = Woodville Warriors
| position = [[Point guard]] / [[shooting guard]]
| league = [[NBL1 Central]]
| number = 13
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 8
| weight_lb = 165
| draft_league = WNBA
| draft_year = 2005
| draft_round = 2
| draft_pick = 21
| draft_team = [[Connecticut Sun]]
| career_start = 2002
| career_end = 2016; 2025–
| career_position = 
<!--| career_number = 31, 13-->
| coach_start = 2018
| coach_end = 2019
| years1 = 2002–2008
| team1 = [[Adelaide Lightning]]
| years2 = {{WNBA Year|2006}}–{{WNBA Year|2009}}
| team2 = [[Connecticut Sun]]
| years3 = 2008–2009
| team3 = Electra Ramat Hasharon
| years4 = 2009–2010
| team4 = [[Arka Gdynia (women's basketball)|Lotos Gdynia]]
| years5 = 2010–2014
| team5 = [[Wisła Can-Pack Kraków]]
| years6 = {{WNBA Year|2011}}–{{WNBA Year|2013}}
| team6 = [[Indiana Fever]]
| years7 = {{WNBA Year|2014}}
| team7 = [[Phoenix Mercury]]
| years8 = 2014–2015
| team8 = [[Good Angels Košice]]
| years9 = {{WNBA Year|2015}}
| team9 = [[Los Angeles Sparks]]
| years10 = {{WNBA Year|2016}}
| team10 = [[Dallas Wings]]
| years11 = 2025–
| team11 = Woodville Warriors
| cyears1 = {{WNBA Year|2018}}–{{WNBA Year|2019}}
| cteam1 = [[Dallas Wings]] (assistant)
| highlights = * 2× [[List of WNBA champions|WNBA champion]] ([[2012 WNBA Finals|2012]], [[2014 WNBA Finals|2014]])
* [[List of WNBL champions|WNBL champion]] ([[2007–08 WNBL season|2008]])
* 3× [[WNBL All-Star Five]] ([[2004–05 WNBL season|2005]], [[2005–06 WNBL season|2006]], [[2006–07 WNBL season|2007]])
* 2× WNBL leader in assists per game ([[2005–06 WNBL season|2006]], [[2006–07 WNBL season|2007]])
* [[EuroLeague Women|EuroLeague]] All-Star ([[2009–10 EuroLeague Women|2010]])
* 3× [[Basket Liga Kobiet|Polska PLKK]] champion (2010, 2011, 2012)
* 2× Polska PLKK All-Star (2011, 2012)
| wnba_profile = erin_phillips
| bbr_wnba = philler01w
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Women's basketball}}
{{MedalCountry|{{bkw|AUS}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing]]|[[Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition |[[FIBA World Championship for Women|World Championship]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2006 FIBA World Championship for Women|2006 Brazil]]|}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2014 FIBA World Championship for Women|2014 Turkey]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[2006 Commonwealth Games|2006 Melbourne]] | Team Competition}}
}}

===WNBL===
====Adelaide Lightning (2002–08): Three All-WNBL Teams, WNBL champion====

Phillips made her professional basketball debut with the [[Adelaide Lightning]] in the [[Women's National Basketball League]] (WNBL) in 2002 at age 17. She played six consecutive seasons with the team through 2008. Adelaide made the finals in all six of those years. Phillips had earned an [[Australian Institute of Sport]] scholarship to join [[Australian Institute of Sport (WNBL team)|their WNBL team]] in 2003, but never played for them after being replaced before the start of that season.<ref>{{cite web |title=AIS Basketball Newsletter – May 2003 |url=http://www.ais.org.au/basketball/newsmay2003.asp |publisher=Australian Institute of Sport |access-date=4 April 2020 | archive-date = 31 October 2004 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041031180310/http://www.ais.org.au/basketball/newsmay2003.asp}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=AIS Basketball Newsletter – September 2003 |url=http://www.ais.org.au/basketball/newssept2003.asp |publisher=Australian Institute of Sport |access-date=4 April 2020 | archive-date = 14 December 2004 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041214195010/http://www.ais.org.au/basketball/newssept2003.asp}}</ref> Phillips emerged as a breakout star in her third year and was named to the [[All-WNBL Team]] (then known as the WNBL All-Star Five) at the end of the 2004–05 season. Averaging 15.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game that season, she was second in the league in assists behind only her teammate [[Jennifer Screen]] who had 5.9 per game. Phillips was also fourth in the league in offensive rebounds with 3.1 per game and fifth in steals with 5.1 per game. Adelaide finished fourth on the ladder and lost their semifinal to the [[Sydney Uni Flames]] 94–93 in overtime. Before the game, the Adelaide team had been involved in a car accident that injured some of the players and delayed the start of the game. Phillips had 40 points in the loss.<ref name="boti">{{cite web |last1=Nagy |first1=Boti |title=What's in a name? Erin's stands alone |url=http://www.botinagy.com/blog/whats-in-a-name-erins-stands-alone/ |publisher=Boti Nagy |access-date=21 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321084244/http://www.botinagy.com/blog/whats-in-a-name-erins-stands-alone/ |archive-date=21 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> This was the third consecutive year that Sydney eliminated Adelaide in the finals.<ref name=wnbl-guide>{{cite web |title=Seasonal Recaps 1981–2014 |url=http://www.wnbl.com.au/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Guide/12284_BASKAUST_WNBL_MEDIA_GUIDE_2014-15_BACK.pdf |publisher = WNBL |access-date=21 March 2020 | archive-date = 27 December 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141227122005/http://www.wnbl.com.au/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Guide/12284_BASKAUST_WNBL_MEDIA_GUIDE_2014-15_BACK.pdf | url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name=stats>{{cite news |title=Adelaide Lightning Stats |newspaper=Adelaide Lightning |url=http://wnbl.basketball/adelaide/stats/ |publisher=WNBL |access-date=21 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118090459/http://wnbl.basketball/adelaide/stats/ |archive-date=18 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Phillips continued to be one of the best players in the league through the remainder of her WNBL career. She was named to the All-WNBL Team again in 2006 and 2007. During the 2005–06 season, she averaged 15.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and a league-leading 4.9 assists per game.<ref name=first-sun/> She was also fifth in free throw percentage at 80.0%. Adelaide finished in a three-way tie for first with a 14–7 record and entered the finals in the second position based on the tiebreak criteria. They lost both of their finals, which were against the [[Dandenong Rangers]] and the [[Canberra Capitals]], the two other teams with the same record as them. The second loss to Canberra, who were led by [[Lauren Jackson]], in the preliminary final again came in overtime and was highlighted by Phillips scoring 23 points.<ref name=opal-06/> Phillips's 2006–07 season ended early after 17 games when she tore the [[anterior cruciate ligament]] (ACL) in her right knee during a collision with Canberra player [[Tully Bevilaqua]]. She finished the season with a career-high 16.5 points per game to go along with 7.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.<ref name="2007-knee">{{cite web |title=Opal Erin Wheeled to Surgery |url=https://australia.basketball/blog/2007/01/22/opal-erin-wheeled-to-surgery/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703141326/https://australia.basketball/blog/2007/01/22/opal-erin-wheeled-to-surgery/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 July 2020 |publisher=Basketball Australia |access-date=2 July 2020 |date=22 January 2007 }}</ref> This was the second consecutive season she led the league in assists per game. For the second year in a row, Adelaide lost to Canberra in the preliminary final.<ref name=wnbl-guide/><ref name=stats/>

The 2007–08 season was Phillips's last that she played in the WNBL. She was not ready to return from her ACL injury at the start of the year and ended up playing only 17 out of 24 games during the regular season. Although Phillips did not make the All-WNBL Team, her teammates [[Tracy Gahan]] and [[Jessica Foley]] were named to the team as they led Adelaide to a 21–3 record, earning them the [[minor premiership]]. Phillips had slight drops in her averages, finishing the year with 14.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. After Adelaide lost the semifinal to Sydney Uni, they defeated Dandenong to set up a rematch with Sydney Uni in the [[WNBL Grand Final]]. Adelaide won the grand final 92–82 for Phillips's first and only WNBL championship. Phillips scored 16 points in the game, second on her team behind [[Renae Camino]] who had 32 and was named Grand Final MVP.<ref name=wnbl-guide/><ref name=stats/><ref>{{cite web |title=Season 2007–2008 |url=https://www.australiabasket.com/Australia/basketball-League-WNBL_2007-2008.aspx?women=1 |publisher=Australia Basket |access-date=2 July 2020}}</ref>

Seven years later, Phillips planned to return to the WNBL for the 2015–16 season. After originally wanting to return to the Adelaide Lightning, she became the first player to sign with the [[South East Queensland Stars]], a new WNBL franchise.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blow for Adelaide Lightning but as Erin Phillips joins new WNBL Brisbane team |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/basketball/blow-for-adelaide-lightning-but-as-erin-phillips-joins-new-wnbl-brisbane-team/news-story/b8ee54b1a69feadd297b0d7a8e5ab210 |website=news.com.au |access-date=22 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322041558/https://www.news.com.au/sport/basketball/blow-for-adelaide-lightning-but-as-erin-phillips-joins-new-wnbl-brisbane-team/news-story/b8ee54b1a69feadd297b0d7a8e5ab210 |archive-date=22 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, Phillips never played for the team due to injury and the franchise dissolved at the end of their first season due to financial difficulties.<ref>{{cite web |last1=France |first1=Lachy |title=Brisbane earmarked for next WNBL expansion team |work=The Pick and Roll |url=https://pickandroll.com.au/brisbane-earmarked-for-next-wnbl-expansion-team/ |access-date=22 March 2020 |date=7 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322041600/https://pickandroll.com.au/brisbane-earmarked-for-next-wnbl-expansion-team/ |archive-date=22 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips ranks in the top ten all-time for the Adelaide Lightning in points, assists, rebounds, and steals {{as of|2019|lc=yes}}. She is tenth in points with 1498, sixth in assists with 423, seventh in rebounds with 731, and ninth in steals with 139.<ref name="2019-guide">{{cite web |title=2019/20 Chemist Warehouse WNBL Championship Media Guide |url=http://wnbl.basketball/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/WNBL_Media_Guide_2019_FULL-1.pdf |publisher=WNBL |access-date=22 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322221436/http://wnbl.basketball/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/WNBL_Media_Guide_2019_FULL-1.pdf |archive-date=22 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===WNBA===
====Connecticut Sun (2006–09): Debut at 21 years old====

The [[Connecticut Sun]] of the [[Women's National Basketball Association]] (WNBA) selected Phillips in the second round of the [[2005 WNBA draft]] with the 21st overall pick. She was the only player taken in the draft who did not play college basketball in the United States and one of two international players drafted along with fifth overall pick [[Sancho Lyttle]].<ref>{{cite web |title=All-Time WNBA Draft Picks |url=https://www.wnba.com/all-time-wnba-draft-picks/ |publisher=WNBA |access-date=22 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408082144/https://www.wnba.com/all-time-wnba-draft-picks/ |archive-date=8 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> She did not play during the 2005 WNBA season, instead choosing to play on tours and in training camps with the national team in Australia to increase her chances of making the team.<ref name="first-sun"/>

Phillips decided to join the Sun for the 2006 season despite national team coach [[Jan Stirling]]'s saying it would hurt her chances of playing in the FIBA World Championship later that year, which was scheduled to begin just a week after the end of the WNBA Finals.<ref name="first-sun">{{cite news |last1=Riley |first1=Lori |title=Phillips Adds Toughness to Sun |url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2006-04-23-0604230134-story.html |newspaper=Hartford Courant |access-date=22 March 2020 |date=23 April 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322074005/https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2006-04-23-0604230134-story.html |archive-date=22 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips played in all 34 games in her debut season. She was named a starter in the 22nd game of the season after an injury to [[Nykesha Sales]] and ended up starting the last 13 games. The Sun won their first eleven games with Phillips as a starter as part of a franchise-record twelve-game win streak.<ref name="win-streak">{{cite web |title=Erin Phillips Returns to Connecticut Sun |url=https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/sun/news/phillips_080826.html |publisher=WNBA |access-date=22 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322075546/https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/sun/news/phillips_080826.html |archive-date=22 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> She recorded a season-high six assists in her first game as a starter, and then had season-bests of 19 points and 6{{nbsp}}rebounds a few games later.<ref name="2006-wnba-gamelog">{{cite web|title=Erin Phillips WNBA Game Log 2006|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/p/philler01w/gamelog/2006/|publisher=Basketball Reference|access-date=22 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706200635/https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/p/philler01w/gamelog/2006/|archive-date=6 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Overall, Phillips averaged 5.4 points and 2.5 assists per game.<ref name="2006-sun">{{cite web |title=2006 Connecticut Sun Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/CON/2006.html |publisher=Basketball Reference |access-date=22 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423001645/https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/CON/2006.html |archive-date=23 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> She was also ninth in the league in free throw shooting percentage at 88.0%.<ref name="basketball-reference">{{cite web |title=Erin Phillips WNBA Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/p/philler01w.html |publisher=Basketball Reference |access-date=22 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627125424/http://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/p/philler01w.html |archive-date=27 June 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Led by their top scorer [[Katie Douglas (basketball)|Katie Douglas]] and point guard [[Lindsay Whalen]], the Sun finished the regular season with the best record in the WNBA at 26–8.<ref name="2006-wnba">{{cite web |title=2006 WNBA Season Summary |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/years/2006.html |publisher=Basketball Reference |access-date=22 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103223602/http://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/years/2006.html |archive-date=3 January 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> With Sales back from injury, Phillips returned to the bench for the playoffs, where the Sun [[whitewash (sport)|swept]] the [[Washington Mystics]] 2–0 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.<ref name="2006-wnba-gamelog"/> However, they were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals 2–1 by the [[Detroit Shock]], the eventual champions. Phillips's only start in the playoffs came in the first game of that series, a loss on the road.<ref name="2006-wnba"/>

Phillips missed the entire 2007 season while recovering from an ACL injury suffered during the offseason while playing in the WNBL in Australia.<ref name=win-streak/> She did not return to the WNBA until the second half of the 2008 season after missing the first half of the season to train with the Australian national team for the Olympics, which took place in August in the middle of the WNBA season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Feinberg |first1=Doug |title=Court of gold for U.S. women |url=https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/article/20080824/NEWS/308249957 |newspaper=MetroWest Daily News |access-date=22 March 2020 |date=24 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322224515/https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/article/20080824/NEWS/308249957 |archive-date=22 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=2008-silver>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/24/2344692.htm?site=olympics/2008 |title=Opals humbled in gold medal match |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=24 August 2008 |access-date=2 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321131050/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/24/2344692.htm?site=olympics%2F2008 |archive-date=21 March 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Phillips played in eight regular season games, all off the bench. In the last game of the season, she scored 18 points and recorded a career-high eight rebounds.<ref name="wnba-profile"/> Overall, she shot a career-high field goal percentage of 46.4%. Although the Sun finished second in the Eastern Conference, they were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Semifinals by the third-place [[New York Liberty]], losing the decisive third game of the series at home by four points.<ref name="2008-wnba-gamelog">{{cite web |title=Erin Phillips WNBA Game Log 2008 |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/p/philler01w/gamelog/2008/ |publisher=Basketball Reference |access-date=23 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706200631/https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/p/philler01w/gamelog/2008/ |archive-date=6 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Phillips began the 2009 season as a starter. After starting the first 18 games of the season, Phillips and [[Amber Holt]] lost their starting roles to bench players and fellow guards [[Anete Jēkabsone-Žogota]] and [[Tan White]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stout |first1=Matt |title=Jekabsone-Zogota finding her rhythm |url=https://www.norwichbulletin.com/x262901517/Sun-Jekabsone-Zogota-finding-her-rhythm |newspaper=Norwich Bulletin |access-date=23 March 2020 | date = 7 August 2009}}</ref> As a starter, she averaged 9.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. She finished the season with a low three-point field goal percentage of 29.3%, shooting just 20.9% off the bench.<ref name="2009-wnba-gamelog">{{cite web|title=Erin Phillips WNBA Game Log 2009|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/p/philler01w/gamelog/2009/|publisher=Basketball Reference|access-date=23 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706200643/https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/p/philler01w/gamelog/2009/|archive-date=6 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The Sun did not make the playoffs that season due to the tiebreak criteria, despite finishing tied for fourth with the Mystics and [[Chicago Sky]].<ref name="2009-wnba">{{cite web |title=2009 WNBA Season Summary |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/years/2009.html |publisher=Basketball Reference |access-date=22 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408011406/https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/years/2009.html |archive-date=8 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Sun attempted to trade Phillips before the start of the 2010 season. She was at risk of losing playing time after the team signed experienced guards [[Renee Montgomery]] and [[Kara Lawson]] to complement Jēkabsone-Žogota and White.<ref name=cannot-trade>{{cite news |last1=Stout |first1=Matt |title=Not with Sun, but Phillips enjoying time with Opals |url=https://www.norwichbulletin.com/x1143356788/WNBA-Not-with-Sun-but-Phillips-enjoying-time-with-Opals |newspaper=Norwich Bulletin |access-date=22 March 2020 | date = 12 July 2010}}</ref> They were unable to find a trade and did not sign her to the team roster.<ref name=cannot-trade/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Fuller |first1=Jim |title=New Sun, new Sky, new WNBA season |url=https://www.middletownpress.com/news/article/Connecticut-Sun-New-Sun-new-Sky-new-WNBA-season-11862594.php |newspaper=Middletown Press |access-date=23 March 2020 |date=14 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323080543/https://www.middletownpress.com/news/article/Connecticut-Sun-New-Sun-new-Sky-new-WNBA-season-11862594.php |archive-date=23 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips ultimately did not play the 2010 WNBA season.<ref name=basketball-reference/>

====Indiana Fever (2011–13): First WNBA title====

[[File:Indiana Fever at White House.png|thumb|upright=1.5|Phillips (to the left of [[Barack Obama]]) with the 2012 WNBA champion Indiana Fever at the [[White House]]|alt=Posed team photo with photographers taking pictures]]

Before the start of the 2011 WNBA season, Phillips and fellow Australian [[Belinda Snell]] signed with the [[Seattle Storm]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Storm Signs Veteran Aussies Belinda Snell and Erin Phillips |url=https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/storm/news/phillipssnell110209.html |publisher=WNBA |access-date=23 March 2020 |date=9 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323081411/https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/storm/news/phillipssnell110209.html |archive-date=23 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Less than three months later, however, Phillips was traded to the [[Indiana Fever]] in April as part of a three-team deal that sent [[Katie Smith]] to the Storm from the Mystics, a trade Smith had requested.<ref name="fever-trade">{{cite web|url=http://www.wnba.com/fever/news/erin_phillips_110429.html|title=Fever Lands Aussie guard Erin Phillips in three-team trade with Storm and Mystics| publisher = WNBA | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110605022307/http://www.wnba.com/fever/news/erin_phillips_110429.html | archive-date = 5 June 2011 |date=29 April 2011|access-date=2 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Pelton |first1=Kevin |title=2011 Preview: The Key Addition |url=https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/storm/news/smith110601.html |publisher=WNBA |access-date=23 March 2020 |date=1 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323081410/https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/storm/news/smith110601.html |archive-date=23 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Fever were led by team veteran forward [[Tamika Catchings]] as well as Phillips's former Sun teammate Katie Douglas. After beginning the season coming off the bench, Phillips won a starting role following a season-ending injury to point guard [[Briann January]] ten games into the season.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Voepel |first1=Mechelle |title=Fever more than just Catchings, Douglas |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/6839424/indiana-fever-much-more-just-tamika-catchings-katie-douglas |publisher=ESPN |access-date=23 March 2020 |date=6 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323083427/https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/6839424/indiana-fever-much-more-just-tamika-catchings-katie-douglas |archive-date=23 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="resign-fever">{{cite web |title=Fever re-sign G Erin Phillips |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/7538741 |publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |access-date=23 March 2020 |date=3 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323083427/https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/7538741 |archive-date=23 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> She started a career-best 22 games that year, and averaged a career-best 8.6 points per game to go along with 2.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.<ref name=basketball-reference/> Phillips was also eighth in the league in three-point field goal percentage, shooting 42.6%.<ref name=wnba-profile/> She scored a career-high 21 points on two separate occasions, both losses to the [[Atlanta Dream]].<ref name="wnba-profile">{{cite web |title=Erin Phillips |url=https://www.wnba.com/player/erin-phillips/ |publisher=WNBA |access-date=23 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706200625/https://www.wnba.com/player/erin-phillips/ |archive-date=6 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="2011-wnba-gamelog">{{cite web|title=Erin Phillips WNBA Game Log 2011|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/p/philler01w/gamelog/2011/|publisher=Basketball Reference|access-date=23 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706200637/https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/p/philler01w/gamelog/2011/|archive-date=6 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The Fever entered the playoffs as the top seed in the Eastern Conference. They defeated the New York Liberty 2–1 in the Conference Semifinals before losing to the Atlanta Dream 2–1 in the Conference Finals.<ref name="2011-fever">{{cite web |title=2011 Indiana Fever Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/IND/2011.html |publisher=Basketball Reference |access-date=23 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414011802/https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/IND/2011.html |archive-date=14 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips's best playoff game was the winner-take-all Game{{nbsp}}3 of the Conference Semifinals in which she scored 12 points and recorded five steals in the Fever's 10-point victory.<ref name="2011-wnba-gamelog"/>
{{quote box|width=30%|border=1px|align=right|quote="I thought Erin Phillips had one hell of a series. You've got to have somebody other than your star player stepping up. Phillips was consistently a player that made plays, and that's what the Finals are about."|source= —WNBA Finals opposing coach [[Cheryl Reeve]] praising Phillips's performance in the series following the injury to Katie Douglas<ref name=douglas/>|}}

After beginning the 2012 season as a starter, Phillips was moved to the bench after five games, but ended up receiving more playing time coming off the bench. She also started the last three games of the season with January and [[Shavonte Zellous]] both missing a week due to concussion-like symptoms.<ref name=wnba-profile/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Harrow |first1=Ellen |title=Did pro coach encourage dirty play on TV? |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/2012/10/19/lin-dunn-indiana-fever-cheryl-reeve-wnba-finals-physical-play/1643303/ |publisher=USA Today |access-date=2 July 2020 | date = 19 October 2012}}</ref> The final two games were two of Phillips's best of the season, as she scored 19 and 21 points.<ref name="2012-wnba-gamelog">{{cite web|title=Erin Phillips WNBA Game Log 2012|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/p/philler01w/gamelog/2012/|publisher=Basketball Reference|access-date=23 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706200628/https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/p/philler01w/gamelog/2012/|archive-date=6 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Although both players returned for the playoffs for the second-seeded Fever, Phillips started every game in the playoffs except for the first. She saw an increased role on the team after an ankle injury kept Katie Douglas out of the rest of the playoffs following Game{{nbsp}}2 of the Conference Finals. The Fever defeated the Dream in the Conference Semifinals and then Phillips's former team, the Sun, in the Conference Finals, both in three games. In the [[2012 WNBA Finals|WNBA Finals]], the Fever defeated the defending champion [[Minnesota Lynx]] 3–1 for the WNBA title.<ref name="2012-fever">{{cite web |title=2012 Indiana Fever Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/IND/2012.html |publisher=Basketball Reference |access-date=23 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414011712/https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/IND/2012.html |archive-date=14 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips scored at least 10 points in all five games Douglas missed, including 15 points in the winner-take-all game of the Conference Semifinals and 18 points and 8{{nbsp}}rebounds in the series-clinching Game{{nbsp}}4 of the WNBA Finals. Overall in the WNBA Finals, she averaged 13.5 points in 35 minutes per game while compiling a 46.7% three-point field goal percentage.<ref name="2012-wnba-gamelog"/> Winning the WNBA title vindicated Phillips, who was left off the 2012 Australian Olympic team roster for choosing to play the entire WNBA season instead of sitting out the first half like some of her compatriots in the league.<ref name=douglas>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/8536294/wnba-finals-erin-phillips-helps-indiana-fever-win-title|title=Turning disappointment into a title|first=Mechelle|last=Voepel|publisher=ESPN|date=21 October 2012|access-date=22 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026024406/http://espn.go.com/wnba/story/_/id/8536294/wnba-finals-erin-phillips-helps-indiana-fever-win-title|archive-date=26 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> She also finished the regular season third in the league in three-point field goal percentage, shooting 43.8%.<ref name=basketball-reference/>

Just before the start of the 2013 season in late May, Phillips tore her [[Meniscus (anatomy)|meniscus]] in her right knee, an injury that kept her out until early July.<ref>{{cite web |title=Erin Phillips out with knee injury |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/9296813/indiana-fever-lose-guard-erin-phillips-knee-injury |publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |access-date=25 March 2020 |date=20 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325084321/https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/9296813/indiana-fever-lose-guard-erin-phillips-knee-injury |archive-date=25 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> She ended up playing only 18 games, starting just six of them.<ref name="2013-wnba-gamelog">{{cite web|title=Erin Phillips WNBA Game Log 2013|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/p/philler01w/gamelog/2013/|publisher=Basketball Reference|access-date=23 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706200642/https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/p/philler01w/gamelog/2013/|archive-date=6 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Phillips made a career-high five three-pointers in her first start of the year in mid-August.<ref name=wnba-profile/> She finished the season second in the WNBA in three-point field goal percentage, shooting 47.9%.<ref name=basketball-reference/> Despite having a losing record, the Fever made the playoffs and swept the top-seeded Chicago Sky in the Conference Semifinals. Their season came to an end when they were swept by the Atlanta Dream in the Conference Finals.<ref>{{cite web |title=2013 WNBA Season Summary |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/years/2013.html |publisher=WNBA |access-date=25 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408001641/https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/years/2013.html |archive-date=8 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====One-year stints (2014–16): Second WNBA title====

Two months before the start of the 2014 season, Phillips was traded to the [[Phoenix Mercury]] with a second-round draft pick in return for forward [[Lynetta Kizer]] and a first-round draft pick. She joined two of her compatriots on the team, fellow guard [[Penny Taylor]] and new coach [[Sandy Brondello]].<ref name=start-mercury>{{cite web |last1=Killian |first1=Tyler |title=Mercury trade for Erin Phillips |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/wnba/mercury/2014/03/13/mercury-trade-for-erin-phillips-from-the-indiana-fever/6361481/ |publisher=AZ Central | date = 13 March 2014 |access-date=26 March 2020}}</ref> Led by a five-time WNBA scoring champion in [[Diana Taurasi]] and a perennial league leader in blocks in [[Brittney Griner]], the Mercury finished the season with the best record in the WNBA at 29–5, leading the league in both [[offensive rating|offensive]] and [[defensive rating]].<ref name="2014-mercury">{{cite web |title=2014 Phoenix Mercury Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/PHO/2014.html |publisher=Basketball Reference |access-date=26 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427125026/https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/PHO/2014.html |archive-date=27 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips missed only one game during the season. After beginning the year as a starter for the first nine games, she lost her starting role to Taylor. She started only one more game the rest of the season, matching her career-high with 21 points.<ref name="2014-wnba-gamelog">{{cite web|title=Erin Phillips WNBA Game Log 2014|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/p/philler01w/gamelog/2014/|publisher=Basketball Reference|access-date=23 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706200637/https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/p/philler01w/gamelog/2014/|archive-date=6 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Phillips led the WNBA in three-point field goal percentage, shooting 44.9%.<ref name=basketball-reference/> The Mercury dominated the playoffs, defeating the [[Los Angeles Sparks]], the Minnesota Lynx, and the Chicago Sky to win the WNBA title. The only game they lost in the playoffs was Game{{nbsp}}2 of the Conference Finals to the defending champion Lynx. Six of the team's eight playoff wins were by at least 14 points.<ref name="2014-mercury"/> Phillips's best games in the playoffs were the Game{{nbsp}}2 loss in the Conference Finals in which she had 10 points and 4{{nbsp}}assists, and Game{{nbsp}}2 of the [[2014 WNBA Finals|WNBA Finals]] in which she had 7{{nbsp}}points and 3{{nbsp}}assists.<ref name="2014-wnba-gamelog"/>

Phillips signed with the Los Angeles Sparks in the offseason.<ref name=start-sparks>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wnba.com/sparks/sparks_sign_erinphillips_2015_02_11.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214033409/http://www.wnba.com/sparks/sparks_sign_erinphillips_2015_02_11.html|url-status=dead|title=Sparks Sign Two–Time WNBA Champion Erin Phillips|archive-date=14 February 2015 | date = 11 February 2015 | publisher = Los Angeles Sparks | access-date = 25 March 2020}}</ref> She played only 12 games during the 2015 season due to knee issues both early and late in the season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mystics, Sparks To Face Off Tuesday Night On ESPN2 |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/mystics-sparks-to-face-off-tuesday-night-on-espn2/ |publisher=WNBA |access-date=26 March 2020 |date=23 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326044848/https://www.wnba.com/news/mystics-sparks-to-face-off-tuesday-night-on-espn2/ |archive-date=26 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=WNBA Aussie Snapshot |url=https://australia.basketball/blog/2015/09/15/wnba-aussie-snapshot-4/ |publisher=Basketball Australia |access-date=26 March 2020 |date=15 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326044852/https://australia.basketball/blog/2015/09/15/wnba-aussie-snapshot-4/ |archive-date=26 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> She finished the year with a career-low 26.7% three-point field goal percentage.<ref name=basketball-reference/> Phillips missed the playoffs, where the fourth-seeded Sparks were eliminated in the first round by the Minnesota Lynx.<ref>{{cite web |title=2015 Los Angeles Sparks Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/LAS/2015.html |publisher=Basketball Reference |access-date=26 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331123018/https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/LAS/2015.html |archive-date=31 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> During the offseason, Phillips was traded to the [[Dallas Wings]] for [[Riquna Williams]] and the sixth overall pick in the [[2016 WNBA draft]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/los-angeles-sparks-dallas-wings-trade-erin-phillips-riquna-williams/|title=Sparks, Wings Exchange Erin Phillips, Riquna Williams, Draft Picks in Trade|publisher=WNBA|date=1 March 2016|access-date=25 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103221718/https://www.wnba.com/news/los-angeles-sparks-dallas-wings-trade-erin-phillips-riquna-williams/|archive-date=3 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> She was named a co-captain of the new team, which had just relocated and was known as the Tulsa Shock in previous years. Phillips also ended up scoring the first points in Dallas Wings' history.<ref name=wings-release/><ref>{{cite web |title=Recap: Dallas Wings 90 – Indiana Fever 79 |url=https://wings.wnba.com/news/game-recap-dallas-wings-90-indiana-fever-79/ |publisher=Dallas Wings |access-date=26 March 2020 |date=14 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519080136/http://wings.wnba.com/news/game-recap-dallas-wings-90-indiana-fever-79/ |archive-date=19 May 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> She began the season as a starter before settling into a bench role for much of the rest of the season, averaging only 14.6 minutes per game, the second-lowest of her WNBA career.<ref name="2015-wnba-gamelog">{{cite web|title=Erin Phillips WNBA Game Log 2015|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/p/philler01w/gamelog/2015/|publisher=Basketball Reference|access-date=23 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706200633/https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/p/philler01w/gamelog/2015/|archive-date=6 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The Wings finished the season with an 11–23 record and did not make the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web |title=2016 Dallas Wings Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/DAL/2016.html |publisher=Basketball Reference |access-date=26 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704215743/https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/DAL/2016.html |archive-date=4 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> A week before the start of the 2017 season, the Wings waived Phillips.<ref name=wings-release>{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-11/erin-phillips-dropped-by-wnba-team-dallas-wings/8518176|title=AFLW star Erin Phillips dropped from WNBA's Dallas Wings|date=11 May 2017|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=26 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408000914/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-11/erin-phillips-dropped-by-wnba-team-dallas-wings/8518176|archive-date=8 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> She retired from the WNBA several days later.<ref name=retire>{{cite news|last1=Ward|first1=Roy|title=AFLW star Erin Phillips retires from WNBA, keeps Australian Opals door open|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/aflw-star-erin-phillips-retires-from-wnba-keeps-australian-opals-door-open-20170514-gw4i9x.html|access-date=15 May 2017|newspaper=The Age|date=14 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519023349/http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/aflw-star-erin-phillips-retires-from-wnba-keeps-australian-opals-door-open-20170514-gw4i9x.html|archive-date=19 May 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

====WNBA statistics====

{{WNBA player statistics legend}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|†
|Denotes seasons in which Phillips won a [[WNBA Finals|WNBA championship]]
|}

'''Regular season'''
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2006 WNBA season|2006]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Connecticut Sun|Connecticut]]
| '''34''' || 13 || 18.1 || .393 || .343 || .880 || 2.1 || 2.4 || .9 || .1 || 5.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2008 WNBA season|2008]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Connecticut Sun|Connecticut]]
| 8 || 0 || 10.8 || .464 || .500 || .818 || 2.1 || .4 || .5 || .1 || 5.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2009 WNBA season|2009]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Connecticut Sun|Connecticut]]
| 32 || 18 || 23.1 || .382 || .293 || .813 || '''3.2''' || 2.1 || '''1.3''' || .1 || 8.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2011 WNBA season|2011]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Indiana Fever|Indiana]]
| 31 || '''22''' || 22.2 || '''.462''' || .426 || .833 || 2.8 || 2.4 || 1.0 || .0 || '''8.6'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| [[2012 WNBA season|2012]]<sup>†</sup>
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Indiana Fever|Indiana]]
| 29 || 8 || 21.4 || .390 || .438 || .862 || 2.8 || 2.2 || .8 || .1 || 6.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2013 WNBA season|2013]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Indiana Fever|Indiana]]
| 18 || 6 || 21.3 || .367 || '''.479''' || .750 || 1.1 || 1.6 || .8 || .1 || 5.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| [[2014 WNBA season|2014]]<sup>†</sup>
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Phoenix Mercury|Phoenix]]
| 33 || 10 || 18.7 || .435 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|.449° || .844 || 1.6 || 2.2 || .7 || .0 || 5.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2015 WNBA season|2015]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Los Angeles Sparks|Los Angeles]]
| 12 || 12 || '''30.9''' || .286 || .267 || .850 || 3.0 || '''3.1''' || .9 || '''.2''' || 6.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2016 WNBA season|2016]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Dallas Wings|Dallas]]
| 32 || 12 || 14.6 || .438 || .383 || '''.906''' || 1.2 || 1.2 || .2 || .1 || 4.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Career
| style="text-align:left;"|9 years, 5 teams
| 229 || 101 || 20.0 || .403 || .381 || .844 || 2.2 || 2.0 || .8 || .1 || 6.3
{{S-end}}

'''Playoffs'''
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2006 WNBA season|2006]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Connecticut Sun|Connecticut]]
| 5 || 1 || 20.2 || .455 || '''.538''' || .750 || 1.4 || 1.4 || .8 || .2 || 6.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2008 WNBA season|2008]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Connecticut Sun|Connecticut]]
| 3 || 0 || 12.0 || .273 || .500 || – || 2.1 || .7 || .0 || '''.3''' || 3.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2011 WNBA season|2011]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Indiana Fever|Indiana]]
| 6 || 6 || 26.7 || .375 || .000 || .818 || 2.3 || '''3.0''' || '''1.5''' || .2 || 6.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| [[2012 WNBA season|2012]]<sup>†</sup>
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Indiana Fever|Indiana]]
| '''10''' || '''9''' || '''30.1''' || '''.475''' || .517 || .714 || 2.2 || 1.6 || .6 || .1 || '''10.1'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2013 WNBA season|2013]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Indiana Fever|Indiana]]
| 4 || 0 || 21.8 || .438 || .400 || '''1.000''' || 1.3 || 1.3 || .8 || .0 || 5.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| [[2014 WNBA season|2014]]<sup>†</sup>
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Phoenix Mercury|Phoenix]]
| 8 || 0 || 15.3 || .323 || .231 || '''1.000''' || '''2.5''' || 2.4 || .9 || .1 || 3.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Career
| style="text-align:left;"|6 years, 3 teams
| 36 || 16 || 22.4 || .415 || .405 || .810 || 1.9 || 1.9 || .8 || .1 || 6.4
{{S-end}}

===Other professional leagues===
====Israeli Ligat ha'Al (2008–09)====

Phillips joined Ramat Hasharon in the Israeli [[Israeli Female Basketball Premier League|Ligat ha'Al]] following the end of the 2008 WNBA season. This was the first year she did not return to the WNBL in Australia during the offseason. Phillips played only the first half of the season for Ramat Hasharon, averaging 11.6 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game in 10 regular season games.<ref name=israel-stats>{{cite web|title=A.S. Ramat Hasharon Stats 2008–2009|url=https://basketball.eurobasket.com/team/Israel/AS-Ramat-Hasharon/7653?Page=3&Stats=2009|publisher=Eurobasket|access-date=24 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324093021/https://basketball.eurobasket.com/team/Israel/AS-Ramat-Hasharon/7653%3FPage%3D3%26Stats%3D2009|archive-date=24 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> In the middle of the season, she injured her right knee during the second quarter of the Israeli Cup final in late December. Although she did not require surgery, Phillips returned to Australia for physical therapy and did not play another game with the team.<ref>{{cite web |title=Good News: The knee is fine |url=http://www.safsal.co.il/earticle.aspx?id=13491 |publisher=Safsal |access-date=24 March 2020 | date = 27 December 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131015201730/http://www.safsal.co.il/earticle.aspx?id=13491| archive-date = 15 October 2013}}</ref> Ramat Hasharon lost the Israeli Cup final.<ref name=israel-history>{{cite web |title=A.S. Ramat Hasharon History |url=https://basketball.eurobasket.com/team/Israel/AS-Ramat-Hasharon/7653?Page=59 |publisher=Eurobasket |access-date=24 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324093022/https://basketball.eurobasket.com/team/Israel/AS-Ramat-Hasharon/7653%3FPage%3D59 |archive-date=24 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Polish PLKK (2009–14): Three-time champion====

Phillips began playing in the [[Basket Liga Kobiet|Polska Liga Koszykówki Kobiet]] (PLKK) in the 2009–10 WNBA offseason following her last year with the Connecticut Sun. She joined [[Lotos VBW Clima Gdynia|Lotos Gdynia]] in her first PLKK season,<ref name=poland>{{cite web|url=http://www.sport.pl/koszykowka/1,65031,6676496,Wicemistrzyni_olimpijska_w_Lotosie_PKO_BP_Gdynia.html |title=Wicemistrzyni olimpijska w Lotosie PKO BP Gdynia |language=pl | trans-title=Olympic runner-up in Lotos PKO BP Gdynia |website=Sport.pl |date=2 June 2009 |access-date=1 May 2012}}</ref> playing nearly the entire year. In 30 games, she averaged 10.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, with a three-point field goal percentage of 44.1%.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arka Gdynia Stats 2009–2010 |url=https://basketball.eurobasket.com/team/Poland/Arka-Gdynia/7589?Page=3&Stats=2010 |publisher=Eurobasket |access-date=3 April 2020}}</ref> The team won the league championship after finishing second in the regular season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arka Gdynia History |url=https://basketball.eurobasket.com/team/Poland/Arka-Gdynia/7589?Page=5 |publisher=Eurobasket |access-date=3 April 2020}}</ref> Gdynia also competed in [[EuroLeague Women]], where Phillips was named an All-Star for the Rest of the World team against Europe.<ref>{{cite web |title=Phillips to join Taylor in EuroLeague All-Star Game |url=https://australia.basketball/blog/2010/02/09/phillips-to-join-taylor-in-euroleague-all-star-game/ |publisher=Basketball Australia |access-date=4 April 2020 |date=9 February 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The following offseason, Phillips signed with [[Wisła Can-Pack Kraków]], where she played for the next four seasons. In her first two seasons, she won both the regular season and the league championships. In EuroLeague Women, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals during the [[2010–11 EuroLeague Women|2010–11 season]] and finished in eighth place during the [[2011–12 EuroLeague Women|2011–12 season]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Wisla Canpack Krakow History |url=https://basketball.eurobasket.com/team/Poland/Wisla-CANPACK-Krakow/7590?Page=5 |publisher=Eurobasket |access-date=3 April 2020}}</ref> Phillips led the team in scoring in the EuroLeague during her first season in Kraków with 14.9 points per game.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wisla Canpack Krakow 2010–2011 Stats |url=https://basketball.eurobasket.com/team/Poland/Wisla-CANPACK-Krakow/7590?Page=3&Stats=2011 |publisher=Eurobasket |access-date=3 April 2020}}</ref> She was also named a PLKK All-Star in her first two seasons with Kraków.<ref name="wnba-profile"/>

====Slovak Extraliga (2014–15)====

Phillips moved to the [[Slovak Women's Basketball Extraliga]] for the 2014–15 season, playing for perennial league champions [[Good Angels Košice]]. The team won the league title as part of their stretch of 15 consecutive titles from 2004 through 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Good Angels Kosice |url=https://basketball.eurobasket.com/team/Slovakia/Good-Angels-Kosice/7746?Page=5 |publisher=Eurobasket |access-date=3 April 2020}}</ref> Phillips played seven games in both the Extraliga and the EuroLeague, averaging 7.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game in the Extraliga, as well as 10.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game during the EuroLeague season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Good Angels Kosice 2014–2015 |url=https://basketball.eurobasket.com/team/Slovakia/Good-Angels-Kosice/7746?Page=3&Stats=2015 |publisher=Eurobasket |access-date=3 April 2020}}</ref>

====Woodville Warriors (2025)====

In August 2024, Phillips signed with the Woodville Warriors of the [[NBL1 Central]] for the 2025 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nbl1.com.au/article/sporting-legend-joins-the-warriors|title=Sporting legend joins the Warriors|work=NBL1.com.au|date=17 August 2024|access-date=17 August 2024}}</ref> She made her return to the court in March 2025.<ref>{{cite news |title=A legend returns to basketball |url=https://nbl1.com.au/news/a-legend-returns-to-basketball |access-date=28 March 2025 |work=www.nbl1.com.au |date=27 March 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

===National team===
====2005–06: Commonwealth and World Championship gold medals====

Phillips began training with the [[Australian women's national basketball team]], the Opals, in 2005. She chose to participate in training camps and tours with the national team instead of joining the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA, who had drafted her in May of that year. She played several exhibition tournaments in China in July, and then helped the Opals qualify for the following year's World Championships in August with their victory in the Oceania Qualifying Series against the hosts [[New Zealand women's national basketball team|New Zealand]] in August.<ref name=opal-05>{{cite web |title=Basketball Australia Annual Report 2005 |url=https://australia.basketball/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/PDF/2005_Annual_Report.pdf |publisher=Basketball Australia |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404055415/https://australia.basketball/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/PDF/2005_Annual_Report.pdf |archive-date=4 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips's first major senior international tournament was the [[2006 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]] in March 2006, which were hosted by Melbourne and were including basketball for the first time. At home in Australia, the Opals won the gold medal in the [[Basketball at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|women's basketball event]], defeating New Zealand in the final by a lopsided margin. Phillips played an important role in the semifinal win against [[England women's national basketball team|England]]. The following month, the national team hosted the Opals World Challenge in Canberra, where they defeated the [[United States women's national basketball team]], who had not lost a game in seven years, for the first time since 1998.<ref name=opal-06>{{cite web |title=Basketball Australia Annual Report 2006 |url=https://australia.basketball/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/PDF/2006_Annual_Report.pdf |publisher=Basketball Australia |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404070934/https://australia.basketball/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/PDF/2006_Annual_Report.pdf |archive-date=4 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

After the World Challenge event, Phillips decided to forgo training with the Opals that summer to begin her WNBA career. National team coach Jan Stirling was against her decision, saying, "Erin has made a call which will obviously adversely affect her chances for a world championship berth."<ref name=first-sun/> Nonetheless, Stirling ended up naming Phillips to the national team for the [[2006 FIBA World Championship for Women|FIBA World Championship for Women]] in Brazil that September after praising her performance in her first WNBA season. Stirling commented, "Erin's been{{nbsp}}... playing very, very well. She is definitely a young developing player we've got earmarked for Beijing and to get a worlds under her belt is a bonus when you move the clock forward to [the Olympics]."<ref name=war-horse>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/basketball/warhorse-jackson-heads-team-for-world-champs/2006/08/08/1154802861419.html |title='Warhorse' Jackson heads team for world champs |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=8 August 2006 |access-date=11 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924195329/http://www.smh.com.au/news/basketball/warhorse-jackson-heads-team-for-world-champs/2006/08/08/1154802861419.html |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Australia went undefeated and won the gold medal at the World Championship, their first gold medal at any major international competition. They defeated the hosts [[Brazil women's national basketball team|Brazil]] in the semifinals and then [[Russia women's national basketball team|Russia]] in the final after Russia had upset the United States in the semifinals.<ref name=opal-06/> Phillips had a minor role on the team during the tournament, averaging 2.0 points and 1.1 assists in 7.4 minutes per game.<ref>{{cite web |title=2006 World Championship for Women Australia – Accumulated Statistics |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/team/p/sid/3508/tid/239/_/2006_World_Championship_for_Women/accumulated-statistics.html |publisher=FIBA |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128090426/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/team/p/sid/3508/tid/239/_/2006_World_Championship_for_Women/accumulated-statistics.html |archive-date=28 January 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====2008–10: Olympic silver medal in Beijing====

Despite being unable to play for the Opals in 2007 due to an ACL injury, Phillips was assured a place on the national team in their preparation for the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in Beijing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/phillips-keeps-opals-place/story-e6frect3-1111113147190 |title=Phillips keeps Opals place |newspaper=The Advertiser |date=12 March 2007 |access-date=8 May 2012}}</ref> She returned to play with the national team in April 2008 and missed the first half of the WNBA season to continue training with them up until and through the Olympics in August. In addition to exhibitions against New Zealand, Russia, and [[Chinese Taipei women's national basketball team|Chinese Taipei]], Phillips was with the team for the Good Luck Beijing event, a warm-up tournament to help Beijing prepare their operations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Beijing 2008: A Test Of Good Luck |url=https://www.olympic.org/news/beijing-2008-a-test-of-good-luck |publisher=International Olympic Committee |access-date=4 April 2020 |date=7 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014185945/https://www.olympic.org/news/beijing-2008-a-test-of-good-luck |archive-date=14 October 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Without their full team, Australia won only two out of six games. The Opals regrouped for the Olympics. They swept their round robin group, winning all five of those games by more than 15 points. They then won both their quarterfinal game against the [[Czech Republic women's national basketball team|Czech Republic]] and their semifinal game against [[China women's national basketball team|China]] by more than 30 points. Nonetheless, Australia finished as silver medallists after losing the gold medal match to the United States 92–65 in a lopsided game, their third consecutive runner-up finish to the United States at the Olympics.<ref name=opal-08>{{cite web |title=Basketball Australia Annual Report 2008 |url=https://australia.basketball/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/PDF/2008_Annual_Report.pdf |publisher=Basketball Australia |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404085334/https://australia.basketball/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/PDF/2008_Annual_Report.pdf |archive-date=4 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

After the Connecticut Sun could not trade Phillips for the 2010 WNBA season, she instead trained with the national team, winning exhibition tournaments in Hungary during July and in Spain during September. The 2010 international season culminated with the [[2010 FIBA World Championship for Women|FIBA World Championship for Women]] in the Czech Republic. Although Australia's only round robin loss was to the United States, they were defeated in the quarterfinals by the Czech Republic, the tournament hosts. Australia finished in fifth place after winning the 5th-to-8th-place consolation bracket.<ref name=opal-11>{{cite web |title=Basketball Australia Annual Report 2011 |url=https://australia.basketball/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/PDF/2011_Annual_Report.pdf |publisher=Basketball Australia |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404085138/https://australia.basketball/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/PDF/2011_Annual_Report.pdf |archive-date=4 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips had more playing time in the tournament than in the previous World Championship, averaging 4.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 13.6 minutes per game.<ref>{{cite web |title=2010 World Championship for Women Australia – Accumulated Statistics |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/team/p/sid/4730/tid/239/_/2010_FIBA_World_Championship_for_Women/accumulated-statistics.html |publisher=FIBA |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151215042344/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/team/p/sid/4730/tid/239/_/2010_FIBA_World_Championship_for_Women/accumulated-statistics.html |archive-date=15 December 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====2012–16: Olympic absence and return, World Championship bronze====

[[File:Erin Phillips.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.88|Phillips playing for the Australian national team in 2016|alt=Phillips dribbling]]

Although Phillips participated in training camps with the national team in preparation for the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] in London, she was not named to the team. The Australian press and the WNBA regarded her omission as a surprise. Nonetheless, Phillips knew she was hurting her chances of making the team by playing the full WNBA season instead of skipping the first half of the year to keep training with the Opals like Lauren Jackson. She decided to play the full season because she thought it was better preparation and she wanted to honour her contract with the Indiana Fever.<ref name="jayda">{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/storm/2018528792_wnbatalk26.html |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20130103124441/http%3A//seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/storm/2018528792_wnbatalk26.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |title=WNBA Talk: Reporter Jayda Evans talks with Indiana guard Erin Phillips |newspaper=Seattle Times |date=25 June 2012 |access-date=2 July 2012 | last = Evans | first = Jayda }}</ref> The Opals won the bronze medal in London, and Phillips ended up winning her first WNBA title.<ref name=2012-fever/>

Phillips returned to the national team as one of 33 players selected to prepare for the [[2014 FIBA World Championship for Women]] in Turkey.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jackson, Taylor in Australia training squad |url=https://apnews.com/c568254ac9724a2aafcfd9a865500681 |publisher=AP News |access-date=4 April 2020 | date = 11 March 2014}}</ref> She was named to the team for the World Championship, having won the WNBA Finals just 15 days before the Opals' first game in the tournament. Australia swept their round robin group and won their quarterfinal game against [[Canada women's national basketball team|Canada]]. After a 12-point semifinal loss to the United States, the Opals defeated the hosts [[Turkey women's national basketball team|Turkey]] for the bronze medal. Unlike her previous two World Championships where she had little playing time off the bench, Phillips established herself in the team's regular starting lineup, leading the team in minutes per game, and was third in scoring and second in assists. Overall, she averaged 8.7 points, 4.0 assists, and 4.0 rebounds in 26.2 minutes per game.<ref>{{cite web |title=2014 World Championship for Women Australia – Accumulated Statistics |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/team/p/sid/6242/tid/239/_/2014_FIBA_World_Championship_for_Women/accumulated-statistics.html |publisher=FIBA |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027124518/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/team/p/sid/6242/tid/239/_/2014_FIBA_World_Championship_for_Women/accumulated-statistics.html |archive-date=27 October 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the loss against the United States, she led the team in scoring with a game-high 19 points and made her only three three-pointers of the tournament on six such shots.<ref>{{cite web |title=Australia – USA |url=http://www.fiba.basketball/world/women/2014/0410/Australia-USA#tab=boxscore |publisher=FIBA |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203152736/http://www.fiba.basketball/world/women/2014/0410/Australia-USA#tab=boxscore |archive-date=3 February 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Erin Victoria Phillips |url=http://www.fiba.basketball/world/women/2014/player/Erin-Victoria-Phillips |publisher=FIBA |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203160533/http://www.fiba.basketball/world/women/2014/player/Erin-Victoria-Phillips |archive-date=3 February 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The last major international tournament of Phillips's career was the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] in Rio de Janeiro. Phillips and [[Laura Hodges]] were voted co-vice captains by their teammates, while Penny Taylor was voted captain.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nagy |first1=Boti |title=Penny Taylor named Opals' Olympic captain with SA pair, Erin Phillips and Laura Hodges vice captains |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/olympics/penny-taylor-named-opals-olympic-captain-with-sa-pair-erin-phillips-and-laura-hodges-vice-captains/news-story/5846b21dddf46be1c1597e52a92a5b4e |newspaper=The Advertiser |access-date=4 April 2020}}</ref> Despite sweeping their round robin group, Australia were upset in the quarterfinals 73–71 by [[Serbia women's national basketball team|Serbia]] in a game where the Opals had 26 turnovers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Teresa |title=Serbia stunner: Australia ousted 73-71 in women's basketball |url=https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160816/sports/308169910 |newspaper=Daily Herald |access-date=4 April 2020 |date=16 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404192352/https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160816/sports/308169910 |archive-date=4 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips had 10 points and 4{{nbsp}}assists in the loss. Overall, she averaged 4.7 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.0 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game while playing as a starter.<ref>{{cite web |title=Erin Victoria Phillips |url=http://www.fiba.basketball/olympicswomen/2016/player/Erin-Victoria-Phillips |publisher=Basketball Australia |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208125008/http://www.fiba.basketball/olympicswomen/2016/player/Erin-Victoria-Phillips |archive-date=8 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The loss to Serbia ended the Opals' streak of five consecutive Olympics with a medal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Basketball Women |url=https://www.olympic.org/basketball/basketball-women |publisher=International Olympic Committee |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200308134506/https://www.olympic.org/basketball/basketball-women |archive-date=8 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips officially retired from competitive basketball in January 2018.<ref name=voice/>

===Playing style===

Phillips was a [[guard (basketball)|guard]], and could play both the [[point guard]] and [[shooting guard]] positions.<ref name=first-sun/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Liz |title=Erin Phillips proves she can do anything, by kicking a basketball and 'shooting' a half-court goal |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/erin-phillips-proves-she-can-do-anything-by-kicking-a-basketball-and-shooting-a-half-court-goal-ng-e067fc95cd53254d20de088d8e481907 |newspaper=Perth Now |publisher=The Advertiser |access-date=22 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322091031/https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/erin-phillips-proves-she-can-do-anything-by-kicking-a-basketball-and-shooting-a-half-court-goal-ng-e067fc95cd53254d20de088d8e481907 |archive-date=22 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Her versatility allowed her to play as a combo guard between both of those positions.<ref name="trade-fever">{{cite web |title=Erin Phillips traded to Indiana Fever |url=https://australia.basketball/blog/2011/05/02/erin-phillips-traded-to-indiana-fever/ |publisher=Basketball Australia |access-date=22 March 2020 |date=2 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322091029/https://australia.basketball/blog/2011/05/02/erin-phillips-traded-to-indiana-fever/ |archive-date=22 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips's first WNBA coach [[Mike Thibault]] compared her to Women's Basketball Hall of Famer [[Michele Timms]], another Australian point guard. He also said she was "one of the best rebounding guards we've had".<ref name=casino>{{cite news |title=Opal Erin happy to join high-rollers |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/basketball/opal-erin-happy-to-join-high-rollers-20060521-gdnl5d.html |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=22 March 2020 |date=21 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321084308/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/basketball/opal-erin-happy-to-join-high-rollers-20060521-gdnl5d.html |archive-date=21 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> With her background in the much more physical sport of Australian rules football, Phillips had a physical style of play in basketball as well. Thibault commended her ability to take contact while driving to the basket, comparing her to then-teammate [[Lindsay Whalen]] in that regard. Phillips also excelled at taking offensive charges while on defence and was a good perimeter defender.<ref name=first-sun/><ref name=start-mercury/>

Phillips was one of the best three-point shooters in the WNBA during her career, ranking top ten in the league in three-point field goal percentage five times in the eight seasons where she played enough to qualify for the rankings. Her best rankings in three-point field goal percentage came in three consecutive years when she finished third in 2012, second in 2013, and first in 2014.<ref name=basketball-reference/> Although she did not lead the league in 2013, her 47.9% three-point field goal percentage that year ranks 13th overall in WNBA history as of 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=WNBA Leaders and Records for 3-Pt Field Goal Pct: Season |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/leaders/fg3_pct_season.html |publisher=Basketball Reference |access-date=26 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019145009/https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/leaders/fg3_pct_season.html |archive-date=19 October 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips's career three-point field goal percentage of 38.1% ranks 34th all-time as of 2020. Phillips was also an excellent free-throw shooter. Her 84.4% career free throw percentage ranks 33rd all-time in the WNBA as of 2020.<ref name=basketball-reference/>

===Coaching===

Following her release by the Dallas Wings and retirement from the WNBA immediately before the start of the 2017 WNBA season, Phillips was named the Wings' director of player and franchise development a week later.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Grosbard |first1=Adam |title=Dallas Wings name recently retired Erin Phillips director of player and franchise development |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/wings/2017/05/22/dallas-wings-name-recently-retired-erin-phillips-director-of-player-and-franchise-development/ |newspaper=Dallas News |access-date=4 April 2020 | date = 22 May 2017}}</ref> Shortly after the end of the season, Phillips was promoted to assistant coach of the team for 2018, replacing [[Bridget Pettis]]. She coached alongside fellow assistant coach [[Taj McWilliams-Franklin]] and under head coach [[Fred Williams (basketball, born 1957)|Fred Williams]], who had been the team's head coach in Phillips's last year as a player in the WNBA as well.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dallas Wings Finalize 2018 Coaching Staff: Erin Phillips Named Assistant Coach |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/dallas-wings-finalize-2018-coaching-staff-erin-phillips-named-assistant-coach/ |publisher=WNBA |access-date=4 April 2020 |date=23 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321084255/https://www.wnba.com/news/dallas-wings-finalize-2018-coaching-staff-erin-phillips-named-assistant-coach/ |archive-date=21 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> She retained her position the following year as the Wings hired new head coach [[Brian Agler]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Brian Agler Named Head Coach of the Dallas Wings |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/brian-agler-named-head-coach-of-the-dallas-wings/ |publisher=WNBA |access-date=4 April 2020 |date=18 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709130513/https://www.wnba.com/news/brian-agler-named-head-coach-of-the-dallas-wings/ |archive-date=9 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> She had turned down the opportunity to interview for that head coaching vacancy in order to return to Australian rules football in the AFLW during the offseason.<ref>{{cite web |title=Injured Erin Phillips dominates AFLW awards |url=https://www.espn.com.au/espnw/story/_/id/26421706 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=4 April 2020 |date=2 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404031725/http://www.espn.com.au/espnw/story/_/id/26421706 |archive-date=4 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips left the coaching staff following the 2019 WNBA season in search of opportunities in Australia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dallas Wings Announce 2020 Coaching Staff |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/dallas-wings-announce-2020-coaching-staff/ |publisher=WNBA |access-date=4 April 2020 |date=21 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212204312/https://www.wnba.com/news/dallas-wings-announce-2020-coaching-staff/ |archive-date=12 February 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Australian rules football career==
{{Infobox AFL biography
| image = File:Phillips,_Erin,_Alberton_Oval,_2022_September_3,_captain.jpg
| caption = Phillips playing for Port Adelaide in 2022
| alt = Phillips wearing the number one Port Adelaide guernsey
| draftpick = Rookie signing [[2016 AFL Women's draft#Rookie players|2016]]: {{AFLW|Ade}}
| debutdate = Round 1, 2017
| debutteam = {{AFLW|Ade}}
| debutopponent = {{AFLW|GWS}}
| debutstadium = [[Thebarton Oval]]
| position = [[Australian rules football positions|Midfielder]]
| years1 = 2017–2022 (S6)
| club1 = {{AFLW|Ade}}
| games_goals1 = 46 (50)
| years2 = 2022 (S7)–2023
| club2 = {{AFLW|PA}}
| games_goals2 = 20 (3)
| games_goalstotal = 66 (53)
| statsend = the 2023 season
| careerhighlights = '''Club'''
* 3× [[List of AFL Women's premiers|AFLW premiership player]] ([[2017 AFL Women's Grand Final|2017]], [[2019 AFL Women's Grand Final|2019]], [[2022 AFL Women's season 6 Grand Final|2022 (S6)]])
* 2× [[List of AFL Women's premiership captains and coaches|AFLW premiership co-captain]] (2017, 2019)
* 2× Adelaide Club Champion (2017, 2019)
* [[List of Adelaide Football Club captains#AFL Women's|Adelaide co-captain]] (2017–2020)
* 2× [[List of Adelaide Football Club leading goalkickers|Adelaide leading goalkicker]] (2018, 2021)
* [[List of Port Adelaide Football Club captains#AFL Women's|Port Adelaide captain]] (2022 (S7)–2023)
'''Representative'''
* 3× [[AFL Women's All-Australian team|All-Australian]] (2017, 2019, 2021)
'''Honours'''
* 2× [[List of AFL Women's best and fairest winners|AFLW league best and fairest]] (2017, 2019)
* 2× [[AFL Players Association|AFLW Players']] Most Valuable Player Award (2017, 2019)
* 2× [[AFL Women's Grand Final#Best-on-ground|AFLW Grand Final Best on Ground]]: [[2017 AFL Women's Grand Final|2017]], [[2019 AFL Women's Grand Final|2019]]
* AFL Coaches Association AFLW Champion Player of the Year (2019)
* Goal of the Year (2017)
| fullname = 
}}

===Adelaide Football Club (2017–2022 (S6))===
With the AFL planning to launch a national Australian rules football women's competition in 2017, Phillips agreed to become a marquee signing for {{AFLW|PA}}, her father's club in the SANFL, if they received a licence for the inaugural [[AFL Women's]] (AFLW) season.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/opal-and-wnba-player-erin-phillips-agrees-to-become-port-adelaides-first-female-player-20151216-glpafp.html|title=Opal and WNBA player Erin Phillips agrees to become Port Adelaide's first female player|last=Phelan|first=Jason|date=16 December 2015|work=The Age|access-date=1 April 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127094049/http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/opal-and-wnba-player-erin-phillips-agrees-to-become-port-adelaides-first-female-player-20151216-glpafp.html|archive-date=27 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=sign-port>{{cite web |last1=Agius |first1=Matthew |title=Erin Phillips to follow in footsteps of father Greg in playing for Port Adelaide |url=https://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/114933/erin-phillips-to-follow-in-footsteps-of-father-greg-in-playing-for-port-adelaide |publisher=Port Adelaide Football Club |access-date=6 April 2020 |date=15 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321042850/https://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/114933/erin-phillips-to-follow-in-footsteps-of-father-greg-in-playing-for-port-adelaide |archive-date=21 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> By March 2016, however, Port Adelaide decided not to bid for a licence for 2017 in order to focus on their plan to play the first AFL game in China that same year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/womens-footy-port-adelaide-will-not-bid-for-national-league-licence-leaving-door-open-for-adelaide/news-story/8f722fbc7674054be803e500e049e559|title=Women's footy: Port Adelaide will not bid for national league licence, leaving door open for Adelaide|date=4 March 2016|work=Fox Sports|last=Beveridge|first=Riley|access-date=4 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403015146/http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/womens-footy-port-adelaide-will-not-bid-for-national-league-licence-leaving-door-open-for-adelaide/news-story/8f722fbc7674054be803e500e049e559|archive-date=3 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Black |first1=Sarah |title=AFLW: Girl Power: Port to seek licence |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/52319/aflw-girl-power-port-to-seek-licence |publisher=AFL |access-date=6 April 2020 | date = 27 June 2018}}</ref>

As a result, Phillips instead ended up signing with the [[Adelaide Football Club]] as a rookie, a spot reserved for footballers coming from other sports.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Burtenshaw |first1=David |title=Crows sign Erin Phillips |url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/348658/crows-sign-erin-phillips |publisher=Adelaide Football Club |access-date=6 April 2020 |date=13 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320034543/https://www.afc.com.au/news/348658/crows-sign-erin-phillips |archive-date=20 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> She had previously stated it was "highly unlikely" that she would join Adelaide if Port Adelaide were not granted a licence.<ref>{{cite web |title=Phillips: If you cut me open I bleed black and white | date=15 December 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRuG6pYznes  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/JRuG6pYznes |archive-date=14 December 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=Port Adelaide Football Club |access-date=6 April 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Phillips later reneged, saying, "When the Adelaide Crows contacted me I was just so blown away how professional they were and how committed they were, not only just in getting me to play but how committed they were to the women's game itself."<ref name=sign-quotes/> She also commented that she thought "[her] time had passed at playing football" when Port Adelaide did not pursue a licence.<ref name=sign-quotes>{{Cite news|url=http://www.afc.com.au/news/2016-09-13/erins-footy-dream-now-a-reality|title=Erin's footy dream now a reality|publisher=Adelaide Football Club|last1=Burtenshaw|first1=David|access-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423212355/http://www.afc.com.au/news/2016-09-13/erins-footy-dream-now-a-reality|archive-date=23 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Phillips had not played in a football match since participating in the [[West End Slowdown|Little Heroes Slowdown]] in 2004, a charity match featuring retired AFL and SANFL players as well as celebrities.<ref>{{cite web |title=What we learned: AFLW R1 |url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/117062/what-we-learned-aflw-r1 |publisher=Adelaide Football Club |access-date=6 April 2020 | date = 5 February 2017}}</ref> She was named [[best on ground]] in that game.<ref name=sign-port/> Before she returned to training in 2016, the last time she had played football in a competitive league was 17 years earlier at 13 years old.<ref name=thirteen/><ref name="seventeen">{{cite news |title=AFLW star Erin Phillips re-signs with Adelaide Crows for 2018 season |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-23/aflw-star-erin-phillips-re-signs-with-adelaide-crows/8550362 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Company |access-date=6 April 2020 |date=22 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808024918/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-23/aflw-star-erin-phillips-re-signs-with-adelaide-crows/8550362 |archive-date=8 August 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2017: Inaugural best and fairest, and AFLW premiership====

[[File:Erin Phillips kicks 19.03.17 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Phillips kicking|alt=Phillips demonstrating her right leg flexibility while kicking]]

Phillips was named as a co-captain of Adelaide for the inaugural [[2017 AFL Women's season|2017 AFLW season]], along with [[Chelsea Randall]], one of the club's marquee signings.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/erin-phillips-chelsea-randall-named-inaugural-adelaide-crows-captains/news-story/be77f9c022a069ffaa23012537adc77c|title=Erin Phillips, Chelsea Randall named inaugural Adelaide Crows captains|date=14 January 2017|work=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]|access-date=14 January 2017}}</ref> Although Phillips received approval from the Dallas Wings to play in the AFLW during the WNBA offseason, medical insurance on her WNBA contract did not cover any injuries from playing Australian rules football. Despite the possibility of an injury voiding her WNBA contract or the fact that her salary was about ten times higher in the WNBA compared to the AFLW, Phillips decided to play in the league at her own risk.<ref name=espn>{{cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Steve|title=Aussie Erin Phillips redefines two-sport stardom|url=http://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/18705994/with-wnba-aussie-rules-football-erin-phillips-redefines-two-sport-stardom|publisher=ESPN|access-date=24 February 2017|language=en|date=24 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224124200/http://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/18705994/with-wnba-aussie-rules-football-erin-phillips-redefines-two-sport-stardom|archive-date=24 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2017 AFLW competition consisted of eight teams playing a home-and-away schedule of seven games, one against each of the other teams. At the end of the season, the top two teams on the ladder would contest the Grand Final. Adelaide had a strong start to the season, winning their first two games with the largest margin of victory in each week.<ref name="aflw-2017">{{cite web |title=2017 Matches |date=9 March 2020 |url=https://womens.afl/matches/2017 |publisher=AFLW |access-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322060402/https://womens.afl/matches/2017 |archive-date=22 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips was awarded best on ground in both games, receiving the maximum three votes that were to be tallied at the end of the season to decide the competition's [[AFL Women's best and fairest|best and fairest]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2017 Round 1: Adelaide WFC vs Greater Western Sydney WFC |url=https://australianfootball.com/game/view/82979 |publisher=Australian Football |access-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407153409/https://australianfootball.com/game/view/82979 |archive-date=7 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2017 Round 2: Western Bulldogs WFC vs Adelaide WFC |url=https://australianfootball.com/game/view/82982 |publisher=Australian Football |access-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403052222/https://australianfootball.com/game/view/82982 |archive-date=3 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> She led the Crows in goals in the first game of the season with three.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Larkin |first1=Steve |title=Crows thrash Giants in women's AFL |url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/crows-thrash-giants-in-women-s-afl/3ef3ce99-9990-4bc7-b17c-c148646b6b28 |website=nine.com.au |access-date=6 April 2020 | date = 4 February 2017}}</ref> Although Adelaide trailed at three-quarter time against {{AFL Car}} in Round{{nbsp}}3, Phillips led her team to victory with the only goal of the final term, which she kicked from a long distance of 60 metres.<ref>{{cite news |title=Erin Phillips sinks Carlton as Adelaide remain unbeaten in AFLW |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/feb/19/erin-phillips-sinks-carlton-as-adelaide-remain-unbeaten-in-aflw |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=6 April 2020 |date=19 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615111032/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/feb/19/erin-phillips-sinks-carlton-as-adelaide-remain-unbeaten-in-aflw |archive-date=15 June 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips was awarded best on ground for the third and final time during the home-and-away season in Adelaide's Round{{nbsp}}4 win,<ref name="aflw-stats">{{cite web |title=Erin Phillips |url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player_season_detail/erin%252Bphillips/19877#2017 |publisher=Australian Football |access-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407013807/https://australianfootball.com/players/player_season_detail/Erin%2BPhillips/19877#2017 |archive-date=7 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> leading the Crows with 18 [[Glossary of Australian rules football#D|disposals]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2017 Round 4: Fremantle WFC vs Adelaide WFC |url=https://australianfootball.com/game/view/82994 |publisher=Australian Football |access-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407074716/https://australianfootball.com/game/view/82994 |archive-date=7 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Adelaide and {{AFLW|Bri}} entered their Round{{nbsp}}5 encounter as the only remaining unbeaten teams in the competition, even though the press had not expected either team to be top two on the ladder.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lerner |first1=Ronny |title=AFL Women's club-by-club 2017 mid-season report |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-womens-clubbyclub-2017-midseason-report-20170228-gun4hq.html |newspaper=The Age |access-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306083249/https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-womens-clubbyclub-2017-midseason-report-20170228-gun4hq.html |archive-date=6 March 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> After Adelaide led at three-quarter time, they lost the game after conceding the only goal of the final term.<ref>{{cite web |title=2017 Round 5: Adelaide WFC vs Brisbane WFC |url=https://australianfootball.com/game/view/82998 |publisher=Australian Football |access-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402222003/https://australianfootball.com/game/view/82998 |archive-date=2 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> This was the only game of the season that Phillips did not receive any votes as one of the three best players on the ground. She received an additional two votes in both of the last two games of the season.<ref name="aflw-stats"/> Adelaide lost their next game as well to {{AFL Mel}}, who were led by [[Daisy Pearce]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2017 Round 6: Adelaide WFC vs Melbourne WFC |url=https://australianfootball.com/game/view/83001 |publisher=Australian Football |access-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402221950/https://australianfootball.com/game/view/83001 |archive-date=2 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> With the loss, the Crows were left with the same number of wins as Melbourne and retained the second position on the ladder only by virtue of their much better [[Glossary of Australian rules football#P|points percentage]].<ref name="advertiser-1">{{cite news |last1=McGowan |first1=Marc |title=Melbourne Demons keep AFLW grand final hopes alive with two-point win against Adelaide Crows |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/aflw/melbourne-demons-keep-aflw-grand-final-hopes-alive-with-twopoint-win-against-adelaide-crows/news-story/0526377002887e58a179ff7e6252e095 |newspaper=The Advertiser |access-date=11 March 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170311152739/http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/aflw/melbourne-demons-keep-aflw-grand-final-hopes-alive-with-twopoint-win-against-adelaide-crows/news-story/0526377002887e58a179ff7e6252e095 |archive-date=11 March 2017 |date=11 March 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After Melbourne began the last round with a win, Adelaide needed to win their game against {{AFL Col}} to finish second on the ladder.<ref name="theaustralian-1">{{cite news |agency=Australian Associated Press |title=AFLW: record falls as Demons trounce Freo |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/aflw-record-falls-as-demons-trounce-freo/news-story/e7dbf3700afee32f71c85aafbb9bb554 |newspaper=The Australian |access-date=19 March 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170319095912/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/aflw-record-falls-as-demons-trounce-freo/news-story/e7dbf3700afee32f71c85aafbb9bb554 |archive-date=19 March 2017 |date=19 March 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Although Adelaide trailed by seven points entering the final term, they won the game with the only five goals in the last quarter, the first two from [[Sarah Perkins]] who had four in total and the next two from Phillips who kicked three in total.<ref>{{cite web |title=2017 Round 7: Collingwood WFC vs Adelaide WFC |url=https://australianfootball.com/game/view/83005 |publisher=Australian Football |access-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407074703/https://australianfootball.com/game/view/83005 |archive-date=7 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Live: AFLW Round 7, Adelaide Crows v Collingwood, Carlton v Brisbane Lions, live scores, updates, video |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/womens-afl/live-aflw-round-7-adelaide-crows-v-collingwood-carlton-v-brisbane-lions-live-scores-updates-video/news-story/d31ec04c13ed9f46efb65cbecb686d11 |work=Fox Sports |access-date=6 April 2020 |date=18 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610003331/http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/womens-afl/live-aflw-round-7-adelaide-crows-v-collingwood-carlton-v-brisbane-lions-live-scores-updates-video/news-story/d31ec04c13ed9f46efb65cbecb686d11 |archive-date=10 June 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="heraldsun-2">{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Lauren |title=Adelaide Crows book place in AFLW Grand Final after come-from-behind win over Collingwood |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/aflw/adelaide-crows-book-place-in-aflw-grand-final-after-comefrombehind-win-over-collingwood/news-story/854d1b3a053e3104e81e8286a856a348 |newspaper=Herald Sun |access-date=19 March 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170319100841/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/aflw/adelaide-crows-book-place-in-aflw-grand-final-after-comefrombehind-win-over-collingwood/news-story/854d1b3a053e3104e81e8286a856a348 |archive-date=19 March 2017 |date=19 March 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The inaugural [[2017 AFL Women's Grand Final|2017 AFLW Grand Final]] was a rematch of Adelaide's Round{{nbsp}}5 loss to Brisbane, who won the right to host the match as [[minor premiers]]. Adelaide won by a score of 4.11 (35) to 4.5 (29), never trailing in the match.<ref name=2017-gf/> Phillips won best on ground, having recorded 28 disposals, 7{{nbsp}}[[Mark (Australian rules football)|marks]], and 7{{nbsp}}[[Tackle (football move)|tackles]], all personal season-bests and team-highs in the game.<ref>{{cite web |title=2017 Round GF: Brisbane WFC vs Adelaide WFC |url=https://australianfootball.com/game/view/87461 |publisher=Australian Football |access-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407074613/https://australianfootball.com/game/view/87461 |archive-date=7 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> She also kicked both of Adelaide's goals in the second half.<ref name=2017-gf>{{cite news |last1=O'Halloran |first1=Kate |title=AFLW grand final: Adelaide Crows beat Brisbane Lions – as it happened |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2017/mar/25/aflw-grand-final-brisbane-lions-v-adelaide-crows-live |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=6 April 2020 |date=25 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406132235/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2017/mar/25/aflw-grand-final-brisbane-lions-v-adelaide-crows-live |archive-date=6 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=AFLW grand final: Adelaide Crows edge Brisbane Lions by one goal after Erin Phillips masterclass |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-25/aflw-grand-final-adelaide-crows-scoop-first-premiership/8386722 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=6 April 2020 |date=25 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001184526/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-25/aflw-grand-final-adelaide-crows-scoop-first-premiership/8386722 |archive-date=1 October 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips ended the year as the third-leading goalkicker in the AFLW with ten goals.<ref>{{cite web |title=AFL Women's Premier Season – Every Goalkicker 2017|url=https://australianfootball.com/leagues/every_goalkicker/AFL/138/Women%27s+Premiership+Season/245?season_from=2017&season_to=2017&limit=1000 |publisher=Australian Football |access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref> At the AFLW Awards, Phillips was named the inaugural AFLW best and fairest, finishing the season with 14 votes, four ahead of the {{AFLW|WB}}' [[Ellie Blackburn]] and Melbourne's [[Karen Paxman]]. Her match-winner from Round{{nbsp}}3 against Carlton was also named the AFLW Goal of the Year.<ref name="2017-best">{{cite web|last1=Navaratnam|first1=Dinny|title=Simply the best: Phillips named AFLW finest|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-03-28/erin-phillips-caps-super-season-with-aflw-best-and-fairest|publisher=AFL|access-date=28 March 2017|date=28 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330220555/http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-03-28/erin-phillips-caps-super-season-with-aflw-best-and-fairest|archive-date=30 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> She was also a finalist for AFLW Mark of the Year for an on-the-shoulders mark that she took against Melbourne, losing the award to [[Darcy Vescio]].<ref>{{cite AV media |title=Darcy Vescio wins Mark of The Year |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El_AzvSH3hY  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/El_AzvSH3hY |archive-date=14 December 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=AFL |access-date=6 April 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Phillips also won the AFLW Players' Most Valuable Player Award and was named to the All-Australian team.<ref name="mvp">{{cite web|title=Phillips claims inaugural AFLW Players' MVP Award|url=http://www.aflplayers.com.au/article/phillips-crowned-inaugural-aflw-players-mvp-award-2/|publisher=AFL Players Association|access-date=27 March 2017|date=27 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327171634/http://www.aflplayers.com.au/article/phillips-crowned-inaugural-aflw-players-mvp-award-2/|archive-date=27 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Navaratnam |first1=Dinny |title=Finalists dominate AFLW All Australian team |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/121406/finalists-dominate-aflw-all-australian-team |publisher=AFL |access-date=13 February 2022 | date = 28 March 2017}}</ref>

====2018: Struggle with injuries====

Phillips struggled with a right [[Quadriceps tendon|quad]] injury through much of the [[2018 AFL Women's season|2018 season]].<ref name=2018-last-loss>{{cite web |last1=Gabelich |first1=Josh |title=Collingwood crushes Adelaide's AFLW dream and sends Brisbane to Grand Final with upset win |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/womens-afl/live-aflw-round-7-collingwood-v-adelaide-crows/news-story/5bbe3b7b70dde1b536dd997ee3ebb7d0 |work=Fox Sports |date=18 March 2018 |access-date=7 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407055756/https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/womens-afl/live-aflw-round-7-collingwood-v-adelaide-crows/news-story/5bbe3b7b70dde1b536dd997ee3ebb7d0 |archive-date=7 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> She first injured the quad in the preseason and then aggravated it the day before the start of the season, keeping her out for the first two games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/quad-injury-forces-adelaides-erin-phillips-out-of-aflw-round-one-20180203-h0t750.html|title=AFLW: Defending champions Adelaide Crows stumble without star Erin Phillips|first=Peter|last=Ryan|date=3 February 2018|access-date=3 February 2018|newspaper=The Age|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323184736/https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/quad-injury-forces-adelaides-erin-phillips-out-of-aflw-round-one-20180203-h0t750.html|archive-date=23 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-02-06/aflw-crows-superstar-erin-phillips-ruled-out-again|title=AFLW: Crows superstar ruled out again|publisher=AFL|date=6 February 2018|access-date=6 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404031723/https://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-02-06/aflw-crows-superstar-erin-phillips-ruled-out-again|archive-date=4 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Adelaide lost both of those games without Phillips, which were against Brisbane and Melbourne.<ref name="aflw-2018">{{cite web |title=2018 Matches |date=8 March 2020 |url=https://womens.afl/matches/2018 |publisher=AFLW |access-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322060404/https://womens.afl/matches/2018 |archive-date=22 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> When Phillips returned, Adelaide resumed winning as Phillips starred with four of Adelaide's six goals and two of their five [[Glossary of Australian rules football#B|behinds]], earning best on ground.<ref name=aflw-stats/><ref name=gamechanger>{{cite news |last1=McGarry |first1=Andrew |title=Erin Phillips keeps Adelaide Crows' season alive, and proves she is the gamechanger of the AFLW |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-18/adelaides-erin-phillips-the-gamechanger-of-the-aflw/9459284 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=7 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916054738/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-18/adelaides-erin-phillips-the-gamechanger-of-the-aflw/9459284 |archive-date=16 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, this was the only game of the year where Phillips earned any votes.<ref name=aflw-stats/> After a draw against {{AFL GWS}} in heavy rain,<ref>{{cite web |title=AFLW match report: GWS, Crows in dramatic draw |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/140078/aflw-match-report-gws-crows-in-dramatic-draw |publisher=AFL |access-date=7 April 2020 |date=25 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407055800/https://www.afl.com.au/news/140078/aflw-match-report-gws-crows-in-dramatic-draw |archive-date=7 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Adelaide won their next two games in Round{{nbsp}}5 and Round{{nbsp}}6.<ref name="aflw-2018"/> Phillips's quad injury forced her to miss the second half of the Round{{nbsp}}5 win.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Navaratnam |first1=Dinny |title=AFLW: Phillips sidelined for second half |url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/263321/aflw-phillips-sidelined-for-second-half |publisher=Adelaide Football Club |access-date=7 April 2020 |date=3 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407055759/https://www.afc.com.au/news/263321/aflw-phillips-sidelined-for-second-half |archive-date=7 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> She recovered to kick three goals the following week.<ref name=aflw-stats/> Just like in 2017, Adelaide entered their Round{{nbsp}}7 game against Collingwood needing a win to make the [[2018 AFLW Grand Final|AFLW Grand Final]]. This time, however, Adelaide squandered a 17-point lead in the second quarter and lost the game after defender Chelsea Randall missed the second half due to a concussion.<ref name=2018-last-loss/><ref>{{cite news |title=AFLW: Crows lose to Collingwood and miss out on grand final berth |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/mar/18/aflw-crows-lose-to-collingwood-and-miss-out-on-grand-final-berth |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=7 April 2020 |date=18 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407055757/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/mar/18/aflw-crows-lose-to-collingwood-and-miss-out-on-grand-final-berth |archive-date=7 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2019: Another best and fairest, and second AFLW premiership====

[[File:Phillips handballing to Cox (cropped) 2.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.65|Phillips handballing|alt=Phillips handballing while running and staring at target]]

With the expansion of the AFLW to 10 teams for the [[2019 AFL Women's season|2019 season]], the league was restructured into two conferences. The number of home-and-away games was kept at seven, and the finals system was expanded to include one pair of preliminary finals before the grand final. Adelaide opened the season with a one-point loss to the Western Bulldogs, the reigning premiers, largely as a result of kicking an inaccurate 1.11 (17).<ref>{{cite news |title=AFL Women's Round 1, Adelaide Crows' lowest score hands Western Bulldogs victory |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/womens-afl/live-afl-womens-round-1-adelaide-crows-v-western-bulldogs/news-story/791fcab677e9ba4854971d10d4575b92 |work=Fox Sports |access-date=7 April 2020 |date=2 February 2019 |last=Waterworth |first=Ben |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407061920/https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/womens-afl/live-afl-womens-round-1-adelaide-crows-v-western-bulldogs/news-story/791fcab677e9ba4854971d10d4575b92 |archive-date=7 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite the loss, Phillips earned two votes with 18 disposals and two behinds.<ref name=aflw-stats/> From the next game on, Phillips and the Adelaide Crows dominated the rest of the season. They did not lose another game, and Phillips received three votes for best on ground in five of the six remaining games.<ref name=aflw-stats/> After their 13-point Round{{nbsp}}2 win against Carlton, Adelaide won each of their last five home-and-away games by at least 29 points. They won the minor premiership after finishing tied with {{AFL Fre}} with six wins, but had a markedly better percentage in part due to defeating them by 42 points in Round{{nbsp}}4 in Fremantle's only loss.<ref>{{cite web |title=2019 Matches |date=March 2020 |url=https://womens.afl/matches/2019 |publisher=AFLW |access-date=7 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322064007/https://womens.afl/matches/2019 |archive-date=22 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2019 Ladder |url=https://womens.afl/ladder/2019 |publisher=AFLW |access-date=7 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727030230/https://womens.afl/ladder/2019 |archive-date=27 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips had a season-high 25 disposals as well as two goals in that win against Fremantle.<ref name=aflw-stats/><ref>{{cite news |title=Round 4, AFL Women's: Adelaide Crows defeat Fremantle as Erin Phillips puts on a clinic |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/womens-afl/live-afl-womens-round-4-adelaide-crows-v-fremantle/news-story/759cdbcabda93ad0fff85c622f94184c |work=Fox Sports |access-date=7 April 2020 |date=23 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407064917/https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/womens-afl/live-afl-womens-round-4-adelaide-crows-v-fremantle/news-story/759cdbcabda93ad0fff85c622f94184c |archive-date=7 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> She kicked a season-high three goals one week earlier against {{AFL Gee}}.<ref name=aflw-stats/>
{{quote box|width=30%|border=1px|align=right|quote="It's pretty emotional{{nbsp}}... It's an absolute dream come true, not just for our girls but for Carlton as well. To play in front of this crowd means so much and is incredible for women's footy."|source= —Phillips reflecting on the unexpected record attendance at the 2019 AFLW Grand Final and the game after tearing her ACL and winning best on ground<ref name=attendance-quote/>|}}

Adelaide continued their dominance into the finals, winning their preliminary final against Geelong by a season-high margin of 66 points and keeping their opponents scoreless through three-quarter time. They held Geelong to just seven points, the lowest score in AFLW history at the time.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Black |first1=Sarah |title=Match report: Classy Crows crush Cats to cruise into Grand Final |url=https://womens.afl/news/17495/match-report-classy-crows-crush-cats-to-cruise-into-grand-final |publisher=AFLW |access-date=7 April 2020 |date=24 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322085227/https://womens.afl/news/17495/match-report-classy-crows-crush-cats-to-cruise-into-grand-final |archive-date=22 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips had 23 disposals in the game, trailing only her teammate [[Ebony Marinoff]] who had 27.<ref>{{cite web |title=2019 Round 2PF: Adelaide WFC vs Geelong WFC |url=https://australianfootball.com/game/view/117331 |publisher=Australian Football |access-date=7 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402221937/https://australianfootball.com/game/view/117331 |archive-date=2 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Adelaide faced Carlton in the [[2019 AFL Women's Grand Final|2019 AFLW Grand Final]]. In front of 53,034 fans, a record for a standalone women's sporting event in Australia,<ref>{{cite news |title=A show of force: Record crowd watches Adelaide secure its second AFLW premiership |url=https://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/afl/2019/03/31/record-crowd-aflw-womens-sport/ |newspaper=The New Daily |access-date=7 April 2020 |date=31 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423204205/https://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/afl/2019/03/31/record-crowd-aflw-womens-sport/ |archive-date=23 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Adelaide won convincingly by a score of 10.3 (63) to 2.6 (18). Despite not playing the final quarter after tearing the ACL in her left knee late in the third quarter, Phillips was named AFLW Grand Final best on ground for the second time.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Black |first1=Sarah |title=Phillips wins best afield medal in GF despite tearing ACL in third term |url=https://womens.afl/news/17606/phillips-wins-best-afield-medal-in-gf-despite-tearing-acl-in-third-term |publisher=AFLW |access-date=7 April 2020 |date=31 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323175448/https://womens.afl/news/17606/phillips-wins-best-afield-medal-in-gf-despite-tearing-acl-in-third-term |archive-date=23 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Adelaide claim second AFLW flag in front of record 53,000 crowd |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/mar/31/adelaide-beat-carlton-to-win-aflw-flag |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=7 April 2020 |date=31 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410072806/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/mar/31/adelaide-beat-carlton-to-win-aflw-flag |archive-date=10 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gaskin |first1=Lee |title=Crows soar to flag in front of record crowd, but injury hits superstar |url=https://womens.afl/news/17614/crows-soar-to-flag-in-front-of-record-crowd-but-injury-hits-superstar |publisher=AFLW |access-date=7 April 2020 |date=31 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323175454/https://womens.afl/news/17614/crows-soar-to-flag-in-front-of-record-crowd-but-injury-hits-superstar |archive-date=23 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> She had 18 disposals and kicked two goals before leaving the game.<ref>{{cite web |title=2019 Round GF: Adelaide WFC vs Carlton WFC |url=https://australianfootball.com/game/view/118408 |publisher=Australian Football |access-date=7 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403121013/https://australianfootball.com/game/view/118408 |archive-date=3 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> She received a standing ovation when she was taken off the field on a stretcher.<ref name="attendance-quote">{{cite news |last1=Matthey |first1=James |title=The Adelaide Crows won the AFLW premiership amid crazy scenes at Adelaide Oval |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/aflw/crazy-scenes-at-adelaide-oval-for-the-aflw-grand-final-between-carlton-and-the-crows/news-story/91f4f717bbcd646f146cfcc790149a5a |website=news.com.au |access-date=7 April 2020 |date=1 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407083752/https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/aflw/crazy-scenes-at-adelaide-oval-for-the-aflw-grand-final-between-carlton-and-the-crows/news-story/91f4f717bbcd646f146cfcc790149a5a |archive-date=7 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> At the end of the season, Phillips won her second AFLW best and fairest award. She accumulated 19 out of 21 possible votes from her seven matches, and finished eight votes ahead of Fremantle's [[Dana Hooker]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Navaratnam |first1=Dinny |title=Phillips crowned AFLW's best for a second time |url=https://womens.afl/news/17701/phillips-crowned-aflw-s-best-for-a-second-time |publisher=AFLW |access-date=7 April 2020 |date=2 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323160327/https://womens.afl/news/17701/phillips-crowned-aflw-s-best-for-a-second-time |archive-date=23 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Like in 2017, she was the third-leading goalkicker in the AFLW, this time behind teammates [[Stevie-Lee Thompson]] and [[Danielle Ponter]].<ref>{{cite web |title=AFL Women's Premier Season – Every Goalkicker 2019 |url=https://australianfootball.com/leagues/every_goalkicker/AFL/138/Women%27s+Premiership+Season/245?season_from=2019&season_to=2019&limit=1000 |website=Australian Football |access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref> Phillips made the All-Australian team for the second time, and was also named captain of the team.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-02/all-conquering-erin-phillips-claims-second-aflw-best-and-fairest/10964666|title=All-conquering AFLW star hopes sons will follow in their mothers' footsteps|date=2 April 2019|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=2 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403220026/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-02/all-conquering-erin-phillips-claims-second-aflw-best-and-fairest/10964666|archive-date=3 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> She again won the AFLW Players' Most Valuable Player Award.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Black |first1=Sarah |title=Superstar Crow clinches second MVP award |url=https://womens.afl/news/17658/superstar-crow-clinches-second-mvp-award |publisher=AFLW |access-date=7 April 2020 |date=1 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322064356/https://womens.afl/news/17658/superstar-crow-clinches-second-mvp-award |archive-date=22 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2020–22: Return from injury and third premiership====
For the [[2020 AFL Women's season|2020 season]], the league expanded to 14 teams and the season was extended to eight games. An additional round of finals was added, allowing three of the seven teams from each conference and six in total to make the finals. Phillips was not ready to return from her ACL injury until Round{{nbsp}}4. In her return, Adelaide lost to Carlton in a rematch of the previous year's grand final. Phillips had 13 disposals in the loss.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gaskin |first1=Lee |title=Blues' win spoils superstar Crow's comeback in Grand Final rematch |url=https://womens.afl/news/46967/blues-win-spoils-superstar-crow-s-comeback-in-grand-final-rematch |publisher=AFLW |access-date=7 April 2020 |date=1 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407085158/https://womens.afl/news/46967/blues-win-spoils-superstar-crow-s-comeback-in-grand-final-rematch |archive-date=7 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> After missing Round{{nbsp}}5 due to soreness resulting from not playing for 11 months,<ref>{{cite web |title=AFLW: Phillips withdrawn from North clash |url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/572626/aflw-phillips-withdrawn-from-north-clash |publisher=Adelaide Football Club |access-date=7 April 2020 |date=6 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407085157/https://www.afc.com.au/news/572626/aflw-phillips-withdrawn-from-north-clash |archive-date=7 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips played one more game the following week.<ref name=aflw-stats/> After Round{{nbsp}}6, the AFLW cancelled the remainder of the home-and-away season in favour of starting the finals early due to the [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports|global COVID-19 pandemic]]. Even though the finals were also expanded from six to eight teams, Adelaide did not qualify with just two wins in their first six matches.<ref>{{cite news |title=AFLW goes straight into finals after Covid-19 forces shortened season |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/18/aflw-goes-straight-into-finals-after-covid-19-forces-shortened-season |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=7 April 2020 |date=18 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407085923/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/18/aflw-goes-straight-into-finals-after-covid-19-forces-shortened-season |archive-date=7 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Ultimately, the finals series was cancelled due to the pandemic after only the first round was played.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hytner |first1=Mike |title=AFLW goes straight into finals after Covid-19 forces shortened season |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/22/afl-nrl-and-a-league-press-on-despite-restrictions |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=7 April 2020 |date=22 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325021213/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/22/afl-nrl-and-a-league-press-on-despite-restrictions |archive-date=25 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Before the start of the [[2021 AFL Women's season|2021 season]], Phillips relinquished her role as co-captain with Randall, setting up Randall to be appointed sole captain of the team.<ref>{{cite web |title='Right time to make a change': Crows superstar steps down as captain |url=https://womens.afl/news/54992/-right-time-to-make-a-change-crows-superstar-steps-down-as-captain |publisher=AFLW |access-date=7 February 2021 |date=17 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/850364/aflw-randall-named-as-adelaide-s-first-standalone-women-s-captain|title=AFLW: Randall named as Adelaide's first standalone women's captain|publisher=Adelaide Football Club|date=17 January 2021|access-date = 17 January 2021}}</ref> The league was restructured back to a single ladder in which the top six teams made the finals and the top two teams received byes into the preliminary finals.<ref>{{cite web |title=AFLW scraps conferences for 2021 season, introduces ticketed matches |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/dec/10/aflw-scraps-conferences-for-2021-season-introduces-ticketed-matches |website=The Guardian | publisher = Australian Associated Press |access-date=31 July 2021 | date = 10 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2021 NAB AFL Women's Competition – Finals Structure |url=https://womens.afl/news/67912/2021-nab-afl-women-s-competition-finals-structure |publisher=AFLW |access-date=31 July 2021 | date = 25 March 2021}}</ref> Adelaide entered the last round third on the ladder behind Brisbane and Collingwood. Although they were never in the top two because of losses to Fremantle and Melbourne, they were able to finish on top of the ladder by defeating Collingwood after Brisbane's loss earlier in the round.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Healy |first1=Jonathan |title=Crows snatch top spot, Pies set for cut-throat final |url=https://womens.afl/match-centre/2021/3344/adel-v-coll |publisher=AFLW |access-date=31 July 2021}}</ref> Phillips played better in the first half of the season, being named best on ground twice, first in Round 1 against {{AFL WC}} and then in Round 4 against Brisbane. She also earned one vote in each of her team's next two games,<ref name=aflw-stats/> including against {{AFL GC}} when Adelaide scored 85 points, the second-highest total in AFLW history at the time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Demolition job: Crows smash Suns with highest ever score |url=https://womens.afl/match-centre/2021/3324/adel-v-gcfc |publisher=AFLW |access-date=31 July 2021}}</ref> She kicked at least one goal in the first six games of the season,<ref name=aflw-stats/> highlighted by four of her team's six goals against Brisbane, tying her career high for goals in a game.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Whiting |first1=Michael |title=Phillips masterclass powers to Crows to thrilling win |url=https://womens.afl/match-centre/2021/3310/bl-v-adel |publisher=AFLW |access-date=31 July 2021}}</ref> In the second half of the season, Phillips struggled with an injury to her left knee that was first aggravated in Round 5 and not publicly disclosed until after the season ended.<ref name=surgery-2021>{{cite web |title=Injury Update: Erin Phillips |url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/915437/injury-update-erin-phillips |publisher=Adelaide Football Club |access-date=31 July 2021 | date = 18 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Erin Phillips Will Require Knee Surgery To Determine Her Footy Future |url=https://www.iheart.com/podcast/239-mix-breakfast-27242988/episode/erin-phillips-will-require-knee-surgery-81359872/ |publisher=iHeartRadio |access-date=31 July 2021 | date = 18 April 2021}}</ref> After Round 6, she did not receive any more votes.<ref name=aflw-stats/> Although Phillips scored two goals in Adelaide's preliminary final win against Melbourne,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Michael |first1=Luke |title=Crows head to another Grand Final, but skipper will miss |url=https://womens.afl/match-centre/2021/3435/adel-v-melb |publisher=AFLW |access-date=31 July 2021 | date = 10 April 2021}}</ref> she did not reach ten disposals in either of her finals games, despite tallying at least fourteen in all of her home-and-away games.<ref name=aflw-stats/> Adelaide lost the [[2021 AFLW Grand Final]] to Brisbane.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Phelan |first1=Jennifer |title=Third time lucky: Lions nab first flag after epic decider |url=https://womens.afl/match-centre/2021/3520/adel-v-bl |publisher=AFLW |access-date=31 July 2021 | date = 17 April 2021}}</ref> Phillips had minor surgery on her left knee a week later.<ref name=surgery-2021/> Overall, she was named to her third All-Australian team and finished the season as Adelaide's leading goalkicker for the second time.<ref name=surgery-2021/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Zita |first1=David |title=Two AFLW greats reach footy immortality as All-Australian squad revealed |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2021-aflw-all-australian-side-full-squad-captain-best-players-brianna-davey-karen-paxman-emma-kearney/news-story/0868ae4c3280c39a18aea11e794fe2ca |date = 20 April 2021|website=Fox Sports |access-date=31 July 2021}}</ref>

Phillips played 11 games in [[2022 AFL Women's season 6|2022 season 6]], and averaged some of the highest playing statistics of her career in tackles, marks and disposals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/playerseason/erin%2Bphillips/19877|title=Erin Phillips – Player Stats By Season|work=AustralianFootball.com|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref> She predominantly played up forward and rotated through the midfield during the season, kicking a goal in the Crows' [[2022 AFL Women's season 6 Grand Final|13-point premiership victory]] over {{AFLW|Mel}} at [[Adelaide Oval]], her third premiership in the league.<ref name="agelive">{{cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/aflw-2022-grand-final-live-updates-adelaide-crows-v-melbourne-demons-20220407-p5abrg.html|title=AFLW 2022 grand final Live updates: Adelaide clinch third flag, confirm status as undisputed queens of AFLW|newspaper=[[The Age]]|location=Melbourne|date=9 April 2022|first=Ronny|last=Lerner|access-date=11 April 2022|archive-date=11 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411135655/https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/aflw-2022-grand-final-live-updates-adelaide-crows-v-melbourne-demons-20220407-p5abrg.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She finished fourth in the club's [[Adelaide Club Champion (AFL Women's)|best and fairest]] count.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.womens.afl/news/90933/your-club-s-b-f-north-ball-magnet-wins-maiden-b-f|title=Your club's B&F: North ball magnet wins maiden B&F|work=[[AFL Women's]]|publisher=[[Telstra Media]]|date=27 May 2022|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>

===Port Adelaide Football Club (2022 (S7)–2023)===
[[File:Erin Phillips, chaired off Alberton Oval after final game, 4 November 2023.jpeg|thumb|Erin Phillips being chaired off [[Alberton Oval]] by [[Angela Foley]] and [[Justine Mules]] after her final [[AFL Women's]] game.]]
The other South Australian AFL club, {{AFLW|PA}}, was granted a license to compete in the AFLW in [[2022 AFL Women's season 7|2022 season 7]]. Though she reportedly considered retiring from the game, Phillips elected to become Port's first marquee signing ahead of the season, and play for the club her father won eight [[SANFL]] premierships with.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-27/aflw-star-erin-phillips-leaves-crows-for-rivals-port-adelaide/101017964|title=Three-time AFLW premiership player Erin Phillips leaves Adelaide Crows, commits to rivals Port Adelaide|date=27 April 2022|work=ABC News|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref> She was appointed the club's inaugural [[List of Port Adelaide Football Club captains|captain]], with [[Ange Foley]] her vice-captain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.womens.afl/news/96236/power-move-phillips-to-captain-port-in-inaugural-season|title=Power move: Phillips to captain Port in inaugural season|work=womens.afl|date=1 August 2022|author=Sarah Black|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>

At the end of the 2023 season, after 66 AFLW games, Phillips announced her retirement from professional sport.<ref>{{Cite news|title=AFLW trailblazer Erin Phillips calls time on storied career|url=https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1001854/aflw-trailblazer-erin-phillips-calls-time-on-storied-career|publisher=[[AFL Women's]]|last=Bastiani|first=Gemma|date=31 October 2023|access-date=24 December 2023}}</ref>

===Style of play===
Phillips plays primarily as a [[Australian rules football positions#Midfield|midfielder]] who is also a goal-scoring threat like a [[Australian rules football positions#Forward line|forward]]. She excels at being able to read plays in order to capitalize on opportunities, such as creating set shots for her teammates off of free kicks.<ref name=thirteen/><ref name=gamechanger/> Phillips was the all-time AFLW leading goalkicker at the end of 2019, having kicked 28 goals in the league's first three seasons.<ref>{{cite web |title=AFL Women's Premiership Season – Every Goalkicker 2017 to 2019 |url=https://australianfootball.com/leagues/every_goalkicker/AFL/138/Women%27s+Premiership+Season/245?season_from=2017&season_to=2019&limit=1000 |publisher=Australian Football |access-date=24 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620094433/https://australianfootball.com/leagues/every_goalkicker/AFL/138/Women%27s+Premiership+Season/245?season_from=2017&season_to=2019&limit=1000 |archive-date=20 June 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> She is capable of kicking goals in a variety of ways. She can kick from long distances such as her 60-metre AFLW Goal of the Year in 2017, or from sharp angles in the pocket. In addition to scoring goals, Phillips is prolific at score involvements, leading the league in that statistic by wide margins in 2017, 2019, and 2021.<ref name="player-stats">{{cite web |title=AFLW Player Stats |url=https://womens.afl/stats |publisher=AFLW | access-date=31 July 2021}}</ref>  Although Phillips is not one of the bigger players in the competition, she is tough and physical{{snd}}useful traits for taking marks either in the air or after bodying off defenders to establish positioning. She is not considered one of the faster players in the league due to her relative age compared to other players.<ref name=thirteen/><ref name=gamechanger/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Black |first1=Sarah |title=Sarah Black's top 30: And the AFLW's No.1 player is ... |url=https://womens.afl/news/40286/sarah-black-s-top-30-and-the-aflw-s-no-1-player-is- |publisher=AFLW |access-date=27 June 2020 |date=6 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322062840/https://womens.afl/news/40286/sarah-black-s-top-30-and-the-aflw-s-no-1-player-is- |archive-date=22 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===AFLW statistics===
{{Australian rules football statistics legend|p=y|s=y|w=y}}
{{AFLW player statistics start}}
|-
| scope=row bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[2017 AFL Women's season|2017]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 13
| 8 || 10 || 8 || bgcolor=CAE1FF | '''124'''<sup>†</sup> || 36 || bgcolor=CAE1FF | '''160'''<sup>†</sup> || 23 || 30 || 1.3 || 1.0 || bgcolor=CAE1FF | '''15.5'''<sup>†</sup> || 4.5 || 20.0 || 2.9 || 3.8 || bgcolor=98FB98 | '''14'''<sup>±</sup>
|-
| scope=row | [[2018 AFL Women's season|2018]] || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 13
| 5 || 7 || 3 || 46 || 14 || 60 || 8 || 11 || 1.4 || 0.6 || 9.2 || 2.8 || 12.0 || 1.6 || 2.2 || 3
|-
| scope=row bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[2019 AFL Women's season|2019]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 13
| 9 || 11 || bgcolor=CAE1FF | '''11'''<sup>†</sup> || 129 || 64 || 193 || 31 || 29 || 1.2 || bgcolor=CAE1FF | '''1.2'''<sup>†</sup> || 14.3 || 7.1 || 21.4 || 3.4 || 3.6 || bgcolor=98FB98 | '''19'''<sup>±</sup>
|-
| scope=row | [[2020 AFL Women's season|2020]] || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 13
| 2 || 0 || 1 || 21 || 5 || 26 || 4 || 5 || 0.0 || 0.5 || 10.5 || 2.5 || 13.0 || 2.0 || 2.5 || 0
|-
| scope=row | [[2021 AFL Women's season|2021]] || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 13
| 11 || 14 || 9 || 128 || 54 || 182 || 50 || 24 || 1.3 || 0.8 || 11.6 || 4.9 || 16.5 || 4.5 || 2.2 || 8
|- 
|-
| scope=row bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[2022 AFL Women's season 6|2022 (S6)]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFLW|Ade}} || 13
| 11 || 8 || 9 || 124 || 65 || 189 || 48 || 29 || 0.7 || 0.8 || 11.3 || 5.9 || 17.2 || 4.4 || 2.6 || 5
|-
| scope=row | [[2022 AFL Women's season 7|2022 (S7)]] || {{AFLW|PA}} || 1
| 10 || 0 || 6 || 79 || 67 || 146 || 21 || 28 || 0.0 || 0.6 || 7.9 || 6.7 || 14.6 || 2.1 || 2.8 || 2
|-
| scope=row | [[2023 AFL Women's season|2023]] || {{AFLW|PA}} || 1
| 10 || 3 || 6 || 117 || 46 || 163 || 30 || 18 || 0.3 || 0.6 || 11.7 || 4.6 || 16.3 || 3.0 || 1.8 || 3
|- class=sortbottom
! colspan=3 | Career<ref>{{AustralianFootball|ref=19877}}</ref>
! 66 !! 53 !! 53 !! 768 !! 351 !! 1,119 !! 215 !! 174 !! 0.8 !! 0.8 !! 11.6 !! 5.3 !! 17.0 !! 3.3 !! 2.6 !! 54 
|}

== Other activities ==
Phillips was the Adelaide Lightning's WNBL Ambassador during the 2005–06 season as part of a program to promote the league's athletes as role models.<ref name=opal-06/> 

She has also served as a club ambassador for Port Adelaide, and has participated in their community youth program to educate primary school students about physical and mental health.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gailberger |first1=Jade |title=Port Adelaide's Power Community Youth Program helps players and pupils |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/north-northeast/port-adelaides-power-community-youth-program-helps-players-and-pupils/news-story/e275e671f0baaf188bf4c0132ebcec51 |newspaper=The Advertiser |access-date=4 April 2020 | date = 25 March 2015}}</ref>

Phillips has been the co-host of a weekday Adelaide morning radio show with [[Mark Soderstrom]] on [[Mix 102.3]]. The show is eponymously named ''Erin Phillips & Soda in the Morning''. She began hosting permanently in December 2020, after Jodie Oddy left the show. Phillips had previously co-hosted on a temporary basis when Oddy was on maternity leave.<ref name="radio-start">{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Vivienne |title=Erin Phillips takes over Jodie Oddy's spot on Mix 102.3 Breakfast |url=https://www.radiotoday.com.au/erin-phillips-soda-mix-1023-breakfast/ |website=Radio Today |access-date=10 April 2021 | date = 15 December 2020}}</ref>

== Recognition and honours ==
Phillips was awarded the [[Medal of the Order of Australia]] in the [[2021 Queen's Birthday Honours (Australia)|2021 Queen's Birthday Honours]], for "service to Australian rules football, and to basketball".<ref name="SMH 2021">{{cite news|date=13 June 2021|title=Queen's Birthday 2021 Honours – the full list|website=Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Nine Entertainment Co.|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/queen-s-birthday-2021-honours-the-full-list-20210613-p580pa.html|access-date=13 June 2021}}</ref>

On 10 June 2025 she was inducted into the [[Australian Football Hall of Fame]], followed by [[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]] head coach [[Daisy Pearce]], making them the first AFLW players to be awarded this honour.<ref>{{cite web | title=Erin Phillips and Daisy Pearce become first AFLW players inducted to hall of fame | website=The Guardian | date=10 June 2025 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jun/11/erin-phillips-and-daisy-pearce-australian-football-hall-of-fame-first-aflw-players | access-date=12 June 2025}}</ref> Phillips was the second woman ever to be inducted, following the [[Debbie Lee]]'s induction in 2021.<ref>{{cite web | last=Faulkner | first=Will | title=AFL 2025 Hall of Fame: AFLW great Erin Phillips inducted, leaves dad Greg Phillips in tears with speech, transcript | website=news | date=10 June 2025 | url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/all-i-ever-wanted-erin-phillips-leaves-legendary-dad-in-tears-with-afl-hall-of-fame-speech/news-story/9321e7174ea27bb03225bf038f3a04ff | access-date=12 June 2025}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Phillips married American former basketball player [[Tracy Gahan]], whom she  met when they became teammates on the [[Adelaide Lightning]] in the WNBL in 2006, in the United States in 2014 (before [[Same-sex marriage in Australia|same-sex marriage was legalised in Australia]]).<ref name=dallas-voice>{{cite news |last1=Nash |first1=Tammye |title=Winging her way to success |url=https://dallasvoice.com/winging-her-way-to-success/ |newspaper=Dallas Voice |access-date=4 April 2020 |date=15 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321091026/https://dallasvoice.com/winging-her-way-to-success/ |archive-date=21 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Polkinghorne|first1=David|title=Chief minister Andrew Barr says AFLW star Erin Phillips shows marriage equality 'inevitable'|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/chief-minister-andrew-barr-says-aflw-star-erin-phillips-shows-marriage-equality-inevitable-20170330-gva36z.html|access-date=2 April 2017|work=The Age|date=30 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402080453/http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/chief-minister-andrew-barr-says-aflw-star-erin-phillips-shows-marriage-equality-inevitable-20170330-gva36z.html|archive-date=2 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> They have twins (boy and girl) born in 2016,<ref name="twins">{{cite news|last1=Fjeldstad|first1=Jesper|title=Crows AFLW player Erin Phillips opens up about her wife Tracy Gahan and new twins |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/crows-aflw-player-erin-phillips-opens-up-about-her-wife-tracy-gahan-and-new-twins/news-story/3ac858b5be50cd5c78fc1ca771c4b679|access-date=13 February 2017|newspaper=Daily Telegraph|date=8 February 2017}}</ref> a second son born in 2019,<ref>{{cite news |title=Erin Phillips welcomes a third baby with wife Tracy Gahan |url=https://www.msn.com/en-au/lifestyle/familyandrelationships/erin-phillips-welcomes-a-third-baby-with-wife-tracy-gahan/ar-AAF9Qkn |publisher=MSN |access-date=4 April 2020 |date=1 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225231245/https://www.msn.com/en-au/lifestyle/familyandrelationships/erin-phillips-welcomes-a-third-baby-with-wife-tracy-gahan/ar-AAF9Qkn |archive-date=25 February 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> all born in the US (during the AFL off-season, when Phillips was a assistant coach with the [[Dallas Wings]]), and a daughter born in Australia in 2023. All four children were conceived using [[IVF]] treatment.<ref name=interview2023>{{cite interview| title=Erin Phillips on IVF, family life and her love of football|first=Erin |last=Phillips| website=[[InDaily]] | date=18 August 2023 | url=https://www.indailysa.com.au/salife/people-and-places/2023/08/18/erin-phillips-on-ivf-family-life-and-her-love-of-football | access-date=12 June 2025| quote=Back in 2023, the AFLW’s most decorated player sat down with SALIFE for a long-ranging interview ahead of her final AFLW season, where she discussed everything from her love of footy, to starting a family... Updated Jun 11, 2025}}</ref> 
The couple relocated to Adelaide in 2016, when the AFLW started up and Phillips started playing for the Crows.<ref name=interview2023/>

Phillips was one of many female athletes in Australia who advocated for the legalisation of [[same-sex marriage]] in the lead-up to the nationwide [[Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey|marriage law postal survey]] in late 2017. The positive support found in the survey led to its legalisation before the end of that year.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Warby |first1=Danielle |title=Are elite sportswomen changing what coming out looks like? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/may/08/are-elite-sportswomen-changing-what-coming-out-looks-like |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=4 April 2020 |date=8 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302190005/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/may/08/are-elite-sportswomen-changing-what-coming-out-looks-like |archive-date=2 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> While Phillips does not see herself as a leading advocate for LGBT rights, she has presented her marriage openly and wants to be seen as a role model to others in this respect, in particular to young girls and both male and female athletes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McFarlane |first1=Glenn |title=Erin Phillips says same-sex marriage is a basic human right after breakout AFLW season |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/erin-phillips-says-samesex-marriage-is-a-basic-human-right-after-breakout-aflw-season/news-story/d54402e203b78b42e26e2a32ddd29f3c |newspaper=Herald Sun |access-date=4 April 2020 |date=4 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025031808/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/erin-phillips-says-samesex-marriage-is-a-basic-human-right-after-breakout-aflw-season/news-story/d54402e203b78b42e26e2a32ddd29f3c |archive-date=25 October 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Collins |first1=Carolyn | last2=Eccleston | first2=Roy |title=Trailblazers: 100 inspiring South Australian women |year=2019 |publisher=Wakefield Press |isbn=978-1743056905 |page=216 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xajYDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA216}}</ref>

Phillips' sister Amy is married to Australian rules footballer [[Shaun Burgoyne]], who has played for Port Adelaide and {{AFL Haw}}. Phillips also played on the same football team as Burgoyne's younger brother Phil when they were children.<ref name=shaun>{{cite web |last1=Burgoyne |first1=Shaun |title=Erin Phillips always strives for greatness |url=http://www.aflplayers.com.au/article/erin-phillips-always-strives-for-greatness/ |publisher=AFL Players |access-date=4 April 2020 |date=1 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224071726/http://www.aflplayers.com.au/article/erin-phillips-always-strives-for-greatness/ |archive-date=24 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2008, "provocative pictures" from a [[photo shoot]] of Phillips were published in ''[[Alpha (Australian magazine)|Alpha]]'' magazine. This was during the lead up to the [[Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|2008 Olympics]], and Phillips was quoted as saying, "We're not going to be [[United States women's national basketball team|team USA]]'s little [[Bitch (slang)|bitch]]."<ref>{{cite news |title=Dazzling Opal Erin Phillips in provocative Alpha shots |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/nsw/dazzling-opal-erin-phillips-in-provocative-alpha-shots-ng-31b05aaa5ab0690fc7286e4bbb6697d9 |access-date=28 August 2022 |work=[[Perth Now]] |date=17 April 2008}}</ref>

In 2025, an autobiography of Phillips written with sports journalist [[Samantha Lane]], ''Inside Out: A Story of Sport, Family and Self'', was published.<ref>{{cite web |last=Marsh |first=Walter |title=Erin Phillips: 'I wanted to do something that gave me joy again' |website=The Guardian |date=28 March 2025 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/mar/29/erin-phillips-i-wanted-to-do-something-that-gave-me-joy-again |access-date=4 April 2025}}</ref><ref >{{cite book |last=Phillips |first=Erin |title=Inside Out: A Story of Sport, Family and Self |publisher=Hardie Grant Books |date=2025 |isbn=978-1-74379-734-1 |page=}}</ref> In it, Phillips describes her struggles with [[body image]].<ref>{{cite web |last=O'Halloran |first=Kate |title=AFLW and basketball star Erin Phillips opens up on body image issues |website=ABC News |date=4 April 2025 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-04/erin-phillips-body-image-aflw-basketball/105137106 |access-date=4 April 2025}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[List of Australian WNBA players]]
* [[List of Olympic medalists in basketball]]
* [[List of AFL Women's best and fairest winners]]
* [[List of AFL Women's premiership captains and coaches]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Portplayer}}
* {{AustralianFootball}}

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