Phoenix Mercury WNBA News

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Taurasi has 23 points, Mercury hit 13 3s to beat Lynx 90-81

PHOENIX (AP) — Diana Taurasi had 23 points and 10 assists and the Phoenix Mercury hit 11 3-pointers in the first half on the way to a 90-81 win over the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday night. Phoenix went 5 of 6 from 3-point range — with triples from five different

May 26

Brittney Griner gets rousing welcome in Phoenix home game after release from Russian prison

PHOENIX (AP) — Brittney Griner won the opening tip and ran to her familiar spot in the low post. There was nowhere else the ball was going on the Phoenix Mercury's opening possession of the season — not after what Griner had gone through to get here. Her back to

May 22

Copper scores 15, Sky spoil Griner's home debut with 75-69 win over Mercury

PHOENIX (AP) — Kahleah Copper scored 15 points and the Chicago Sky spoiled Brittney Griner's regular-season home debut, holding on down the stretch for a 75-69 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday. Griner finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots in her first regular-season home game

May 21

LA Sparks defeat Griner, Mercury 94-71 in WNBA season opener

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nneka Ogwumike scored 17 points, rookie Zia Cooke added 14 and the Los Angeles Sparks defeated Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury 94-71 on Friday night in Griner's first WNBA game since being jailed in Russia. Griner had 18 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots

May 20

'A day of joy': Brittney Griner opens 1st WNBA season since detainment in Russia

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Brittney Griner had 18 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots Friday night in her first WNBA regular-season game since being jailed in Russia. Her Phoenix Mercury lost to the Los Angeles Sparks 94-71 in the teams' opener. Griner made an immediate impact. She fired a

May 20

Griner, Mercury set to tip off WNBA season after her return from detainment in Russia

PHOENIX (AP) — Brittney Griner's life and career path have taken a sharp turn over the past 18 months following a nearly 10-month detainment in Russia on drug-related charges that ended with a prisoner swap in December. To say the Phoenix Mercury center's journey has been complicated would be an

May 17

Brittney Griner plays in first WNBA preseason game since detainment in Russia

PHOENIX (AP) — Brittney Griner strolled down the sideline about 1 1/2 hours before the Phoenix Mercury played Friday night, giving hugs and high-fiving her teammates, coaches and opposing players. Then it was a little stretching, a little shooting and a little agility work to prepare for a basketball game.

May 13

Sophie Cunningham building Mercury's bond to become a winner

Heading into her fifth season with the Phoenix Mercury, Sophie Cunningham is shifting into a veteran role. The 26-year-old Cunningham can offer advice to the newbies, and she’s the person who will get the team together for dinners. With Brittney Griner back — and last year’s drama behind the Mercury

May 08

Griner using new platform for greater good in return to WNBA

PHOENIX (AP) — Brittney Griner caught a flight to Washington, D.C., to attend the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, landed back at Phoenix around 4 a.m. and was up five hours later for the start of training camp. After going through her first workout with the Phoenix Mercury, she hopped

May 04

Brittney Griner gets emotional discussing Russian detainment

PHOENIX (AP) — Hope bounced around Brittney Griner like a buoy and an anchor. Hope of returning home, hope of a miracle, was all she had all those months in custody in Russia. On the days hopelessness crept in, days that grew as her detainment stretched into a second winter,

Apr 27

Brittney Griner on rejoining Mercury: 'It's hard to really realize it's happening'

During Brittney Griner's detention in Russia, her fellow WNBA players often commented about how they missed Griner's jokes and her laugh. It wasn't just BG on the court that they missed, but also the person who would play pranks and giggle with them off the court. On Thursday, the Phoenix

Apr 27

Brianna Turner says Brittney Griner saga ‘opened my eyes’

In 2022, forward Brianna Turner was a key part of the Phoenix Mercury’s starting lineup, even as the team dealt with ups and downs due to injuries and roster changes. She earned the WNBA’s Community Care Award for her commitment to reducing gun violence, upholding LGBTQ rights and fighting for

Mar 20

WNBA offseason tracker: Free agency's other meaningful moves

WNBA free agency promises to be wild. On Jan. 11,, teams started making qualifying offers and core designations. On Jan. 21, teams and players begin negotiating, with contracts open to be signed on Feb. 1. Check back here for updates and analysis.

Feb 06

Brittney Griner intends to play for the Phoenix Mercury in 2023

Brittney Griner made her first statement Friday since she was freed from Russia in a prisoner swap. On Instagram, she thanked the many people who helped bring her home and asked President Biden to bring home others who are wrongly detained, specifically mentioning Paul Whelan. She also shared the news

Dec 16

'I want to talk': Griner opened up during her long trip home

WASHINGTON (AP) — WNBA star Brittney Griner didn’t want any alone time as soon as she boarded a U.S. government plane that would bring her home. “I have been in prison for 10 months now, listening to Russian. I want to talk,” Griner said, according to Roger Carstens, the special

Dec 11