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Mechelle VoepelESPN.com
Phoenix center Brittney Griner has left the WNBA bubble in Bradenton, Florida for personal reasons, Mercury announced Saturday. Griner had missed her first game this season on Friday because the Mercury left 90-80 to Minnesota.
Griner is the top scorer for Phoenix (17.7) and rebounder (7.5) this season. The no. 1-choice in the 2013 draft, she is in her eighth season with the Mercury and has been a great starter during her time in Phoenix.
“Our team’s commitment remains on the regular season and playoffs of 2020,” Mercury said in a release. “Our players and coaches will not comment further on the matter.”
The Mercury are 6-7 and have lost their last three games. At this point, if Griner were to return to the bubble, she would have to go through medical protocol that would include seven days of quarantine at IMG Academy. The WNBA’s regular season is 22 games, so Mercury has only nine games left before the postseason season begins. Phoenix is currently in sixth place in the playoff position.
“At this point, we’re just trying to grow as a basketball team with who to deal with at what time,” Mercury guard Diana Taurasi said Friday.
The starting lineup of Taurasi, Bria Hartley and Skylar Diggins-Smith was three strokes, was successful, but the Mercury did not have enough presence inside Friday.
“Brittney would have really helped us,” said Mercury coach Sandy Brondello.
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