Report: Mercury star to test free agency for first time in career

As WNBA free agency opens, Phoenix Mercury All-Star center Brittney Griner will be testing the free-agent market for the first time in her 11-year career, according to AP Sports.

The nine-time All-Star is an unrestricted free agent and is playing in the inaugural Unrivaled season, which is where she will start taking meeting with other teams Tuesday.

“I want to show off my skills for free agency,” Griner said of playing in Unrivaled among various other big-name free agents.

The 34-year-old averaged 17.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in 30 games last season for the Mercury. While she can command a lot of money in free agency, Griner has defaulted to re-sign with Phoenix in prior instances like this in her career.

The Mercury are also awaiting a decision from superstar guard Diana Taurasi, who is also an unrestricted free agent, on whether or not she will retire. With the All-Star duo off the cap sheets, the Mercury have upwards of $800-thousand in cap room ahead of free agency.

If Taurasi, 40, were retire or even take a pay-cut to stay in Phoenix, it could open a lot of flexibility for the Mercury to land impactful additions this winter.