The Phoenix Mercury will have at least one player representing them in the WNBA All-Star game. Brittney Griner, 32, will be returning to the All-Star prominence once again after being named a starter on Sunday.
It will be Griner’s ninth time being named an All-Star. She was included in the All-Star lineup last season as a honorary player during her detainment in Russia.
Since returning to the hardwood, Griner has made the most of her time in coming back to peak form.
The 6’9” center is averaging 19.1 points and 6.4 rebounds through nine games thus far. She’s also registering 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 61 percent from the field.
No one would debate that Griner’s comeback saga has been difficult. After being detained in Russia for an extended amount of time, being able to return to the All-Star game is just another accomplishment on her legacy.
Things haven’t been as easy for the Mercury as a whole, however. The team is off to a 2-10 start for the season, prompting the front office to fire head coach Vanessa Nygaard.
The Mercury have very little time to turn a disappointing season around into something of a miracle. At the start of the season, Phoenix only had a 3.2 percent chance of winning the championship.
Next up for the Mercury will be a bout against the Dallas Wings on Tuesday. The Wings are currently 6-7 going into a matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday.
At the current, Griner’s stellar level of play is the only bright spot for this Mercury team.
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