Mercury host Atlanta Dream as WNBA resumes, Griner returns to Phoenix

The Mercury had their three-game win streak broken by the Minnesota Lynx on July 16. The Lynx went on a three-pointer run, shooting five in the third quarter and winning  79-66 against Phoenix. With only eight players available, the Mercury couldn’t keep up with Minnesota’s defense, shooting 35.7% from the field as a team.

Alyssa Thomas led scoring for the Mercury with 12 points and nine assists. Kalani Brown had a standout performance, scoring 11 points and 11 rebounds for Phoenix.

Phoenix starts the second half with a 15-7 record and second in the Western Conference.

Atlanta Preview

The Dream come into Phoenix with a dominant win over the Chicago Sky, 86-49, on July 16. The Dream held the Sky to fewer than 15 points in each quarter, opened the third with a 14-0 run and led by as many as 43 in the fourth. All of Atlanta’s starters combined for 58 points.

Griner led the scoring for the Dream with 15 points, shooting 75.0% from the field.

Atlanta is 13-9 and is second in the Eastern Conference.

A Homecoming

Griner returns to Phoenix for the first time since joining the Atlanta Dream. She won the WNBA Finals with the team in 2014 and represented the United States in the Olympics, winning two gold medals.

The former Mercury also founded the Brittney Griner’s Heart and Sole Shoe Drive, which fans who plan to attend the game can donate to. For more information, visit the Phoenix Mercury’s social media pages.

When To Watch

The Phoenix Mercury and the Atlanta Dream resume action on Wednesday, July 23 at 7 p.m.