Mercury place Brittney Griner, Megan Gustafson in COVID protocol

The Phoenix Mercury placed centers Brittney Griner and Megan Gustafson in health and safety protocol, the team announced Thursday night.

Griner and Gustafson will miss Phoenix's Friday night home game against the New York Liberty.

Griner is in her first year back in the WNBA after spending 10 months of last year detained in Russia on a drug charge. The 6-foot-9 center was named to the All-Star Game last month and has averaged 17.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 blocked shots per game over 24 starts in 2023.

Griner, 32, missed three games earlier this year with a hip injury and sat out another three while taking care of her mental health.

Gustafson, 26, started at center for Phoenix in the last three games that Griner missed. The 2019 national college player of the year has averaged 7.1 points and 3.5 rebounds on the season, but over her past 10 games, she has put up 11.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per contest.

The Mercury also ruled out guard Shey Peddy, who is in the concussion protocol.