Mercury suffer major blow, Brittney Griner out indefinitely with toe fracture

This is a massive blow for a Mercury team that has aspirations to bounce back and make the playoffs after a disappointing 9-31 season last year. Phoenix added guard Natasha Cloud, forward Rebecca Allen, and guard Kahleah Copper in the offseason to play alongside Griner and Diana Taurasi.

Griner has spent her whole career in Phoenix after being drafted as the first-overall pick in 2013. The Texas native has started and played in 285 games for the Mercury with 17.7 points, 7.5 assists and 1.9 assists per game.

Griner is a two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and scoring champion, nine-time All-Star, received first-team All-WNBA honors three times and has earned various other accolades in her historic career.

Last season, Griner started in all 31 games she played in after being imprisoned in Russia for drug smuggling charges. Coming back after that situation, she averaged 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

With Griner now out of the starting lineup indefinitely, Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts will have to rely on Liz Dixon and Natasha Mack in the front court unless general manager Nick U’Ren identifies another player to fill the vacancy given that there is no timeline for her return. Currently, Phoenix has 10 players healthy with Griner’s setback and another roster spot open.

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