The Phoenix Mercury’s opening-night lineup has been finalised ahead of their Friday game against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Returning players include Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, and Skylar Diggins-Smith.
Griner is back in the mix after a 10-month detention in Russia.
The All-Star centre will try to replicate her 2021 performance of 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. She had a field-goal percentage of 57.8%.
Phoenix has 13 players on its roster, but only nine will be available for the season opening.
Megan Gustafson (left foot), Shey Peddy (right Achilles), and Sophie Cunningham (left knee) are all injured.
Diggins-Smith, the team’s fourth injured player, is on maternity leave after giving birth to her second child.
Diggins-Smith is coming off an All-Star season in 2022 in which she averaged 19.7 points, four rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.6 steals in 30 games.
Liz Dixon of Louisville will fill in for Diggins-Smith while she is gone.
Not to mention Taurasi, who is entering his 19th WNBA season, all with the Mercury.
Taurasi has showed no signs of slowing down, averaging 16.7 points on 45% shooting and 33.7% from deep, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 31 minutes per game (30 games played) past season.
A complete look at the Phoenix roster:
The Phoenix Mercury’s opening-night lineup includes Sophie Cunningham, Skylar Diggins-Smith, G C – Brittney Griner, G – Liz Dixon, C – Megan Gustafson Moriah Jefferson, C F – Shey Peddy, G – Michaela Onyenwere F – Sug Sutton, G – Diana Taurasi, G – Brianna Turner, F – Evina Westbrook, G – Kadi Sissoko
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