Mystics are no problem for Griner and shorthanded Mercury

By Scott Mammoser

PHOENIX - What was left of the Phoenix Mercury surprised the Washington Mystics in a 103-82 runaway victory on Sunday. The Mercury’s injury list is composed of a group that could form a sufficient starting five. Diana Taurasi is still out with her back injury and is now joined in street clothes on the bench with Sancho Lyttle (knee), Alanna Smith (ankle), Essence Carson (calf), and Briann January (foot).

Mercury defeat Mystics in runaway victory 103-82

Phoenix still had the WNBA’s scoring leader healthy as ever though. Brittney Griner opened the game with a first quarter for the ages, shooting 7-of-8 for 17 points, as the Mercury grabbed a 28-23 lead of which it never lost control. She ended with 26 points, nine rebounds and a game-high eight assists from the post.

“We knew we had to pick it up,” Griner said. “All of the stuff we have going on, playing with our pain, we need to put it all out there.”

Leilani Mitchell and Yvonne Turner combined to shoot 9-of-15 from downtown for 23 and 22 points, the latter being Turner’s career best. The Mystics (14-7) had won five straight, including a six-point win over the Mercury (11-10) in Washington last week, and were just about deadlocked with Connecticut for first place in the Eastern Conference.

“We’ve been really focused this week in practice,” Mercury coach Sandy Brondello said. “It’s attention to detail and executing what we want. We have athleticism. We had tough losses to them, but it was close. Everyone knows that we are going to play, it’s not that we want to play with seven for the rest of the year.”

Elena Delle Donne and Emma Meesseman equaled one another for the Mystics’ lead in scoring with 18 points. The Belgian, Meesseman, came off the bench and recorded all of hers in 16 minutes on 8-of-12 shooting. Griner, DeWanna Bonner (who scored 10 on Sunday) and Delle Donne are the top three in the league in scoring. Kristi Toliver also recorded 12 points for the Mystics, while rookie Brianna Turner scored 12 in a starting role with Phoenix.

The Mercury brought back rookie guard Arica Carter to compensate for the injuries. Carter, from the University of Louisville, was waived after the second game of the season.

“Everybody is welcoming me back with open arms,” Carter said. “I’ve been at home (in Los Angeles) working out and trying to stay ready. I just want to do whatever the team needs me to do and keep learning.”

The Mercury will be at the Sparks on Aug. 8, before returning home to face the Dallas Wings at 7 p.m. on Aug. 10. The Mystics are at home against the Fever on Aug. 8.