A broken toe has delayed Brittney Griner’s season debut so far, but nothing more.
The Phoenix Mercury star not only played but started Friday against the Minnesota Lynx after missing the first 10 games of the season. Mercury starting guard Bec Allen also returned from a concussion, giving Phoenix its ideal starting lineup for the first time this season.
Against the West-leading Minnesota Lynx, that lineup came out ahead. Griner had 11 points and four rebounds, but the star of the night was Kahleah Copper, who scored 34 points on 13-of-23 shooting with six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals.
Three of those points came on a game-winning 3-pointer with 0.7 seconds left that gave Phoenix an 81-80 victory against Minnesota.
Natasha Cloud also had eight points and 10 assists, while Allen scored nine points in her return.
Griner returned to the court after averaging 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.6 blocks per game last season, his first after returning from his incarceration in Russia.
The Mercury went 9-31 that season. They were already on pace to be slightly better with a 4-6 record in Griner’s absence, but a win over the Lynx could mean this team’s ceiling is much higher. Phoenix’s next test will be the 3-6 Dallas Wings on Sunday.
