LOS ANGELES — The standing ovation as a visiting player, the VIPs — including the vice president — present, the feeling of celebrating something much bigger than sports — Brittney Griner appreciated it all. But, she pointed out, it was still a basketball game — and her Phoenix Mercury lost.
A player lamenting a loss was the most normal, routine part of Friday’s WNBA season opener for the Mercury and host Los Angeles Sparks. But it was just the first game of a 40-game regular season, and the second comes Sunday when Griner gets her welcome-home greeting in Phoenix as the Mercury host the Chicago Sky (4 p.m. ET, ESPN). It’s a rematch of the 2021 WNBA Finals, which, before Friday, was the last time Griner had played in the WNBA.
The Sparks started a new era Friday under coach Curt Miller with a 94-71 win at Crypto.com Arena. The Mercury were missing guard Sophie Cunningham, a key player from last season who is injured. Griner started and led Phoenix in scoring with 18 points, going 7-of-9 from the field. She also had 6 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 assists.
