Phoenix is set to begin this season without star guard Skylar Diggins-Smith (maternity leave), but Diana Taurasi returns for her 16th season and Brittney Griner is back after being wrongfully detained (as classified by the State Department) in Russia all of last season.
While the Mercury weren’t the same team during Griner’s absence last season — they finished last in second-chance points, offensive rebounds and rebounds per game — the star center’s return is reason for optimism in 2023.
Griner averaged 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 blocks in 2021, and though it could take some time to return to that level, Griner thinks she can get there. Meanwhile, when and whether Diggins-Smith returns to play this season is uncertain at this point, opening the door for additional opportunities from the team’s supporting cast.
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Taurasi averaged 16.7 points, 3.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 31 games last…
