The WNBA has kicked off its 27th season and is wrapping up a four-game opening night schedule with Phoenix in Los Angeles.
Brittney Griner is returning to the paint for Phoenix for the first time since October 2021. She signed for another year with the Mercury after returning from her 10-month detainment in Russia and announcing a memoir in the works.
Diana Taurasi also extended her contract, and while the details weren’t exclusively released, Spotrac has her down on another 2-year deal through 2025 for a base salary of $234,936 in 2023, making her the highest-paid player in the league alongside Arike Ohunbowale and Jewell Loyd.
The Mercury waived one of their two 2023 draft picks, Destiny Harden, and several others, including rookie Sam Thomas. They did pick up rookie Evina Westbrook on waivers from the Washington Mystics.
The Sparks waived a draft pick of their own in Iowa talent Monika Czinano, but still have their other two: South Carolina star Zia Cooke, who dropped 12 against Phoenix in their preseason meeting on May 12, and Shaneice Swain out of Australia. They acquired WNBA champion Dearica Hamby from Las Vegas and 12-year veteran Jasmine Thomas from Connecticut in the offseason, and still have the Oguwmike sisters adding their talents at the four.
The Sparks…
