The Phoenix Mercury and Los Angeles Sparks are just hours away from a matinee clash, and two players from each team will be watching from the sidelines as they recover from seperate injuries.
Phoenix Mercury
OUT – Bec Allen (Concussion Protocol)
OUT – Brittney Griner (Left Foot –Toe)
Los Angeles Sparks
OUT – Azurá Stevens (Left Arm)
OUT – Layshia Clarendon (Concussion Protocol)
Allen will miss her fourth straight game as she continues her recovery from a concussion she suffered when the Mercury lost to the Dallas Wings on May 25. Griner has yet to play this season after a toe fracture she sustained during preseason.
Like Griner, Stevens hasn’t played a second of WNBA basketball in the regular season but with a lingering left arm injury. Last season in Los Angeles, Stevens was a major contributor for the Sparks, playing 35 games (29 starts) and averaging 10.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game
A normal name in the Sparks’ starting lineup, Clarendon started in the first five games of the season before missing the last two and today due to a concussion. The 11-year WNBA veteran’s offensive stats aren’t the flashiest, but her effectiveness is being a do-it-all guard on both ends of the court. This season, she is averaging 5.5 points, 3.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds.
Tip-off between the Mercury vs. the Sparks commences today inside Footprint Center at 3 p.m. PT.
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers ASU Athletics, Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
