With the busy schedule for the Phoenix Mercury rolling on into Friday when they take on the Minnesota Lynx, both teams will look to rebound after losing their previous games without three players who will not suit up in the Western Conference clash.
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OUT – Bec Allen (Concussion Protocol)
OUT – Brittney Griner (Left Foot – Toe)
Minnesota Lynx
OUT – Diamond Miller (Right Knee)
Allen and Griner will both be out, but Phoenix has had some good news come out this weak on the health front lately.
Sug Sutton, who was on the report for the past two games, has been removed completely and will have no setbacks in playing against the Lynx. She played 20 minutes vs. the New York Liberty with seven assists, three rebounds and two steals on Wednesday.
Wearing a boot for the majority of the time that she has been injured, Griner is also getting closer and closer to a return after missing all seven regular season games so far.
“Well it is good to see her without the boot, so we are heading in the right direction,” Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said about Griner’s status on Wednesday. “I think it has been good for her mentally to get out of the boot. Every day we are getting closer, I know she can’t wait and we can’t wait.”
"Everyday we are getting closer."
Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts talking about the current status of Brittney Griner whose recovery is progressing "day by day."#ValleyTogether #WNBA #LightItUpNYL pic.twitter.com/6LuzDetG9J
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) May 29, 2024
As for Allen’s timeline, her return remains unknown as she is not with the team for the third straight game. She fell hard on the court after a collision on Saturday when the Mercury hosted the Dallas Wings.
“I feel terrible that she [Allen] is not here with the concussion,” Tibbetts said on Tuesday. “She’s filling the need that we wanted and that’s why we went out and got her. She is the ultimate role player that plays with stars. She crashes the boards and she can contest shots at a high rate. I know we wish and she wishes that she was back here tonight.”
The Lynx, on the other hand, won’t have their second-overall pick from the 2023 WNBA Draft in Miller on Friday as she is going to miss her fourth consecutive game. This season, the New Jersey native has averaged 4.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.7 assists in three games, all starts.
The Mercury and Lynx face off on Friday at 6:30 p.m. PT in Minnesota. The game will be televised on the channel ION.
Mercury’s second-half bounce back not enough, Liberty win 81-78
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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
