After being detained in Russia for nearly 10 months, Brittney Griner was released and flew back to the United States in December. She then signed a one-year deal with the Mercury in February, setting the stage for her return season.
Griner quickly re-established herself as a force in the WNBA, earning the eighth All-Star selection of her career. Recently, though, she has decided to hit the pause button on the 2023 campaign in order to address mental health issues.
What's next for the 32-year-old? Here's everything we know about Griner's status and the latest news on when she may return to the court.
MORE: Key dates for remainder of 2023 WNBA season
Why Brittney Griner is sitting out Mercury games
The Mercury announced on July 29 that Griner would not travel with the team for road games against the Sky on July 30 and Fever on Aug. 1, noting that she was going to "focus on her mental health."
Before this break, Griner had appeared in 20 of 23 games for Phoenix, averaging a team-high 18.2 points per game.
How long will Brittney Griner be out?
As of Aug. 1, it's unclear how long Griner will remain out. In their statement, the Mercury said that they "fully support Brittney" and will "continue to work together on a timeline for her return."
After finishing its road trip, Phoenix will head back to the Footprint Center for a four-game homestand.
Mercury schedule 2023
Here are Phoenix's last 16 games of the 2023 regular season:
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 1 | at Fever | 7 p.m. |
| Aug. 3 | vs. Dream | 10 p.m. |
| Aug. 5 | vs. Storm | 10 p.m. |
| Aug. 8 | vs. Mystics | 10 p.m. |
| Aug. 10 | vs. Suns | 10 p.m. |
| Aug. 13 | at Storm | 6 p.m. |
| Aug. 18 | vs. Liberty | 10 p.m. |
| Aug. 20 | vs. Fever | 6 p.m. |
| Aug. 23 | at Sparks | 10 p.m. |
| Aug. 27 | vs. Wings | 6 p.m. |
| Aug. 29 | at Dream | 7 p.m. |
| Aug. 31 | at Sun | 7 p.m. |
| Sept. 3 | at Lynx | 7 p.m. |
| Sept. 5 | vs. Mystics | 10 p.m. |
| Sept. 8 | vs. Aces | 10 p.m. |
| Sept. 10 | vs. Aces | 3 p.m. |
Brittney Griner stats 2023
- 18.2 points per game
- 6.7 rebounds per game
- 2.0 assists per game
- 1.7 blocks per game
- 0.5 steals per game
- 2.4 turnovers per game
- 28.0 minutes per game
- 57.5 percent shooting
- 80.6 percent free throw shooting