Brittney Griner Leads Atlanta Dream Over Phoenix Mercury
Brittney Griner, with 17 points and eight rebounds, stood out in the Atlanta Dream’s 90-79 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday night.
Griner returned to Phoenix, where she played for 11 seasons with the Mercury, winning the WNBA title in 2014 and reaching the 2021 finals. Before the game, the Mercury paid tribute to her with a video, with her teammate Diana Taurasi present.
Allisha Gray led the scoring with 28 points, including a layup that gave Dream an 84-71 lead with 3:03 remaining. Sami Whitcomb hit consecutive three-pointers to bring Phoenix within seven points, but Griner responded with a basket in the paint to extend Atlanta’s lead to 86-77.
Jordin Canada contributed 14 points and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough scored 11 for Atlanta (14-10), which won for the second time in five games. Rhyne Howard, Atlanta’s second-leading scorer with 16.5 points per game, did not play. Gray made 10 of 16 shots for his tenth 20-point game this season.
Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper returned to the starting lineup for Phoenix (15-8) after being out since July 3 due to injuries.
Sabally finished with 13 points, Copper added 10, and DeWanna Bonner scored 18. Alyssa Thomas had seven points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists.
Gray scored 13 points in the first half, helping Atlanta take a 39-34 lead. Phoenix shot 29.7% from the field, including 3 of 15 from 3-point range, but stayed close by making all nine free throws they attempted.
