The Phoenix Mercury have opened the season 2-0 thanks to the aggressive play of second year player Brittney Griner. The last time Phoenix opened the season with a perfect start after two games was in 2009, when they won the WNBA title.
The San Antonio Stars are in the desert for the first time this season and will look to hand the Mercury their first loss, while Phoenix looks to match their best start at 3-0 in franchise history.
Through two games, Griner has scored a total of 32 points on 14-of-21 shooting to go along with 14 rebounds. The former No. 1 pick shot 8-for-9 in the 81-64 Mercury win over Seattle last week.
“I mean, I came in with more confidence, I came in with more poise,” Griner told the the Phoenix Mercury website.
Phoenix won the season series 3-2 against Phoenix last season. Griner averaged 18.3 points, including a career-high 26 in the first meeting against the Stars. She also shot while shooting 62.9 percent in Phoenix’s three wins.
Diana Taurasi has scored at least 20 points in four of the five meetings.
The Stars are led this season by Danielle Robinson who has totaled totaled 40 points on 15-of-22 shooting through two games, and averaged 16.0 points against the Mercury last season.
San Antonio guard Becky Hammon missed the teams first two games with a left ankle sprain and is expected make her season debut tonight.
The Stars have lost three straight in Phoenix.
The Stars and Mercury are set to tip things off at 9 p.m. Be sure to check back later for Stephen Anderson’s game recap.
