Phoenix Mercury standout center Brittney Griner fractured a toe on her left foot and will be re-evaluated in the “coming weeks,” the team said Monday.
The manner in which Griner sustained the injury hasn’t been divulged.
Griner missed Friday’s preseason finale against the visiting Los Angeles Sparks and was seen in a walking boot and using a scooter.
The Mercury open the regular season on Tuesday at the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces.
Griner played in just one preseason game. She scored five points and grabbed four rebounds in 15 minutes during an 85-59 loss to the host Seattle Storm last Tuesday.
The eight-time WNBA All-Star is entering her 11th season with the Mercury. She is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Last season, Griner averaged 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 31 games (all starts) as Phoenix went 9-31.
Overall, Griner has averages of 17.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in 285 regular-season games (all starts). She was a member of Phoenix’s 2014 WNBA championship squad.
Griner missed the 2022 season while being jailed in Russia on drug charges. She was released nearly 10 months later in a prisoner swap that involved Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in December 2022.
–Field Level Media
