2013 Phoenix Mercury Season StoryStream: Reloaded with Brittney Griner

• 29 days ago
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Brittney Griner scores 18 in her pro debut as the Phoenix Mercury defeat the Japan National Team 87-64

Griner scored 18 points on 6-10 shooting, grabbed six boards, and had a block, assist, and a steal as the Phoenix Mercury defeated Team Japan, 87-64.

In addition, DeWanna Bonner, Candice Dupree, and Krystal Thomas also scored in double figures for Phoenix. Diana Tauarsi scored 7 points on 2-6 shooting. For Japan, three players scored in double figures.

Though this is a tuneup match, in the box scores, the 2nd quarter was a very low scoring affair with Japan scoring 11 and the Mercury scoring 8. There were two stretches when neither team could score for nearly two minutes if not a little longer...

Next Monday, the Mercury will host its home opener vs. the Chicago Sky in a matchup between the aforementioned Griner and the Sky's Elena Delle Donne, who is the 2nd pick of the 2013 Draft.

I'm actually pretty excited that the season is FINALLY starting this weekend. Hope you all are too.

• about 1 month ago
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Griner, Diggins, and Delle Donne talk about being bullied, playing on a 3x3 team together, and more

Here's a link from the AP via Fox News yesterday. Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner, Tulsa Shock guard Skylar Diggins, and Chicago Sky forward Elena Delle Donne discuss on past experiences with being bullied when they were children, and they also would like to be on a FIBA 3x3 team for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janiero, Brazil if such an event is approved. I'd love to see them play together if this comes to fruition!

• 2 months ago
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Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner gives interview to XTRA Sports 910's Bickley and MJ in Phoenix

Here's a link to sportsradiointerviews.com, which has an audio file of an interview that Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner gave to XTRA Sports 910's Bickley and MJ which was done yesterday.

Most of the interview centers on Griner's plans on the impact she'd like to make on the Mercury; how this 2013 Draft Class could be like the quarterbacks in the 2012 NFL Draft class which include Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck, and Russell Wilson; how she's going to work with franchise star Diana Taurasi; and about her fandom for Jimi Hendrix.

And if you're wondering about the Mark Cuban talk and about whether she'd join an NBA Summer League Team, here's a quote:

First talk it over with the Mercury. First things first, I want to be there with my new team and take care of all that first. The WNBA, that’s where my heart lies, so they’re not going to steal me away from the WNBA at all. Everybody thinks I’m going to leave the Mercury or leave the WNBA, and I’m not.

Safe to say that she's in Phoenix for the whole season.

To check out on more Mercury transactions and news, follow our StoryStream.

• 2 months ago
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Phoenix Mercury has a list of 2013 WNBA Mock Drafts

The Phoenix Mercury, the team with the first pick in the 2013 Draft has a huge Draft Central page which can be accessed here. You can read more on the "Big Three," past number one picks, and other draft prospect related analysis, at least from the perspective of a Mercury fan.

The fun part is the Mock Draft section which includes one from our boss, Nate. Take a look at his picks here. In addition, Kevin Pelton of ESPN, Odeen Domingo of the Arizona Republic, Doug Feinberg of the AP, David Siegel of hoopfeed.com, and Al Bravo of the AP also created mock drafts.

We'll cut to the chase here. The top three for everyone except Al Bravo was Griner-Delle Donne-Diggins from first to third. Bravo had the second pick going to Diggins and with Delle Donne going to Tulsa at third.

At the fourth pick, things get interesting.

Nate has the Washington Mystics selecting a guard, Tayler Hill of Ohio State at the fourth pick given the need to add guards, which I have noted, since there needs to be immediate help there. But the other mock drafts had post players Tianna Hawkins of Maryland (Pelton and Feinberg) and Kelsey Bone of Texas A&M (Domingo and Siegel) going to DC. Bravo had Syracuse center Kayla Alexander as the fourth pick.

With four different players tabbed as possible #4 picks, the Mystics seem to have a very tough task. With the exception of Swish Appeal where we believe the Mystics will end up picking a guard, most of the other guys think that they should pick a post, which would only add to an already current imbalance between perimeter and interior depth on the team.

UPDATE at 3:10 PM ET, April 11, 2013 - H/T to blackandgoldforever who found that the Mercury updated the draft site.

• 3 months ago
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Phoenix Mercury offers free tickets to men in order to gain fans: A quick take on why it is not a good idea

Check out this ESPN article on the Phoenix Mercury offering free tickets to men for this season in the hope that at least some will become WNBA fans later on. (H/T to blackandgoldforever)

Some WNBA teams at least in the league's infancy have offered such perks just to drive fans in the building. Former Washington Mystics owner Abe Pollin did that and as a result the team had the largest WNBA crowds for a number of years. After Ted Leonsis bought the team in 2005 and the rest of the ownership stake in Verizon Center in 2010, he has not been so keen on giving tickets away for free because doing so devalues the product. As critical of the Mystics and the Wizards as I have been at times, I fully agree with Ted that no product should just be given away for free in and of itself.

In DC, if a complimentary Mystics ticket is given to a Wizards or Capitals season ticket holder I wouldn't feel like the product is totally devalued because the season ticket holder is already paying Monumental Sports money so the "complimentary ticket" has been paid for with that money. Season tickets aren't just tickets. They also have events and other things that are "free of charge" but are built into the cost of those tickets. Also once something is free, even if it's a nosebleed ticket, people may just wait for more "free tickets," and if many folks who do take up on this offer like the product, they still may not buy tickets and just wait for the next free offer.

Going back to Phoenix, when you also add that the Mercury already has some strong veteran talent in Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor, along with a rookie star to be named this season PLUS a young core featuring Sammy Prahalis and Krystal Thomas, I'm pretty sure that the Mercury shouldn't even have to resort to giving away its product for free to those who have no true financial ties to the Phoenix Suns organization. People will want to see and pay to see that team, at least for that rookie star if nothing else.

Update at 10:25 PM ET, March 15: While the Man Up Challenge is intended mostly for men, women who also don't care for the WNBA are also welcome to be in it and get a free single game ticket: Here's a tweet from the Mercury so you know:

RT @mercurymaven: #ManUp Challenge not just 4 men! Doubting ladies out there, feel free 2 email/tweet us. Want all doubters 2 try the Merc!

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) March 15, 2013

Still most of my comment below stands since I wouldn't be surprised that the team would go ahead and give women who "feel skeptical about the WNBA" a game to showcase their product.