{"id":767657,"date":"2026-07-17T05:08:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T05:08:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/767657\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T05:08:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T05:08:16","slug":"brittney-griner-sun-finding-their-footing-while-mercury-has-gone-cold-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/767657\/","title":{"rendered":"Brittney Griner, Sun finding their footing while Mercury has gone cold – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brittney Griner will return to Phoenix for only the second time following her 11-year career with the Mercury when the Connecticut Sun visit for consecutive games, beginning with a contest on Friday night.<\/p>\n

Connecticut (6-18) will then play Phoenix (8-17) on Sunday in a two-game set between two struggling teams, although the Sun have won four of their last seven games after a 2-15 start to the season.<\/p>\n

Phoenix has lost four consecutive games after winning four of five outings.<\/p>\n

Following the Mercury\u2019s tribute video for Griner last season, when the nine-time All-Star center visited as a member of the Atlanta Dream, she had 17 points and eight rebounds in a 90-79 victory on July 24, 2025.<\/p>\n

She signed with Connecticut as a free agent last offseason and leads the Sun with 13.9 points and 1.8 blocked shots per game in 14 contests (all starts).<\/p>\n

The 6-foot-9 Griner has missed 10 games because of rib, foot and quad injuries but is coming off scoring 20 points with six assists and four rebounds in Connecticut\u2019s 90-87 win at home Tuesday over the Portland Fire.<\/p>\n

That performance followed a 29-point, 10-rebound effort in Connecticut\u2019s 90-89 win at the Minnesota Lynx on July 6.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of people are counting me out, want to call me old, want to set me to retire,\u201d said Griner, 35. \u201cI got a lot to go, and this team is bringing a lot out of me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Sun have a young roster, fueled by rookie point guard Charlisse Leger-Walker, following a major overhaul that included current Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas and the entire Connecticut starting lineup leaving before last season.<\/p>\n

Thomas played 11 seasons for the Sun. She went 2-1 against her former team in 2025 while averaging 13.7 points, 11 assists and 9.3 rebounds in those games.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest thing is staying together; nobody\u2019s going to feel sorry for us,\u201d Thomas said after Phoenix lost 104-100 at Minnesota on Monday.<\/p>\n

Phoenix has struggled in its four-game losing streak, mostly because of a lack of offensive execution. The Mercury are averaging 15.5 turnovers per game in their skid.<\/p>\n

They showed signs of promise against Minnesota, making 55.6% of their field-goal attempts (35 of 63) while compiling 28 assists with 14 turnovers.<\/p>\n

\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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