26th season tips off without Griner
As Phoenix All-Star is detained in Russia, Hammon returns and Bird hints at a last year
NEW YORK — The WNBA will begin its 26th season this weekend with several intriguing story lines, including the potential retirement of Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles, the return of Becky Hammon as a coach and the absence of Brittney Griner.
There is no bigger story in the league than Griner.
The Phoenix Mercury’s All-Star center remains in Russia after being detained following her arrival at a Moscow airport on Feb. 17. Russian authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges that allegedly contained oil derived from cannabis, which could carry a penalty of 10 years in prison. Griner’s status has been changed to “wrongfully detained” by the U.S. State Department, and she has a hearing scheduled for May 19.
The league plans to honor Griner and keep her ongoing situation front and center with a floor decal that will feature her initials along with her number 42. It will appear on the home court of all 12 teams starting with Friday’s season openers. The regular season ends Aug. 14.
Teams will play a record 36 games this year.
“The 36-game schedule will provide fans greater opportunities to see the best players in the world compete at the highest level,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said when the schedule was announced in December.
Before Griner’s arrest, the Mercury made many moves in the offseason to put the team in contention to win another championship after losing to Chicago last season in the Finals. Phoenix added Tina Charles and Diamond DeShields to the roster to complement Diana Taurasi and Skylar Diggins-Smith.
DeShields joins the Mercury from the Sky, which will try to become the first team to repeat as champions since the Los Angeles Sparks did it in 200102. Chicago added center Emma Meesseman — the 2019 WNBA Finals MVP — to its roster.
Then there are the looming retirements of All-Stars Bird and Fowles.
Bird, the league’s all-time assists leader, has said all signs are pointing toward this year being her last with the Seattle Storm, but she does not want the upcoming season to be a farewell tour.
Fowles has stated she will retire after this season. The WNBA’s all-time leading rebounder said it was a tough decision whether to come back for a 15th season.
With Fowles and Bird having a foot out the door, the league welcomes back Hammon this season.
Hammon took over as coach of the Las Vegas Aces, replacing Bill Laimbeer, after serving as an NBA assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs since 2014. She’s one of six former WNBA players who are head coaches in the league.
A few other story lines to follow this season:
No team went through more injury problems the past two seasons than the Washington Mystics. Coach Mike Thibault hopes his team has finally put that bad luck in the rearview mirror and is looking forward to having Elena Delle Donne and Alysha Clark in the lineup.
Delle Donne has played in only three games the past two seasons because of COVID-19 concerns and back issues. The former league MVP last was on the court full time in 2019 when the Mystics won their first championship. Clark missed last season, which would have been her first in Washington, due to a Lisfranc injury in her right foot.
Indiana used four firstround draft picks to try to rebuild its roster, taking NaLyssa Smith (second), Emily Engster (fourth), Stanford’s Lexie Hull (sixth) and Queen Egbo (10th).
The Fever also drafted Destanni Henderson (20th).
The league will hold the Commissioner’s Cup tournament for the second year in a row. The in-season event was won by Seattle last year. The Storm beat the Connecticut Sun in the championship game in Phoenix.
There are 10 designated “Cup games” per team — the first home game and first road game each team plays against
its five conference rivals.
Meesseman, Charles and DeShields aren’t the only players in new places this season. Liz Cambage now calls Los Angeles home after leaving Las Vegas. The 6-foot-8 Australian center will try to get the Sparks back into being championship contenders.
Courtney Williams returned to Connecticut after spending two seasons with the Atlanta Dream. The Dream picked up former WNBA All-Star MVP Erica Wheeler.