Mercury to rely on Smith and Turner
The Phoenix Mercury haven’t struck out with veteran power forwards in the post-Candice Dupree era, but largely due to injuries it’s only been a qualified success.
Camille Little, acquired in a threeteam trade that sent Dupree to Indiana, started every game in 2017 but only seven in the next two seasons. Sancho Lyttle was a key contributor to a 13-5 start in 2018 before a season-ending knee injury then missed six weeks last season with more knee problems.
Both are now retired so the Mercury traded for Jessica Breland, hoping the eight-year WNBA veteran would be a full-time starter like she was since 2014 for Chicago then Atlanta. But then coronavirus showed up, forcing the WNBA to play this season at a single site in Bradenton, Fla., that even with safety protocols isn’t safe for Breland, a cancer survivor from treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma while in college.
So Breland, 32, is sitting out while still being paid because of a medical exemption. And the Mercury, who also played now departed DeWanna Bonner at power forward in the second half of 2018 and 2019, still are searching for a post partner for All-WNBA center Brittney Griner.
“I feel very sad for Jessica,” Mercury coach Sandy Brondello said. “She really enjoyed being a part of this team. I loved her personality — ‘Whatever you want coach, that’s what I want to do.’ But her health was the most important thing.”
Whether Breland now ever plays for the Mercury -- she is in the final year of a three-year contract signed with Atlanta -- depends in part on how the young tandem of Brianna Turner and Alanna Smith are able to handle the position in a 22-game regular season that begins July 25.
The 6-3 Turner, 24, and 6-4 Smith, who turns 24 in September, were 2019 first-round draft picks with differing rookie seasons. Turner evolved into a starter by August 2019, allowing Bonner to move back to small forward, while Smith needed ankle surgery and didn’t play after Aug. 1.
With only 10 players (instead of the maximum 12) and four true posts on their roster, the Mercury will be dependent on the second-year players because 6-4 Kia Vaughn already has a role as backup to 6-9 Griner.
“I’ve always said let’s play with what we’ve got and not dwell on what we haven’t got,” Brondello said. “Turner and Smith, their opportunities got even bigger. They’re great young talents. Their games are similar in a way but different so that kind of versatility will make us hard to guard. There’s a lot of ways we can go.”
Turner, who in the 2019-20 WNBL season in Australia was the most valuable player runner-up, is like a gazelle to Brondello, racing up the court and leaping with elite athleticism for rebounds and blocks. Smith, a native Australian who also plays for Brondello on the Opals national team, is the better shooter and more of a stretch four who could play some on the wing (ala Bonner) when the Mercury want to go big.
Breland, even given her experience, would have been pushed for the starting power forward job by Turner, who made the WNBA All-Rookie team and had three double-digit rebound games (14 as a high) in 2019. Smith averaged 19.0 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks as a senior at Stanford in 2018-19 and if she is finally past injuries that extended into the 2019-20 international could be a breakout player league.
“Right now the person who has made the biggest strides is Brianna Turner,” Brondello said. “You can see the confidence and chemistry that she has with BG (Griner). She’s in great shape and ready to go.
“I have a lot of faith in her. She’s very coachable and wants to get better. She’s got a great personality,” and more outgoing than Bronello first thought when Turner arrived from Notre Dame. You’ll see her her grow as an offensive player the most from her experience in Australia, developing her outside shot. She’s one of the fastest players with the ball in her hand.”
Turner and Griner are roommates at IMG Academy, where WNBA games will be played. “We have no option but to be close and get that bond going,” Turner said. “I’m just trying to be everywhere (offensively), always moving, not stuck in one spot. My job is to rebound and kick it out for a three or put it back up myself or slip it over to BG. I think I can be really effective in that area.” season in the