Source: Griner re-signs with Mercury on 1-year deal
Brittney Griner is headed back to the Phoenix Mercury.
Griner, who was a free agent, re-signed with the Mercury on a one-year contract according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Saturday because no announcement has been made.
The 32-year-old Griner had said she would return to Phoenix in a social media post in December, after she returned home from her 10-month ordeal in Russia that included time in a Russian jail. Griner had been arrested at an airport just outside of Moscow on drug possession charges a year ago and was brought home in a dramatic highlevel prisoner exchange in December.
The 6-foot-9 center last played for the Mercury in 2021 and helped the team reach the WNBA Finals. She averaged 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds that season.
TAURASI RE-SIGNS WITH MERCURY » Diana Taurasi has re-signed with the Phoenix Mercury, agreeing to a multiyear contract, the team announced.
The WNBA’s all-time leading scorer has only played with the Mercury since being drafted No. 1 by the team in 2004. SOURCES: LOVE, CAVS FINALIZE BUYOUT AS HE EYES MIAMI » Kevin Love and the Cavs completed a buyout of his contract, freeing the forward to sign with another team. Love is strongly considering a move to the Miami Heat, two people with knowledge of the matter said.
Other teams are expected to bid for Love, who is making $31.3 million this season, before he finalizes a decision, one of the people told the AP.
Baseball
HERNANDEZ LOSES IN ARBITRATION » Seattle outfielder Teoscar Hernández was among five players who lost their salary arbitration cases and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Hunter Renfroe won as teams finished with a 13-6 advantage in decisions.
Angels infielder Gio Urshela, Tampa Bay relievers Colin Poche and Ryan Thompson and St. Louis reliever Génesis Cabrera also lost their cases.
Teams won the majority of decisions for the fourth straight year and have a 347-257 record since arbitration began in 1974.
Hockey
BLUES, LEAFS MAKE TRADE » The St. Louis Blues are looking to the future after trading captain and center Ryan O’Reilly along with center Noel Acciari to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
St. Louis acquired Toronto’s 2023 first-round draft pick and 2024 second-round draft pick and Ottawa’s 2023 third-round pick from the Maple Leafs along with AHL forwards Mikhail Abramov and Adam Gaudette. Toronto also traded its 2025 fifthround pick to the Minnesota Wild for the rights to forward prospect Josh Pillar in exchange for the Wild picking up 25% of O’Reilly’s salary.
Skiing
SHIFFRIN TAKES SILVER » Mikaela Shiffrin didn’t hold on to a first-run lead and was beaten to gold by unheralded Canadian skier Laurence St-Germain in the women’s slalom at the world championships.
The American finished 0.57 seconds behind StGermain after the final run to settle for silver.
Tennis
ALCARAZ TO FACE NORRIE » Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz reached his first final since his milestone U.S. Open triumph at the Argentina Open.
Alcaraz beat Spanish countryman Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinals.
In the final on Sunday, the world No. 2 will face No. 12 Cameron Norrie, who reached his second final of the year when he beat Juan Pablo Varillas 7-6 (5), 6-4.
SWIATEK WINS TITLE » Topranked Iga Swiatek successfully defended her Qatar Open title after beating No. 4-ranked Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-0 in the final.
Swiatek broke Pegula for 2-0 and 4-2 but both times immediately lost her own serve.