How Griner, Hill injuries affect Phoenix, Washington


Phoenix and Washington fans woke up to sad news that Mercury center Brittney Griner will miss three to four weeks while Mystics guard Tayler Hill will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2017 WNBA season due to a torn ACL.

Both Griner and Hill are enjoying great seasons; Griner is a leading Most Valuable Player candidate and a lock to make the all-star game while Hill has bounced back pretty well from last year. It's unfortunate both have suffered injuries that may alter what's expected from the Mercury and the Mystics this year.

Let's start with Griner. She will be out for three to four weeks. Griner is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, minutes, and free throw shooting, and leads the league in scoring with 22.3 PPG and blocked shots with 2.5 BPG.


Phoenix will not just be missing a huge chunk of scoring, but also Griner's presence defensively. Fortunately, the Mercury have a relatively lighter schedule than the rest of the league in that span. The Mercury are fourth in the league right now with an 11-8 record. If they can manage to split their assignments while Griner is out, they wouldn't fall off that far from the team standings when she returns.

Now, the absence which will have a more serious repercussion is Hill's. The Mystics have emerged as a legitimate contender this season with the arrival of Elena Delle Donne and Kristi Toliver. Hill has been doing an excellent job playmaking for the Mystics, leading the team in assists and assist rate (at least 20 minutes per game). She is also the team's second leading scorer.

Without Hill, it is obvious the Mystics will need Toliver and Ivory Latta to step up with the facilitating. The Mystics still have a handful of shooters who can space the floor so they just have to stick to what they're doing well. At 11-9, the Mystics are in fifth place right now. They still have enough talent and firepower to make the playoffs, but the biggest question mark is how far will they reach in the post-season once they get there.

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