Mercury’s Diana Taurasi out a month, played with fractured sternum
May 25, 2021, 1:20 PM
Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury dribbles during the first half of a game against the New York Liberty at Feld Entertainment Center on August 02, 2020 in Palmetto, Florida.(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi will miss a minimum of four weeks after suffering a chest injury May 16 against the Connecticut Sun, the team said on Tuesday.
Taurasi played in the past two games since the injury before a CT scan revealed a fractured sternum this week, the Mercury added in a release.
Despite the injury, the nine-time All-Star put up 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting last Tuesday against the Washington Mystics and 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting Friday facing the Sun.
Taurasi is averaging 15.8 points, 3.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds through Phoenix’s 2-2 start to the season.
RELATED STORIES
Without the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, the Mercury will lean more heavily on point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith and center Brittney Griner.
Diggins-Smith leads Phoenix by averaging 16.5 points and 4.3 assists per game.
Griner is averaging 13.3 points while leading the team with 7.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks a night.
The Mercury continue their season without Taurasi against the Las Vegas Aces, who visit Phoenix Suns Arena Wednesday at 7 p.m. The game will air on CBS Sports Network.
