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Phoenix Mercury kick off 2018 training camp

By Ben Dull

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 3: DeWanna Bonner #24 of the Phoenix Mercury handles the ball during the game against the New York Liberty during a WNBA game on September 3, 2016 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 3: DeWanna Bonner #24 of the Phoenix Mercury handles the ball during the game against the New York Liberty during a WNBA game on September 3, 2016 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Phoenix Mercury opened training camp Monday with 17 players under contract. All-WNBA and All-Defense selection Brittney Griner also captured the scoring title in 2017. Diana Taurasi, entering year 14, took time off from playing overseas during the offseason to both recharge and prepare for the upcoming season.

The front office did its part to equip the team for a run at a championship by going out to sign unrestricted free agent forward Sancho Lyttle. The Mercury weren’t done, as they later acquired point guard Briann Janaury from the Indiana Fever. January just wrapped up her first season as an assistant coach at Arizona State, her alma mater. The Mercury will also be welcoming back 2015 All-WNBA selection DeWanna Bonner, who is coming off maternity leave.

Leilani Mitchell, Yvonne Turner and Camille Little return for the Mercury as well. That trio, Griner and Taurasi formed the starting group for the stretch run of the regular season and playoffs in 2017.

Stephanie Talbot and Alexis Prince are back on the wing in Phoenix. Talbot started 24 games last season as a rookie and shot 38 percent from beyond the arc. Emma Cannon, also a rookie in 2017, averaged 13 minutes per game off the bench as a backup forward/center.

Alex Harden, Chelsea Nelson and Chatrice White are in Phoenix on training camp contracts. They’ll be joined by the team’s 2018 draft class — No. 12 overall pick Marie Gulich, No. 21 overall pick Raisa Musina, No. 26 overall pick Imani Wright — in competing for a roster spot.

The Mercury waived 2018 second round pick Tyler Scaife prior to the start of camp. Per Jeff Metcalfe, the Mercury opened camp with seven players still finishing up overseas.

That isn’t all that uncommon for WNBA teams. Perhaps most importantly, Taurasi has been stateside for months preparing for the upcoming season. On the latest episode of the Merc Alert podcast, Mercury COO Vince Kozar and head coach Sandy Brondello recall Penny Taylor telling them that Taurasi is “in the best shape of her career.”

If that’s the case, that’s bad news for the rest of the league. Phoenix opens the preseason May 8 on the road against the Seattle Storm.

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