Griner Named Western Conference Player of the Month
September 4, 2019 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Phoenix Mercury News Release
PHOENIX - 2014 WNBA Champion, two-time Defensive Player of the Year and current 2019 league scoring leader Brittney Griner was named the Western Conference Player of Month for August, as announced by the league office today. It marks the first time in her career Griner has been named WNBA Player of the Month and the fifth time in franchise history a Mercury player has won the award since it was established in 2010 (Diana Taurasi has won the other four).
Griner averaged a team-best 22.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks during the month of August, while helping the Mercury clinch its franchise-record seventh consecutive playoffs appearance during the month.
Griner scored 20 or more points in six of the eight games in August, including a season-high 34-point outing on August 25 against Chicago. She recorded a block in each of the eight games, including two games of four blocks, which matched a season high. Griner shot a blistering 59.7 percent (74-of-124) from the field during the month and registered a career-high 14 rebounds in the Mercury's win on August 27 in New York.
Griner's two most impressive performances of the month came in consecutive games on August 25 against Chicago and August 27 in New York. The 6-8 center shot 70.6 percent (12-of-17) from the field against the Sky en route to her 34-point performance. She finished 10-of-12 from the free throw line and grabbed seven rebounds. Two days later, Griner finished with 29 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks in the Mercury's win over the Liberty. With her 14 made field goals in the game, Griner registered the fourth-ever game in WNBA history with at least 29 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks and 14 made field goals (she accounts for two of them). Additionally, the game marked her 40th career double-double, which ranks second in franchise history behind DeWanna Bonner's mark of 41.
A leading MVP candidate this season, Griner has put together a sensational season this summer, ranking first in the league in scoring (20.8 ppg - only player in the WNBA averaging over 20 points per game), second in blocks (2.1 bpg), third in field goal percentage (55.4) and second in efficiency (23.0). She's posted six consecutive games of 20+ points, eight in the last nine games and 18 on the season, while leading the league in 30+ point performances this season with four. Griner's currently the only player in the WNBA this season averaging at least 20 points, seven rebounds and two blocks per game, a feat that only Anthony Davis did during the 2018-19 NBA season.
After coming within one win of trip to the WNBA Finals, the Phoenix Mercury return in 2019 in search of a league-record tying fourth WNBA title. Led by the All-Star trio of Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and DeWanna Bonner, Phoenix looks to continue its title quest on September 6 against Minnesota. Tickets for the Mercury's next home game on Friday, September 6 against the Minnesota Lynx, and the remaining home game on Sunday, September 8 against Las Vegas can be purchased by calling 602.252.WNBA or by visiting PhoenixMercury.com.
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