On the latest episode of Locked On Women’s Basketball, host Howard Megdal sits down with The Next’s Phoenix Mercury beat writer Tia Reid to discuss Brittney Griner‘s return. They discuss both what Griner’s absence and her comeback mean for the Phoenix. They also evaluate other aspects of the Mercury’s lineup, like Rebecca Allen, Kahleah Copper, and Diana Taurasi.
Megdal and Reid begin the episode by discussing the excitement and emotions around Griner’s return. As Reid explains, it was a relatively last-minute decision on the Mercury’s behalf to re-insert Griner into the lineup. When the fans found out, “the crowd was just electric … And she definitely helped and played a big role in that game.”
Megdal and Reid continue reflecting on Griner’s career. “Her journey has been kind of an astounding story,” Reid describes. “I think she has a very driven mindset and unique motivation … especially to come back from the kind of situation that she was in. It takes something within a person to be able to kind of put that behind them and keep moving forward and have that motivation.”
Later on, Megdal and Reid shift focus to other players on the Mercury making an impact this season, such as Kahleah Copper. “Just look at the numbers she’s putting up,” Megdal says. And Reid concurs. “I mean, she had back-to-back games where she scored over 37 points in the beginning of the year,” she reminds listeners. Copper, Griner, and other core members are putting up a strong showing for the Mercury. But are they a title contender? “Probably not,” asserts Reid. “It’s a far-fetched possibility for them.”
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