WNBA coach unhappy with low attendance at Brittney Griner’s second game.
Phoenix Mercury Coach Disappointed with Turnout for Brittney Griner’s Second Game Following Russian Detainment
The WNBA team Phoenix Mercury coach, Vanessa Nygaard, expressed her disappointment with the turnout for Brittney Griner’s second game following her detainment in Russia. The game took place on Saturday between the Mercury and the LA Sparks at the Crypto.com stadium in Los Angeles. According to ESPN, 10,396 fans attended the game, but Nygaard was disappointed that they hadn’t sold out the arena’s capacity of just over 19,000.
Big Names in Attendance
Despite the turnout, the game was attended by some big names, including NBA legend Magic Johnson, tennis legend Billie Jean King, and Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris even shared photos and videos from the locker room in a series of tweets on Saturday, calling Griner’s return to the court “an inspiration to our nation.”
Griner’s Impressive Stats
Griner, who signed a yearlong deal worth 5,100 to rejoin her team earlier this year, is a force to be reckoned with on the court. As the No. 1 draft pick in 2013, she finished the 2021 season with an average of 20.5 points, 1.9 blocks, and 2.7 assists per game. She also had a career-high of 9.5 rebounds per match and helped her team win the 2016 Finals.
Disappointing Turnout
Despite Griner’s impressive stats and the big names in attendance, Nygaard was still disappointed with the turnout. “I mean, it was great. But like honestly, c’mon now LA. We didn’t sell out the arena for BG?” Nygaard said. “Like, I expected more, you know, to be honest. Right, it was great, it was loud. But how was it not a sellout? How was it not a sellout?”
Looking Ahead
The Mercury went 13-23 last season without Griner, who was arrested in Russia and charged with drug possession in February 2022. With Griner back on the court, the team is hoping for a better season. On average, roughly 5,600 fans attend Mercury games, per Fox News. Only time will tell if the team can attract more fans to support Griner and the rest of the team.
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