Brittney Griner exits early with injury as Mercury lose to Fever - ESPN

Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner was ruled out of Friday night's 95-86 loss at Indiana after suffering what the team announced as a right hip injury in the second quarter.

«What I've been told is a strained groin, so we will see,» Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts said after the game. «The medical staff decided to hold her out.»

Griner, also a member of the U.S. 5-on-5 Olympic team, was injured with 6:38 remaining in the quarter during a collision with teammate Kahleah Copper. She was down on the court for a few seconds before limping to the sideline.

Griner had four points and one assist in 11 minutes. She sat on the bench for the second half of the game.

The Mercury were already short-handed prior to Griner's injury, as fellow Olympian Diana Taurasi (lower left leg), Natasha Cloud (left knee), Sug Sutton (right hamstring) and Charisma Osborne (lower left leg) were ruled out before the contest. Phoenix's Bec Allen was on a time restriction due to injury, although she did play 25 minutes.

Guard Celeste Taylor, whom the Mercury signed to a seven-day contract Friday, played 24 minutes against the Fever team that drafted and then waived her earlier this season.

Having started with seven available players, Phoenix had just five by game's end, Tibbetts said, because of Griner's injury and Allen being limited.

«I'm thankful for my time in the D League, to be honest,» Tibbetts said. «Our roster size [there] was small, and there were some nights we had to play with eight. But not a lot of nights where you saw seven being rolled out there like we did tonight.

»My hope is the [WNBA] in the new collective bargaining agreement will expand the roster sizes. I've heard coaches talk about it. I'm new to this league, but it can be