Brittney Griner remains on minds of Phoenix Mercury as WNBA team preps for season

The Phoenix Mercury continue to be without Brittney Griner, who has been detained in Russia since February, but while the star center remains on their minds, they also know they have to move on with their preparation for the upcoming WNBA season.

«It's tough. We all are concerned about her,» new Mercury coach Vanessa Nygaard said Monday as training camp continued. «It is something that we think about, and we pray to make sure that she is safe and that she comes home quickly.»

Griner was detained at a Moscow airport on Feb. 17, after Russian authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges allegedly containing oil derived from cannabis, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Russian media reported in March that Griner's detention has been extended until at least May 19.

The WNBA's 26th season begins May 6.

«We feel confident that everything is being done to make sure that she can get back as quickly as possible, that everybody is working behind the scenes to make that happen,» Nygaard said. «I definitely wake up sometimes in the middle of the night worried about BG. All we can do is keep doing what we're doing.»

Nygaard was hired in January to replace Sandy Brondello, who in Decmber was let go by the team after eight seasons (Brondello was later hired to coach the New York Liberty). Phoenix made the WNBA Finals last season but fell 3-1 in the best-of-five series to the Chicago Sky.

«Obviously, the way the year ended last year is still fresh in our minds,» Mercury star Diana Taurasi said. «It's something that we think about, those little things in Game 4 that slipped are a constant reminder. So it's good to have that in the back of your mind. I think there's a lot of excitement in the