Phoenix Mercury Offseason Overseas Update: Week 1

Kesley Bone | Center #3 | Liaoning Hengye (China)

Mercury center, Kelsey Bone, has been nearly unstoppable in her first week with Liaoning Hengye in the Chinese League this offseason. The 6-4 center averaged 30.4 points and 12.6 rebounds per game through the first five games of the season, while shooting 52.8-percent from the field. Starting in all five games, Bone has scored at least 23 points in all five contests, including a 41-point, 14-rebound effort on October 20 and a 39-point, 16-rebound performance on October 25.

Upcoming Games This Week: October 29: Liaoning vs. Beijing; November 1: Liaoning at Shanxi; November 3: Liaoning at Heilongjiang

Brittney Griner | Center #42 | UMMC Ekaterinburg (Russia)

After missing the first five games of UMMC Ekaterinburg’s Russian League schedule due to the WNBA season, Brittney Griner met up with her Russian team in France for this year’s 2016 SuperCup. Ekat won the event, 66-63, over hosts ESB Villeneuve-d’Ascq, with Griner finishing with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks in the win. Six days later, Griner and Ekaterinburg, last year’s EuroCup Champions, opened up the 2016-17 EuroCup season with a 72-83 loss on the road. Before fouling out of the game, Griner scored 12 points and grabbed seven boards.

Upcoming Games This Week: October 30: UMMC Ekaterinburg vs. MBA Moscow (Russian League); November 2: UMMC Ekaterinburg vs. Uniqa Sopron (EuroLeague), Free live stream available at https://www.youtube.com/FIBA at 7 a.m. Phoenix time.

Isabelle Harrison | Center #20 | CCC Polkowice (Poland)

Playing overseas for the first time during the WNBA offseason, Isabelle (Izzy) Harrison saw very brief action in her first game. The Mercury center converted on her only shot attempt in three minutes of play, finishing with two points and a rebound in CCC Polowice’s loss in its EuroLeague opener.

Upcoming Games This Week: October 29: CCC Polkovice at Wisla Can-Pack (TBLK League); November 2: CCC Polkowice at Bourges Basket (EuroLeague), Free live stream available at https://www.youtube.com/FIBA at noon Phoenix time.

Sonja Petrovic | Forward #5 | ZVVZ USK Praha (Czech Republic)

Just one week into her overseas season with USK Praha, Petrovic has proven to be a go-to player for the Czech team, averaging 16.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists through three games. Petrovic scored a game-high 25 points in 16 minutes of play off the bench in her first game with Praha on October 19, knocking down nine of her 10 shots and hitting all three of her three-point attempts. In Praha’s 90-51 win yesterday to open up its EuroLeague schedule, Petrovic notched a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds after earning her first start with the team. Through three games, the Olympic bronze-medalist is shooting a blistering 60-percent (18-of-30) from the field and 66.7-percent (6-of-9) from three-point range.

Upcoming Games This Week: October 29: USK Praha at U19 Chance (ZBL League); November 2: USK Praha vs. Wisla-Can Pack (EuroLeague), Free live stream available at https://www.youtube.com/FIBA at 11:15 a.m. Phoenix time.

Marta Xargay | Guard #10 | ZVVZ USK Praha (Czech Republic)

Playing alongside Petrovic with USK Praha is Mercury guard, Marta Xargay. Xargay has started in all three games for Praha thus far, averaging 14.7 points and three assists per game. In her first game with Praha on October 19, the Spaniard scored 17 points in 19 minutes of action. Xargay finished with another big game yesterday in Praha’s EuroLeague opener, scoring a game-high 18 points on 77.8-percent (7-of-9) shooting from the field in the win. Like Petrovic, Xargay has showcased a hot-hand shooting the ball overseas, as the Olympic silver-medalist is shooting 61.9-percent (13-of-21) from the field and 93.8-percent (15-of-16) from the free-throw line.

Upcoming Games This Week: October 29: USK Praha at U19 Chance (ZBL League); November 2: USK Praha vs. Wisla-Can Pack (EuroLeague), Free live stream available at https://www.youtube.com/FIBA at 11:15 a.m. Phoenix time.

Not Overseas Yet: Diana Taurasi (UMMC Ekaterinburg); Candice Dupree (ZVVZ USK Praha)