Overseas Report: Mercury Teammates Dominating in Russia, Vandersloot Effective in Turkey


For many players, basketball season doesn’t end once the final buzzer sounds in the WNBA. Here are some of the top recent performers during international play (click here to see the full list of WNBA players overseas).

Brittney Griner – Phoenix Mercury

At 6-foot-8, Griner is one of the most daunting matchups in the WNBA, and this offseason in Russia has exemplified her dominance. UMMC leads the league at 13-1, and Griner has paved the way averaging 17.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. In her club’s most recent game, Griner was effective across the stat sheet, compiling 16 points, three rebounds and two assists in a 100-61 win. Year in and year out, Griner has been one of the WNBA’s best since she turned pro in 2013, and she has kept it up during her overseas appearances. Expect Griner to come back ready to roll in a few months for the Phoenix Mercury.

Courtney Vandersloot – Chicago Sky

Vandersloot has enjoyed a very productive WNBA offseason, as she has been playing with Yakin Dogu in Turkey. Coming off a 2017 WNBA campaign in which she led the league in assists per game (8.1), Vandersloot has kept up the pace so far with her Turkish club. Through 16 games, Vandersloot ranks third on the team in points per game (13.6) and first in assists per game (8.5). Yakin Dogu has several WNBA stars on the team (including Kayla McBride, Jantel Lavender and Vandersloot), so it is no surprise that they are leading the Turkish league standings at 16-1.

Epiphanny Prince – New York Liberty

The eight-year WNBA veteran is currently overseas playing in Russia for juggernaut Dynamo Kursk, and Prince has been a go-to guard for her club all season long. Through 14 contests, she is averaging a balanced 10.0 points, 3.5 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game. In the club’s most recent contest, Prince compiled a stellar all-around performance with 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. New York Liberty fans should be excited that their veteran guard is still finding ways to be effective, as we inch closer to the start of another WNBA season.

Emma Cannon – Phoenix Mercury

Cannon appeared in all 34 WNBA games as a rookie, and led Phoenix in bench rebounding on 17 occasions. Her 3.6 rebounds per game ranked third among all rookies, and her 4.4 points per game was also in the top 10, placing her tied for seventh. Like many of the WNBA’s stars, Cannon is playing in Russia for Nadezhda Orenburg, and has been a catalyst to their 10-3 start to the season. Averaging 13.2 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds per game, Cannon continues to prove that she is just scratching the surface in what seems like a long professional career.

Kaela Davis – Dallas Wings

The 10th overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft from South Carolina, Davis was another solid rookie this past season. Having appeared in 33 games for the Wings, she averaged 6.1 points in 15.5 minutes per contest, highlighted by a 23-point outing against Chicago. Davis recently joined Turkish club Galatasaray for her first overseas action, and in four EuroLeague games with the club, she has averaged 16.3 points and 4.5 rebounds. On January 27, Davis had her best game to date, pouring in 24 points (6-11 FG) and three assists.