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Sparks vs. Mercury final score, results: Brittney Griner's WNBA return ends with blowout loss

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Sara Tidwell
• 10 min read
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The WNBA tipped off its 27th season on Friday. The league's four-game opening night schedule concluded with the Los Angeles Sparks blowing out the Phoenix Mercury 94-71 in Los Angeles.

The game's main storyline was Phoenix's Brittney Griner being on a WNBA court for the first time since October 2021, following her 2022 arrest and conviction in Russia on drug charges. She led the Mercury with 18 points to go with six rebounds, two assists and four blocks, all in 25 minutes. Griner was 7 for 9 from the field.

MORE: Timeline of Brittney Griner arrest and detainment in Russia, return to U.S.

A number of luminaries were at Crypto.com Arena to welcome Griner back, including Billie Jean King, Magic Johnson, Vice President Kamala Harris, South Carolina women's coach Dawn Staley and Lakers coach Darvin Ham.

Mercury guard Diana Taurasi also showed out, proving she's still got it at the start of her 19th season. She had 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

MORE: Brittney Griner national anthem protests, revisited

Rookie Zia Cooke gave LA a spark with 14 points in 13 minutes as Staley, her college coach, watched in the stands.

"She saved the day . . . she balled. This game is for Zia," teammate Chiney Ogwumike told ESPN's Holly Rowe postgame.

MORE: Watch WNBA all season long with Sling TV

The Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights for Sparks vs. Mercury. Read below for complete results and highlights from the final opening night game of the WNBA's 27th season. (All times Eastern.)

Los Angeles vs. Phoenix score

  1 2 3 4 F
Los Angeles Sparks 19 35 19 21 94
Phoenix Mercury 22 19 14 16 71

Sparks vs. Mercury live updates, highlights from 2023 WNBA opening night

Final: Sparks 94, Mercury 71

1:10 a.m.: Add Chiney Ogwumike to that Sparks list with 15 points and seven rebounds in the closing minutes. Karlie Samuelson has 11 points.

1:08 a.m.: Top three Sparks stat lines with five minutes left in the game:

  • Nneka Ogwumike: 17 points, four rebounds, three assists
  • Lexie Brown: 14 points, four rebounds, two assists
  • Zia Cooke: 14 points, two rebounds and two assists

1:06 a.m.: Top three Mercury stat lines with five minutes left in the game:

  • Brittney Griner: 18 points, six rebounds, two assists
  • Moriah Jefferson: 16 points, three rebounds and three assists
  • Diana Taurasi: 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists

12:53 a.m.: Nia Clouden is the last active Sparks player to check in. The whole roster has now played in this blowout.

End third quarter: Sparks 73, Mercury 55

12:49 a.m.: Not very competitive this point, just the Sparks smacking around the Mercury like a predator with its prey.

12:39 a.m.: The Sparks have a 21-point lead midway through the third quarter. This is going to end badly for the Mercury if they can't buckle down and get going.

Halftime: Sparks 54, Mercury 41

12:14 a.m.: The Sparks have their largest lead of the night to close out the half. The Mercury really lost their stride after the first quarter. Lots of good performances on both ends. Zia Cooke and Nneka Ogwumike are leading Sparks, while Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner are leading the Mercury.

12:03 a.m.: Diana Taurasi is like no other. She's 40 years old but playing like she's 22. She has 14 points right now and is not shying away from contact. She's now tied with Sue Bird for most seasons in the league.

11:55 p.m.: Zia Cooke with 11 and giving the Sparks their first lead of the night. 

11:51 p.m.: Zia Cooke in her first three minutes of professional ball already has eight points. Insane skill. And it's such a cool thing that college coach is in the stands watching this debut. Also, Dearica Hamby is on the court, giving it her all two months after giving birth. She went through all of training camp, too.

11:45 p.m.: Brittney Griner tells Holly Rowe her performance in the preseason was "not BG." She came out tonight knowing she had to bring it and she's feeling back to her old self.

End first quarter: Mercury 22, Sparks 19

11:43 p.m.: Los Angeles has brought the game within three as the first quarter ends.

11:38 p.m.: Phoenix with 20 before the Sparks hit 10. Lexie Brown and Jordin Canada are showing out for LA, though, quickly closing the gap to 20-17 with some slick shots. The Mercury have already put in their 2023 draft pick, Kady Sissoko, and she has two points. Big night for a lot of people.

11:36 p.m.: Brittney Griner with a massive smile on her face. Her stat line when she takes a seat is impressive: four minutes: four points, three rebounds and an assist. She's so back.

11:27 p.m.: Dawn Staley is also in attendance. This is a special night in California, and it will be even more special when Brittney Griner plays at her home arena in Arizona on Sunday, May 21. The pair shared a tight hug before the game.

11:23 p.m.: Brittney Griner drains one easily for her first basket in 579 days. The muscle memory is evident, and she looks like she's feeling phenomenal.

11:21 p.m.: The game time has been moved back and is now live. The Mercury starting five: Moriah Jefferson, Michaela Onyenwere, Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and Brianna Turner.

11:18 p.m.: Per ESPN's Rebecca Lobo, the game will move to ESPN2 and begin at 11:20 p.m. ET because the NHL playoff game between Dallas and Vegas went into overtime.

11:15 p.m.: Brittney Griner received a standing ovation at Crypto.com Arena when she took the court. Vice President Kamala Harris and Lakers' coach Darvin Ham are in attendance. Harris went to the Mercury locker room to welcome Griner back.

11:07 p.m.: Looks like the broadcast has been delayed due to playoff hockey. Fans are not happy on Twitter.

10:55 p.m.: LA has released its opening night starting lineup: Jordin Canada, Lexie Brown, Layshia Clarendon, Nneka Ogwumike and Chiney Ogwumike.

10:34 p.m.: BetMGM has the Sparks as a 1.5-point favorite tonight. Check out the full odds here.

10:33 p.m.: Looks like Holly Rowe is on the scene with Rebecca Lobo and Mark Jones for ESPN tonight.

10:24 p.m.: Can't spell slay without LA. The Sparks' tunnel outfits are giving tonight.

10:20 p.m.: ESPN's Holly Rowe posted a video of legends Magic Johnson and Billie Jean King giving Brittney Griner a warm welcome home. This is her first WNBA game since 2021.

Back where she belongs!

10:18 p.m.: The Mercury posted a health update for the game. Sophie Cunningham (left knee), Megan Gustafson (left foot) and Shey Peddy (right achilles) are out tonight.

10:14 p.m.: The Mercury and Sparks both solidified their rosters Friday.

The Mercury have Brittney Griner back, and Diana Taurasi signed another two-year contract extension. Skylar Diggins-Smith is out indefinitely due to pregnancy, and Liz Dixon signed a rest-of-season hardship contract in her place. The team waived several players, including Sam Thomas. This is who they're taking into the season:

The Sparks picked up Nia Clouden from the Sun. They also signed Karlie Samuelson, after she was previously waived, to a rest-of-season hardship contract because her sister Katie Lou is out indefinitely due to pregnancy. They waived Monika Czinano and Yang Liwei, among others. This is who they're taking into the season:

What channel is Sparks vs. Mercury on today?

  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Live stream: Sling TV, ESPN+

Los Angeles vs. Phoenix will be broadcast nationally on ESPN, which will air 25 regular season games this season. This game is also available for live streaming on ESPN+ or Sling TV.

Basketball fans can watch the WNBA all season long on the ESPN family of networks and NBATV with Sling TV.

Fans in the U.S. can watch the WNBA on Sling TV, which is now offering $10 off your first month! Stream the sports you love starting at just $30 in your first month with Sling Orange to catch all the games on ESPN & ABC. For games on NBA TV, subscribe to Sling Orange & Sports Extra for $27.50 in your first month. Local regional blackout restrictions apply.

SIGN UP FOR SLING: English | Spanish

Sparks vs. Mercury start time

  • Date: Friday, May 19
  • Time: 11 p.m. ET | 8 p.m. PT

Los Angeles vs. Phoenix will begin at 11 p.m. ET on Friday, May 19. Timezone translations mean the game will tip at 8 p.m. locally (PT).

The WNBA opening weekend contest will be played at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif., which doubles as the home of their NBA brother teams, the Clippers and Lakers.

WNBA opening weekend schedule 2023

Friday, May 19

Matchup Time (ET) Platform
Connecticut Sun at Indiana Fever 7 p.m. League Pass
New York Liberty at Washington Mystics 7 p.m. NBA TV
Chicago Sky at Minnesota Lynx 8 p.m. League Pass
Phoenix Mercury at Los Angeles Sparks 11 p.m. ESPN

Saturday, May 20

Matchup Time (ET) Platform
Atlanta Dream at Dallas Wings 1 p.m. ABC
Las Vegas Aces at Seattle Storm 3 p.m. ABC

Sunday, May 21

Matchup Time (ET) Platform
Washington Mystics at Connecticut Sun 1 p.m. League Pass
Indiana Fever at New York Liberty 2 p.m. Twitter
Chicago Sky at Phoenix Mercury 4 p.m. ESPN
Author(s)
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Sara Tidwell
Sara Tidwell is an editorial intern with The Sporting News.
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