Mercedes Russell

Last updated

Mercedes Russell
Mercedes Russell (cropped).jpg
Russell with the Seattle Storm in 2019
Free agent
Position Center
Personal information
Born (1995-07-27) July 27, 1995 (age 30)
Springfield, Oregon, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school Springfield (Springfield, Oregon)
College Tennessee (2013–2018)
WNBA draft 2018: 2nd round, 22nd overall pick
Drafted by New York Liberty
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018 New York Liberty
2018–2024 Seattle Storm
2019–2020 Southside Flyers
2020–2021 Galatasaray
2023–2024Southside Flyers
2024 Heilongjiang Dragons
2025 Shanxi Flame
2025 Los Angeles Sparks
Career highlights
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing the Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2015 Summer Universiade
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2015 Gwangju Team
FIBA Under-17 World Cup
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2012 Netherlands Team
FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2011 Mexico Team

Mercedes Brianna Russell (born July 27, 1995) is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent. She was drafted 22nd overall by the New York Liberty in the 2018 WNBA draft. Russell played center for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team in college. [1] In high school, she was named 2013 Gatorade Girls' Basketball Player of the Year.

Contents

Russell was MVP of the 2013 McDonalds All-American game 20130403 Mercedes Russell MCDAAG Girls MVP.JPG
Russell was MVP of the 2013 McDonalds All-American game

College

Russell played college basketball at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee for the Lady Volunteers. [2]

Statistics

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2013–14 Tennessee 35518.5.596.000.5145.00.50.41.11.26.3
2014–15 Tennessee Injured
2015–16 Tennessee 363129.3.548.000.5458.30.80.41.81.69.9
2016–17 Tennessee 323234.6.562.000.6719.71.20.71.42.016.1
2017–18 Tennessee 333332.7.583.000.6829.20.81.11.31.415.3
Career13610128.6.570.000.6228.00.80.61.41.611.7

Career

WNBA

At the 2018 WNBA draft, Russell was drafted in the second round by the New York Liberty. After making her WNBA debut with the Liberty, Russell was waived and soon after picked up by the Seattle Storm. [3] In joining the Storm's line-up featuring players such as Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart and Natasha Howard, Russell would take home a WNBA Championship in her first professional season.

Russell played with the Storm 2018-2024.

On February 11, 2025, Russell signed with the Los Angeles Sparks. [4] On July 12, she was waived by the Sparks. [5]

WNBL

In 2019, Russell was signed by the newly rebranded Southside Flyers in Australia's Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). [6] There she would play alongside the likes of Leilani Mitchell and Jenna O'Hea.

With the Flyers in the 2023–24 WNBL season, Russell helped the team win the championship while earning grand final MVP honours. [7]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold Career best°League leader

WNBA

Regular season

Stats current through game on July 14, 2025

WNBA regular season statistics [8]
YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2018 † New York 2016.0.333–.7501.51.01.00.50.52.5
Seattle 2204.6.484–.5001.40.10.00.10.31.6
2019 Seattle 343025.6.520–.6466.11.01.10.51.07.5
2020 † Seattle 22213.8.410–.5603.20.60.40.40.73.5
2021 Seattle 302824.7.617–.7666.11.60.90.41.37.3
2022 Seattle 5010.8.500–.6671.80.20.00.01.42.0
2023 Seattle 371319.1.516.000.6054.01.30.40.51.55.0
2024 Seattle 37615.7.517—.6363.00.80.60.20.73.9
2025 Los Angeles 2008.2.444–.7141.20.60.30.20.41.7
Career8 years, 3 teams2097917.0.5210.0.6533.80.90.60.30.94.6

Playoffs

WNBA playoff statistics
YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2018 † Seattle 104.0–––1.00.00.00.00.00.0
2019 Seattle 2232.0.769°–1.0008.52.00.01.01.011.5
2020 † Seattle 6017.5.619–1.0003.81.00.20.20.85.2
2021 Seattle 1145.0°.556––12.0°4.00.02.00.010.0
2024 Seattle 2123.0.500—1.0007.00.00.50.02.55.0
Career5 years, 1 team12422.0.627–1.0005.61.20.20.41.06.2

References

  1. ↑ Greif, Andrew (April 14, 2018). "Marie Gulich leads 4 players with Oregon ties selected in 2018 WNBA draft". The Oregonian. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Mercedes Russell - Women's Basketball - University of Tennessee Athletics". utsports.com.
  3. ↑ "Seattle Storm Signs Mercedes Russell". storm.wnba.com.
  4. ↑ "Transactions". WNBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. February 11, 2025. Retrieved February 12, 2025. Mercedes Russell signed a Contract with the Los Angeles Sparks.
  5. ↑ "Cameron Brink working toward July return as Sparks prepare to host Sun". Orange County Register. July 12, 2025. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Southside Flyers on Facebook". Facebook . Archived from the original on April 30, 2022.[ user-generated source ]
  7. ↑ "WNBL24 SOUTHSIDE FLYERS CYGNETT WNBL CHAMPIONS". wnbl.basketball. March 17, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Mercedes Russell WNBA Stats". Basketball Reference.
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