The Phoenix Mercury announced that they will be without star guard Diana Taurasi for the remainder of the regular season, it is not clear if she will be available if the team makes it to the playoffs as a lower seed. Taurasi, who appeared in every game this season before missing the last two games due to a quad strain, was hoping to return to help get the team through to the playoff seeding and be available for the postseason run.

The three-time WNBA Champion Mercury today signed guard Yvonne“Vonnie” Turner to a hardship contract to fill the vacant roster spot left by Taurasi.

Turner, a 5-10 guard, returns to Phoenix after previously spending three seasons with the Mercury (2017-2019), averaging 5.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 95 regular season games. Turner averaged 6.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 2019 with the Mercury. During the 2022 season, Turner signed hardship contracts with the Minnesota Lynx, which is the next opponent for the Mercury Wednesday night at the FootPrint Center.

Turner’s minutes will certainly be limited due to the resurgence and return of Diamond DeShields playing at a high level, and leading the team in scoring in the last two contests.

The playoffs are still realistic for the Mercury and getting Skylar Diggins-Smith back from a Non-Covid illness at some point this week, will be critical down the stretch run to hold on to one of the lower seeds in the postseason race.