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Mercedes Russell

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Mercedes Russell
Russell with the Seattle Storm in 2019
Indiana Fever
PositionCenter
LeagueWNBA
Personal information
Born (1995-07-27) July 27, 1995 (age 31)
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High schoolSpringfield (Springfield, Oregon)
CollegeTennessee (2013–2018)
WNBA draft2018: 2nd round, 22nd overall pick
Drafted byNew York Liberty
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018New York Liberty
20182024Seattle Storm
2019–2020Southside Flyers
2020–2021Galatasaray
2023–2024Southside Flyers
2024Heilongjiang Dragons
2025Shanxi Flame
2025Los Angeles Sparks
2026–presentIndiana Fever
Career highlights
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing the  United States
2015 Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place2015 GwangjuTeam
FIBA Under-17 World Cup
Gold medal – first place2012 NetherlandsTeam
FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship
Gold medal – first place2011 MexicoTeam

Mercedes Brianna Russell (born July 27, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was drafted 22nd overall by the New York Liberty in the 2018 WNBA draft. Russell played college basketball for Tennessee.[1] In high school, she was named 2013 Gatorade Girls' Basketball Player of the Year.

Russell was MVP of the 2013 McDonalds All-American game

College career

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

Professional career

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WNBA

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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. She played with the Storm 2018-2024.

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

On August 10, 2026, she signed with the Indiana Fever as a season-ending injury exception.[6]

WNBL

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In 2019, Russell was signed by the newly rebranded Southside Flyers in Australia's Women's National Basketball League (WNBL).[7] 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.[8]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games 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

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2013–14 Tennessee 35 5 18.5 .596 .000 .514 5.0 0.5 0.4 1.1 1.2 6.3
2014–15 Tennessee Injured
2015–16 Tennessee 36 31 29.3 .548 .000 .545 8.3 0.8 0.4 1.8 1.6 9.9
2016–17 Tennessee 32 32 34.6 .562 .000 .671 9.7 1.2 0.7 1.4 2.0 16.1
2017–18 Tennessee 33 33 32.7 .583 .000 .682 9.2 0.8 1.1 1.3 1.4 15.3
Career 136 101 28.6 .570 .000 .622 8.0 0.8 0.6 1.4 1.6 11.7

WNBA

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Regular season

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Stats current through game on July 14, 2025

WNBA regular season statistics[9]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
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
Career 8 years, 3 teams 2097917.0.5210.0.6533.80.90.60.30.94.6

Playoffs

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WNBA playoff statistics
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2018 Seattle 104.01.00.00.00.00.00.0
2019 Seattle 2232.0.769°1.0008.52.00.01.01.011.5
2020 Seattle 6017.5.6191.0003.81.00.20.20.85.2
2021 Seattle 1145.0°.55612.0°4.00.02.00.010.0
2024 Seattle 2123.0.5001.0007.00.00.50.02.55.0
Career 5 years, 1 team 12422.0.6271.0005.61.20.20.41.06.2

References

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  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. "Indiana Fever Sign Center Mercedes Russell". WNBA.com. August 10, 2026. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  7. "Southside Flyers on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on April 30, 2022.[user-generated source]
  8. "WNBL24 SOUTHSIDE FLYERS CYGNETT WNBL CHAMPIONS". wnbl.basketball. March 17, 2024. Archived from the original on March 17, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  9. "Mercedes Russell WNBA Stats". Basketball Reference.
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Mercedes Russell
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