LOS ANGELES -- Mercedes Russell is a winner.
She has won two championships with the Seattle Storm in the WNBA. Not only that but she has also won a title in the WNBL (Women’s National Basketball League) in Australia. Russell will play whatever role is needed to help the team win. While she was a sometime starter for the Storm, she played a huge hand in helping the Southside Flyers in the WNBL win the 2024 championship, winning Grand Final MVP in the process.
Russell signed with the Sparks in early February. She stopped by to talk to The Sporting Tribune after practice on Thursday to talk about the signing and her experience playing all over the world, among other things.
THE SPORTING TRIBUNE: Mercedes, how’s that first game over in the Bay Area? New team, new arena, and new environment?
MERCEDES RUSSELL: It was awesome. They had a good crowd for their first inaugural game but it doesn’t really count. It was really awesome just to see the expansion team in their first outing. The crowd was really amazing, had good energy. And it was cool to see the turnout for the first scrimmage, game, I know it’s not real but it was cool to see that environment and how it’s gonna be down there in the Bay.
TST: What is it about the Sparks that made you want to sign here?
MR: A lot. Overall, just the roster. I was familiar with a lot of the people that have been on the team for years. And then adding Kelsey Plum. Drafted SA (Sarah Ashlee Barker), Sania (Feagin), Tu (Liatu King), just the overall roster and look for the team, I thought it would be a good fit for me. Just post depth and having that many people in the post.
TST: And the weather, too, right?
MR: Oh, for sure! Let me tell you about California: the sun is a little different here than Oregon and Washington. The sun, the beach, I love it all!
TST: You won two rings with the Storm so you’re bringing quite a bit of championship experience to this team. What were the biggest things you learned there that you could bring over to the Sparks?
MR: It would just be experience because I’m really considered a vet. *laughs* I’m definitely one of the older ones. Have the experience of the WNBA, playoffs and regular season. I’ve been through all of it. So I think just bringing that experience, just spreading the love, and positivity to my teammates.
TST: But as Azurá (Stevens) would say, a young vet, right?
MR: Yes, that’s what I’m saying! I’m a vet but I’m still an under-30 vet! A young vet, for sure!
TST: Not only did you win championships with Seattle, you also won a championship in Australia (WNBL). You were Grand Final MVP. You also played in China. How was the experience there and how was it different playing there compared to WNBA?
MR: To experience a different country is always a blessing. Obviously, we’re from America so we’re accustomed to a lot of things. When you experience different countries, you get to experience their culture, their food, their people so that’s really cool.
I would also say experience in basketball in another country is always cool as well. I grew up in America, went through college… but you know, sometimes, overseas players don’t always go through that process. Sometimes, they go pro at 15 and they’ve been playing pro for several years.
Being able to experience other teammates in those countries and learning their game and then you get to see some of ‘em come to the W as well… overall, it’s a great experience as a basketball player. In the basketball world, you know a lot of people but there’s also so many people out there you’re unaware of. So it’s cool to see more people, more players.
TST: You played with many Storm legends including Sue (Bird), Stewie (Breanna Stewart), and Jewell Loyd. But you also played with Lauren Jackson in Australia! How was that?
MR: It was amazing! I didn’t get a chance to play with her at Seattle. But for her to come back from injury, go back to the Olympics and come back to play is so amazing. For me to have the chance to play with her in her hometown was really cool. At the end of the day, we won a championship. It was nice just to share the court with her. She’s a legend in the game. One of the best bigs to play.
And then for me, it was special just because of her history of Seattle and I had been at Seattle at the time for several years. Just being able to share those experiences with her was really cool.
TST: Your impressions with the rookies and the younger players like Rickea (Jackson) and Rae (Burrell) in this camp so far.
MR: Oh, for sure, our rookies have been great! SA, Sania, and Tu… they came in and they learned so much. You know camp goes by really quick and you have to be a sponge. But they’ve been awesome, they’ve been great. They have great energy every single day. They’re great communicators. It’s been really cool just to see their transition from college.
It’s been a couple of years for me now but it’s hard just going from that college game to the pro level. And everything is so fast; it’s like draft, camp, game. We play our first game next week! So, yeah, it’s been really cool to see them.
Also my fellow Lady Vols, Rae and Rickea… I’m aware of their game. I was excited to be teammates with them this season. The potential of both of them. They’re young… compared to me, they’re young. I’m a little old now. I can say I’m a little OG. *laughs* But yeah, just to see their growth and being able to be their teammate now is really cool.
TST: Any advice you gave to the younger players on your team?
MR: At the start of camp, I’m just being a sponge. Especially with us having a new coaching staff. We’re all just learning something new every single day. Just being able to soak up all the info and take it and process it and put it out on the court when we’re actually playing against somebody other than the practice boys. *laughs*
TST: We already kind of went over this; I had mentioned the weather but what else do you like best about Southern California?
MR: Oh, my gosh. I have been a beach girl since I’ve been a little kid so I definitely love the sun. I love the beaches. I’m still looking for some good coffee! I haven’t really found anything that I’m stuck on. I’m a big coffee person especially coming from Seattle so still looking for a coffee spot. The sun and the beach are top two so that takes off a lot of other things.
