Brittney Griner backs Diana Taurasi on sitting out WNBA

PHOENIX — Brittney Griner couldn't hide her disappointment in the fact that when the Phoenix Mercury take the floor next season to defend their 2014 WNBA championship, Diana Taurasi won't be with them.

But while accepting that reality has been difficult for Griner, accepting the reasoning behind Taurasi's decision was not.

Griner was in town Wednesday to watch the Suns take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at US Airways Center, less than a week after the 6-foot-8 center returned from her second season spent playing overseas in the Chinese league, which ended with Griner's Beijing Great Wall team falling to Maya Moore's Shanxi Flame in the championship series.

It was Griner's first chance to speak about Taurasi, who last month announced she would sit out the 2015 WNBA season to rest and honor her contract with her Russian league team, UMMC Ekaterinburg.

Taurasi essentially will be paid not to play next year, reportedly making close to $1.5 million in Russia compared to her WNBA salary of just over $100,000.

Taurasi, an 11-year WNBA veteran, turns 33 in June and has pledged to return to the Mercury in 2016.

She signed a multi-year contract extension with the team in August.

"I completely back Dee, 100 percent," Griner said. "She probably hasn't had a break since she hit high school. If this will help us keep Dee around (long term), then I completely understand. This is a chance for her to set herself up financially, and her family."

The salary disparity between the WNBA and other top women's leagues isn't a secret ("Everybody knows we make more money overseas," Griner said.). But Taurasi's decision has led to speculation that other top WNBA players will similarly sit out seasons in the future, damaging the stability the league has fought to create since it was founded in 1996.

Griner said enough has been done to secure the league's footing, at least for now.

"I don't think we're in trouble," she said. "There might be other players that think of doing it. But I don't think it's going to be a chain reaction, like next season six more players are going to be sitting out."

The Mercury's season tips off June 5 at home against the San Antonio Stars. It will be the first opener in many years that doesn't feature Taurasi in a Mercury uniform.

And, Griner hopes, the last for a while.

"I told her she can't retire until I retire," Griner said. "I'm trying to keep her around as long as possible."

Tyler Killian writes for The Arizona Republic.