Mercedes Russell

Personal: Russell majored in communications at Tennessee.

2022 Season: She compiled 2,935 leaderboard points during the inaugural AU Pro Basketball season to earn 26th place on the final leaderboard. She appeared in eight games before missing the remainder of the season with an injury. Russell averaged 13.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest. She also shot 47.7 percent from the field while posting six double-digit scoring efforts. She grabbed 10 rebounds in a game three times, including a pair of 11-rebound efforts against Team Sims on January 26 and Team Cloud on February 2. She opened the season with a double-double against Team Sims, scoring 10 points with 11 rebounds while drawing a season-high six fouls. Russell registered a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double against Team Carrington during Week One. She made 5 of 12 field goal attempts in addition to a 5-for-6 effort at the free throw line. She posted back-to-back 20-point performances against Team Mitchell on January 29 and against Team Cloud on February 2. Russell converted 15 of 30 field goal attempts during those two games with 18 total rebounds. She closed Week Two by matching her season high with 20 points against Team Harrison. She shot 10-for-17 from the floor in addition to grabbing eight rebounds. She accumulated a season-high 456 leaderboard points in the Week One finale against Team Mitchell. She surpassed 200 leaderboard points in a game 10 times.

Other Professional Experience: Russell is an eight-year WNBA veteran who has appeared in 209 career games with 79 starts from 2018-25. She is a two-time WNBA champion who helped Seattle win league titles in 2018 and 2020. She has averaged 4.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game during her career. Russell was selected by the New York Liberty with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft. She appeared in two games with the Liberty as a rookie before being acquired by Seattle on May 30, 2018. She played in 22 games as a reserve while guiding the Storm to the 2018 WNBA championship. She spent the next six seasons with Seattle. Russell totaled 187 career games with the Storm, including 79 starts. She finished third in the WNBA Most Improved Player voting after logging 7.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in 2019. She helped Seattle claim the 2020 WNBA title by contributing 3.5 points and 2.5 rebounds over 22 appearances. She was a starter in 28 of 30 games during the 2021 season who averaged 7.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per contest. She saw action in just five games during the 2022 campaign before bouncing back in 2023. Russell made 37 appearances with 13 starts while netting 5.0 points per outing. She fashioned a 3.9 scoring average in her final season with Seattle in 2024 over 37 appearances. She was acquired by the Los Angeles Sparks prior to the 2025 campaign. She played in 20 games as a reserve before being waived on July 12, 2025.

International Experience: Russell was a member of the USA Junior National Team from 2011-12 and in 2015.

At Tennessee: Russell was a two-time Honorable Mention WBCA All-America selection at Tennessee who started 101 of 136 games from 2013-18. She also secured Honorable Mention Associated Press All-America status in 2017. Russell is a four-time All-Southeastern Conference pick. She ranks 17th in Tennessee history with 1,597 career points. She is the third-leading rebounder in program history with 1,085 caroms. She posted a .570 career field goal percentage, which is good for sixth on the Lady Vols’ all-time list. Russell led Tennessee in rebounding in each of her final three seasons. She tallied 195 career blocked shots, which is the fifth-highest mark in program history. She authored 46 career double-doubles. She matched the school record with six blocks against Vanderbilt on January 5, 2017.