Mercedes Russell Signs for 2026 AU Pro Basketball Season
Two-time WNBA champion Mercedes Russell is set to return to Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball for the 2026 season, marking her first appearance in the league since competing in its inaugural campaign in 2022.
Russell played in the first eight games of that debut season before an injury sidelined her, but she made the most of her time on the court. She averaged 13.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 47.7 percent from the field. She scored in double figures in six of her eight outings and posted three 20-point performances, including three double-doubles.
The 6-foot-6 center out of Tennessee brings seven years of professional experience along with a resume that includes two WNBA titles (2018, 2020) with the Seattle Storm. She was drafted 22nd overall by the New York Liberty and went on to record career highs of 19 points in 2019 and 11 rebounds on multiple occasions while shooting over 60 percent from the floor during her 2021 campaign.
Russell appeared in 20 games for the Los Angeles Sparks during the 2025 season after spending the previous two years with Seattle, where she averaged 5.0 points and 4.0 rebounds (2023), and 3.9 points and 3.0 rebounds (2024) across 74 appearances.
Russell has also thrived overseas, earning 2023-24 WNBL Grand Final MVP honors after leading Australia’s Southside Flyers to a championship with averages of 14.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game in the finals series.
At Tennessee, Russell was a First Team All-SEC and All-American selection who finished her career ranked among the Lady Vols’ all-time greats. She surpassed 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds and recorded more than 40 career double-doubles during her collegiate career.
Now healthy and returning to AU, Russell brings championship experience and veteran leadership to a growing group of players ready to take the court in Nashville this winter.
AU Pro Basketball returns to Nashville, Tennessee, with elite talent and electrifying energy, for its fifth championship season on February 4, 2026, at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Tickets for the upcoming season are available now.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
