Shey Peddy ruptures Achilles in blow to depleted Mercury

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Peddy #11 of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during Round 1 Game 1 of the 2022 WNBA Playoffs on August 17, 2022 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Phoenix Mercury’s season of setbacks continues, with the team announcing that star Shey Peddy suffered a right Achilles tendon rupture in their Round 1 WNBA playoff game.

Peddy was carried off during the third quarter of the Mercury’s Wednesday night playoff matchup against the Las Vegas Aces after going down with a non-contact injury.

“I know I’m built for the challenge and this will only make me stronger,” Peddy wrote in a message posted to Twitter. “Minor setback for a major comeback!”

Peddy’s season-ending injury comes amid an already challenging year for the Phoenix Mercury.

Center Brittney Griner has been wrongfully detained in Russia since February and sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges. Diana Taurasi has been sidelined with a quad injury, missing the last games of the regular season and the playoff opener. Skylar Diggins-Smith is also away from the team due to personal reasons and is not expected to make a return for the playoffs.

“I don’t know that anybody in this league has been dealt a tougher hand than Vanessa Nygaard,” said Aces head coach Becky Hammon after Wednesday’s game. “That completely sucks for them. That is not a fun moment for either side…Hopefully, it’s not what we think.”

The depleted Mercury will need to pull out a win in Saturday’s Game 2 matchup against Las Vegas to keep their postseason dreams alive.