WNBA injured list (with statistics)

Phoenix Mercury forward Penny Taylor is expected to play in Game 3 of the WNBA finals Sunday after being elbowed in the mouth during Game 2. Phoenix coach Corey Gaines said Taylor was doing fine after receiving treatment and will be ready to resume her role off the bench. Taylor took the hit when Indiana guard Briann January went for a layup in the third quarter of Indiana's 93-84 win in Game 2 on Thursday. A team spokesman said Taylor's front teeth cut her upper lip and a tooth was displaced. A small metal bar was placed in her mouth to help stabilize the tooth. She wasn't wearing a mouthpiece on Thursday, but she will wear one on Sunday.

Candace Parker is returning to action for the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday when they host the Phoenix Mercury. Parker was cleared by doctors to begin practicing Tuesday. She has not played at all this season. Last season, Parker started all 33 games she played in, led the league in rebounding and led all rookies in scoring and rebounding.

Candace Parker has returned to practice with the Los Angeles Sparks after giving birth to her first child May 13. Parker, last year's league MVP and rookie of the year, averaged 18.5 points and a league-leading 9.5 rebounds. Meanwhile, Sparks center Lisa Leslie returned to practice for the first time since missing the last three games because of a right knee sprain. Neither Parker nor Leslie plan to play in the Sparks next game on July 5 at home against the Phoenix Mercury

Plenette Pierson is expected to be out for the rest of the season. The Detroit Shock said that the 27-year-old forward had successful surgery to repair right shoulder instability. She was injured in the WNBA opener against the Los Angeles Sparks on June 6. Pierson won the WNBA's Sixth Woman of the Year award in 2007.

Center Lisa Leslie is expected to miss about six games because of a sprained right knee. The three-time WNBA MVP hurt her knee and bruised her right hip Friday against Phoenix and sat out Sunday's 67-47 victory at Sacramento. Leslie, who will turn 37 next month, is averaging 10.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. She announced in February that she plans to retire after this season.

Minnesota Lynx All-Star Seimone Augustus will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL in her left knee. She was hurt in the second quarter of Wednesday's 104-80 loss at Phoenix. Augustus had an MRI on Thursday, which revealed the tear in her anterior cruciate ligament. Augustus was the Lynx's leading scorer and in 105 games with Minnesota, she is averaging 21.2 points and 3.9 rebounds.

Becky Hammon will miss two games for the San Antonio Silver Stars to play for Russia in the European women's basketball championships. The American-born WNBA star earned a bronze medal playing for Russia in the Olympics last summer. Hammon became a naturalized Russian citizen after being essentially passed over for a spot on the U.S. team. The 32-year-old is expected to rejoin the Silver Stars on June 23 against Phoenix.

Forward Yolanda Griffith is out for the season after suffering what might be a career-ending tear of her left Achilles tendon. The 39-year-old former All-Star and Olympic gold medalist was injured in the opening quarter of Tuesday's win against Seattle. Griffith said before training camp that this would be her final pro season.

Detroit Shock center Kara Braxton will be suspended for 6 games after pleading guilty to a drunk-driving charge during the offseason. Braxton was suspended for two games in 2007 after a separate drunk-driving arrest. She was an All-Star that year. She also missed one game last year for her role in the Candace Parker-Plenette Pierson fight. Braxton averaged 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 33 games last season.