Mercedes Russell Bio: Net Worth, Salary, Boyfriend, and Professional Career

Mercedes Russell is an American basketball center in the WNBA. Standing at 6'6", Russell is primarily known for her height. She combines size, skill, and court intelligence to anchor and keep a power balance during the game. She was born on July 27 in 1995, in Springfield, Oregon, and is 29 years old. She was declared as a standout player at the University of Tennessee where she earned First-Team All-SEC honors and was recognized as a WBCA All American Honorable Mention in her senior year.
She was selected as the 22nd overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty, Russell found her professional stride with the Seattle Storm. In 2025, she signed with the Los Angeles Sparks, bringing with her veteran leadership, a defensive mindset, and a winning attitude. She is largely known for her efficient scoring, rebounding ability, and shot blocking. Under new Sparks coach Lynne Roberts, Russell has expressed the desire to stretch her offensive game beyond the paint, indicating she's aiming to add a few three pointers to her arsenal during the 2025 season.

Mercedes Russell's Early Life

Mercedes Russell's full name is Mercedes Briann Russell and was born on July 27, 1995, in Springfield, Oregon to parents Tammy Hill and Lorenzo Russell. Growing up she developed an early love for basketball, which helped her in defining much of her youth and career. From a young age, she showed natural athletic talent and due to her extraordinary height, basketball proved to be an advantageous sport for her. She attended Springfield High School where she became one of the most dominant prep players in the country. It is interesting to note that while she shoots right handed but writes with her left hand. She has often mentioned Candace Parker to be her role model. She also joined Kelley Cain and Vonda Ward as the three tallest players in UT history 6-6. She majored and graduated with a degree in communication studies. She is also the recipient of the Betty J. Basler Winners' Circle Scholarship and the Randall Keith Nutt Athletic Scholarship Endowment.

Mercedes Russell's Personal Information

Russell started her basketball journey at Springfield High School, where she led her team to two state championships and was honored as the Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2013, making her the nation’s top-ranked recruit. She went on to play college basketball at the University of Tennessee, where she was a key part of the Lady Vols, known for her rebounding and defensive capabilities. After an incredible collegiate career, she was selected 22nd overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty, but found her abode in the Seattle Storm, where she became a WNBA champion in 2018 and 2020.

In 2025, Mercedes signed with the Los Angeles Sparks, bringing with her a wealth of experience, defensive skill, and interior strength. Off the court, she is known for her quiet demeanor and strong work ethic. Despite keeping her personal life private, she continues to serve as a role model for young athletes, especially post players looking to impact the game through discipline and team play.

Mercedes Russell's Personal Life

Much of the personal life of Russell is not disclosed. She has been said to be goal-oriented and has shown a strong work ethic to the utmost level during her time off court. During her collegiate years, back when she was 17, she volunteered on behalf of Oregon Amateur Basketball, the Special Olympics, a community beautification project, and an elementary literacy-outreach program. She also donated her time coaching youth basketball and serving the needy during the holidays. She has also maintained a 3.15 GPA during her time at Tennessee.

Mercedes Russell's Parents

Mercedes Russell parents Tammy Hill and Lorenzo Russell, have been extremely supportive of their daughter. Tammy Hill is deeply supportive of her daughter’s basketball aspirations. In 2018, Tammy launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking funds to attend Mercedes’s WNBA draft in New York, demonstrating her commitment and pride in her daughter’s achievements. She is originally from Clackamas Community College, and continues to reside in Springfield, Oregon, where she remains an active presence in her daughter's life. Her father, Lorenzo Russell, has been acknowledged in biographical profiles, but there is limited public information regarding him. There is well well-known public involvement of Russell's mother in her life. Mercedes is often seen posting and celebrating special moments like birthdays and draft events, highlighting the closeness between the dynamics of a mother-daughter relationship.

Mercedes Russell's Contract

Mercedes Russell began her WNBA career in 2018 after being selected 22nd overall by the New York Liberty. Mercedes Russell salary that year was approximately $41,965. However, soon after she was waived early in the season and quickly picked up by the Seattle Storm, where she retained the same rookie-scale salary. Russell contract remained through the 2020 season, with her salary increasing incrementally each year—from $41,965 in 2019 to $57,000 in 2020 and $70,040 in 2021 as understood by spotrac.

In February 2022, after following a successful stint with Seattle that included two WNBA championships (2018 and 2020), she signed a three-year contract extension worth $480,000 total, averaging $160,000 per year. This deal positioned her as a key contributor in Seattle’s frontcourt rotation, reflecting both her growth as a player and the team's trust in her defensive capabilities and veteran presence.

After completing her extension in 2024, Russell entered free agency. After which, Mercedes Russell's contract is now with the Los Angeles Sparks for the 2025 season worth $160,000. This move kept her at the WNBA’s veteran maximum base salary, underlining her consistency and value in the league. Across her career to date, she has earned an estimated $809,005 in total WNBA salary, steadily progressing from a second-round pick to a dependable center known for her rebounding, rim protection, and professionalism.

Mercedes Russell's Salary

Mercedes Russell salary in 2025 is $160,000 with the Sparks. Her career earnings through 2024 were $649,005. The estimated career total in addition to the 2025 earnings is $809,005. She has been ranked as the 8th among the top-paid centers in 2025. Her salary reflects veteran maximum status and strong frontcourt value. The table below distributes the information related to the salary of the 6-ft-6 center.

Mercedes Russell's Net Worth

Mercedes Russell net worth is reported to be around $800,000, a figure that understandably highlights her tremendous career earnings and stems mostly from her time in basketball. These net worth figures shared are estimated. However, there is no public data available about her net worth.

She netted $160,000 in the 2025 season with a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Sparks, demonstrating her continued mark as a valued center. Russel’s prior seasons with the Seattle Storm and her international play in Australia add to her financial picture as well. While official figures on Mercedes Russell net worth are not widely publicized, her steady salary history, sustained presence in the league, and dedication towards the sport she loves show that she has been able to manage a comfortable living.

Mercedes Russell's Career

Mercedes Russell's spanning more than 7 years has seen some of the most incredible highlights in the various seasons. In 2018 she was drafted by New York Liberty in the second round. After making her WNBA debut with the Liberty, she was waived and soon after picked up by Seattle Storm. In 2019, Russell signed with the newly rebranded Southside Flyers in Australia's WNBL. From 2018-204 she played with Seattle Storm. On February 11, 2025, she signed with the Los Angeles Sparks.

Mercedes Russell's High School Career

Mercedes Russell studied in Springfield High School in Springfield, Oregon and her jersey number was 21. She accumulated 2,273 career points, 1,642 rebounds, and 562 blocks, ranking among the all-time leaders in Oregon girls' basketball. Her senior averages were 25.1 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 5.5 BPG, along with 3.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game, shooting a stellar 70.3% from the field. She was coached from her sophomore year by Bill Wagner, who helped her evolve from a finesse player into a dominant interior threat by building confidence and assertiveness. Mercedes Russell's stats while she was in high school is as follows:

Mercedes Russell's College Career

Mercedes Russell's college was the University of Tennessee. Where she played four seasons for the Lady Vols, excluding 2014–15, when she redshirted due to injury. As a freshman, she made an immediate impact, averaging 6.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting a highly efficient 59.6% from the field. After recovering from injury, Russell emerged as a consistent force in the SEC: in 2015–16, she posted 9.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, earning securement as a key starter.

Her junior year and senior year seasons saw her peak performance—she averaged 16.1 PPG and 9.7 RPG in her redshirt-junior year to earn All-SEC honors and led the league in double-doubles with 19. By her senior year, she maintained elite production with 15.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. According to WNBA, Over 136 collegiate games, Russell averaged 11.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game, with a career shooting percentage of 57.0% from the field—frequently leading Tennessee as both a scorer and a defensive anchor. Mercedes Russell's stats while she was with the Lady Vols are given below:

Mercedes Russell's Professional Career

Mercedes Russell began her WNBA journey in 2018 and was drafted as the 22nd overall by the New York Liberty before being picked up by the Seattle Storm, where she quickly became a key contributor. During her tenure with the Seattle Storm, Russell helped the team secure two WNBA championships (2018 and 2020) and earned a Commissioner's Cup title in 2021. She is known for her efficiency and physical presence, she averaged 4.9 PPG and 4.0 RPG over seven seasons, shooting over 52% from the field. In February 2025, she signed with the Los Angeles Sparks in February 2025.

Mercedes Russell's Awards and Achievements

Mercedes dominated as a high school standout, earning national player of the year and AAU MVP honors in 2013. She excelled at Tennessee with First-Team All-SEC recognition and Honorable Mention All-American honors before being drafted in 2018. She also became a two-time WNBA champion, contributing to dominant Storm teams in 2018 and 2020. Along with that, she also helped Seattle win the Commissioner’s Cup in 2021, adding depth to their postseason win. She also expanded her international legacy by winning the Australian WNBL championship and MVP in 2024, showcasing her global impact.

The following are the list of her awards and achievements.