Phoenix mayor breaks nose at Mercury practice

PHOENIX (AP) -- A feel-good story and a photo opportunity left Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton with a broken nose.

Stanton practiced Monday with the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and ran drills with their practice squad. In one of the drills, Stanton went up for a rebound against the Mercury's Nakia Sanford and came down with a broken nose.

He was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital for a CT scan, and it was determined there that his nose was fractured in two places.

Stanton's office said the 42-year-old is in good spirits and will meet with a doctor to determine if further care is required. The mayor issued a statement saying "injuries are just part of the game -- they're battle wounds."

The Mercury return from the Olympic break with a home game Sunday.