PHOENIX -- Point guard Kristen Veal, counted on as a component of the Mercury's best backcourt in years, announced Tuesday that she was leaving Phoenix to return to her native Australia.

The announcement came a day before the Mercury play their first exhibition game -- against the Fever in Indianapolis.

The 21-year-old Veal cited personal reasons for giving up her third WNBA season.

"I feel as though I'm not able to give it 100 percent effort, and that isn't fair to either myself, the fans or my teammates," she said.

Veal is the second potential starter to decide not to play this year. Maria Stepanova, a 6-foot-8 center who missed last season because she was pregnant, told the team she would stay in Russia to care for her son.

"Certainly this is another setback," general manager Seth Sulka said. "Vealy has been a big part of what we were putting together here. But there is more to life than basketball, and we respect Vealy's decision. We hope she figures out whatever she needs to and can find that hunger that has served her so well."

Veal's mood may have been influenced by the strong early play of guard Tamicha Jackson, acquired April 24 with the No. 4 pick in the league's first dispersal draft.

Jackson, 25, a three-year veteran, averaged 9.8 points and 3.0 assists for Portland last season while Veal was struggling to recover from knee surgery that forced her to miss training camp and the first nine games of the regular season.

But coach John Shumate was considering using them together, with the 5-11 Veal bringing the ball upcourt but covering the other team's shooting guard.

In that scenario, the 5-6 Jackson's speed would have been essential to shadow a point guard on defense and penetrate from the wing on offense.