Mayor of Phoenix Greg Stanton -- BREAKS NOSE at WNBA Practice

The WNBA is not for pansies ... just ask the Mayor of Phoenix ... who BROKE HIS NOSE IN TWO PLACES during a practice session with the Phoenix Mercury!!!

It all went down just a few hours ago in AZ ... when Mayor Greg Stanton was running drills with several Mercury players.

He looked good at first ... quick, spry ... but things went to hell quickly when Stanton (6'1", 185 lbs) went up for a rebound against Nakia Sanford (6'3", 205 lbs ... all muscle) ... and took an elbow to the face ... breaking his nose in two places.

Stanton was taken to a nearby hospital where he was treated and released.

The Mayor later issued a statement saying, "Injuries are just part of the game -- they're battle wounds."

We spoke with Mercury coach Corey Gaines who tells us, "It was hilarious ... you can't script it any better."

Gaines says the 5-on-5 match-up was at the Mayor's request ... because he felt confident after sinking several 10-foot jumpers during drills.

Coach says the Mayor insisted he could hang with ladies because he has prior "rec-league experience."

Coach says he warned the Mayor about the risks of stepping on the hardwood with the pros ... telling him, "They're not girls ... they're women."

True.