By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-29 02:51:41 | Updated at 2025-01-30 07:15:35
1 day ago
After spending her entire WNBA career with the Phoenix Mercury, Brittney Griner has decided to change teams and signed with the Atlanta Dream in free agency, according to ESPN's Alexa Philippou and Shams Charania.
The decision was announced by Griner in a video showing her out on a fishing trip with some of her new teammates.
'So, free agency has been everything I wanted it to be, honestly. I was able to find where I wanted to go,' Griner explained.
'And honestly what led me to that decision ultimately was the team, the players as individuals, and then also my family. So I'm thrilled for this chapter, it's my first time going into free agency and it was cool.
'It was a hard decision, because you're leaving what you know - what I've known for my whole career. But there's also an exciting factor of like "ok this is like a rebrand now" I get to show them something different.'
Griner was selected first overall by Phoenix out of Baylor in the 2013 WNBA Draft and had remained there ever since - becoming a fixture in the organization.
Brittney Griner has agreed to a new contract with the Atlanta Dream in free agency
Griner was drafted by Phoenix in 2013 and had played her entire career there up until now
But now, the ten-time WNBA All-Star is off to Georgia to play for the Dream - joining stars like Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray.
Her decision to sign away from the Mercury comes on the same day that Phoenix pulled off a blockbuster trade.
Earlier in the day, the Mercury acquired five-time All Star Alyssa Thomas from the Connecticut Sun along with Ty Harris in exchange for Natasha Cloud, Rebecca Allen, and the 2025 No. 12 overall pick.
Griner's services were also under consideration with the Las Vegas Aces, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.
But after trading star guard Kelsey Plum to the Seattle Storm in exchange for guard Jewell Loyd, Las Vegas decided to consider other options.
It could signal a new era for the Mercury - who could be without not only Griner, but fellow franchise icon Diana Taurasi if she decides to retire his offseason.
Griner is one of the greatest players in the league's history with countless accolades across her eleven seasons in the WNBA.
In that time she's won a league title in 2014, was named an All-Star ten times, and led the league in blocks eight times. She was also named a two-time WNBA Peak Performer in 2017 and 2019.
Griner was wrongfully detained in Russia for ten months before being freed in a prisoner swap
Additionally, she's been named to the All-WNBA First Team three times, the All-WNBA Second Team three times, was named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year two times and was named to the All-WNBA Defensive First and Second teams a combined seven times.
In 2021, the WNBA named her to the league's 25th anniversary team - acknowledging the 25 best players to have taken the court in the WNBA.
Griner played in every WNBA season but 2022 - when she was wrongfully detained in Russia for ten months before being released in a prisoner swap.
Across her career so far, Griner's averaged 17.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game.
