Brittney Griner is leaving the Phoenix Mercury after 11 years with the group, ESPN’s Alexa Philipou first reported late Tuesday night time.
Her vacation spot? The Atlanta Dream. Griner agreed to a one-year take care of the Dream that received’t be made official till Saturday. Her determination to go away Phoenix and head to Atlanta comes just some hours after it was reported that longtime Connecticut Solar star Alyssa Thomas was headed to Phoenix as a part of a large commerce.
(The Solar will obtain Natasha Cloud, Rebecca Allen, and the 2025 No. 12 general choose from the Mercury, and in addition ship Ty Harris to Phoenix).
Brittney Griner heads to the Phoenix Mercury
At 34 years outdated, Griner just isn’t fairly the drive she as soon as was — however she’s nonetheless one of many WNBA’s elite facilities, having averaged 17.8 factors, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per sport final season. Griner is without doubt one of the league’s prime rim protectors and a formidable presence within the put up, who was probably the most highly-regarded free brokers in the marketplace.
Griner had been linked to a number of organizations, together with the Las Vegas Aces, however as an alternative lands in Atlanta, who was 15-25 final season. That Dream had been riddled with accidents final 12 months, however have an opportunity at establishing a brand new core round Rhyne Howard, Allisha Grey, Jordin Canada, and Griner subsequent season. Howard averaged 17.3 factors final season, Grey averaged 15.6 factors, and Canada averaged 10.6 factors and 5.8 assists.
All 4 gamers are at present enjoying in Unmatched, the brand new skilled 3-on-3 ladies’s basketball league in Miami, although Griner just isn’t at present teammates with any of her future Dream teammates. The Dream may also have a brand new head coach subsequent season, longtime FGCU coach Karl Smesko, who will change Tanisha Wright, who was fired this fall.
At Unmatched, Griner is a member of the Phantom Membership, alongside Natasha Cloud. However, whereas each had been anticipated to put on Mercury jerseys subsequent seasons, each will now play for brand-new organizations.
Unmatched helped facilitated Griner’s free company announcement
Griner first spoke about her determination to affix the Dream in a video of her fishing with Howard, Canada, and Grey on her day without work in Miami.
“Free company has been all the pieces I needed it to be,” Griner stated whereas on a ship with the Dream trio. “I used to be capable of finding the place I needed to go, and actually, what led me to that call finally was the crew, the gamers as people, and in addition my household. I’m thrilled for this chapter.”
Griner acknowledged that the selection to go away Phoenix was a troublesome one.
“You’re leaving what you realize — what I’ve recognized for my complete profession,” Griner stated. “However, there’s additionally the excited issue of — this is sort of a rebrand now. I get to point out one thing totally different.”
