Brittney Griner is leaving the Phoenix Mercury after 11 years with the group, ESPN’s Alexa Philipou first reported late Tuesday evening.
Her vacation spot? The Atlanta Dream. Griner agreed to a one-year take care of the Dream that gained’t be made official till Saturday. Her resolution to depart 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 an enormous commerce.
(The Solar will obtain Natasha Cloud, Rebecca Allen, and the 2025 No. 12 general decide 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At 34 years outdated, Griner just isn’t fairly the drive she as soon as was — however she’s nonetheless one of many WNBA’s elite facilities, having averaged 17.8 factors, 6.6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 recreation final season. Griner is without doubt one of the league’s high rim protectors and a formidable presence within the publish, who was one of the vital 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 presently enjoying in Unequalled, the brand new skilled 3-on-3 ladies’s basketball league in Miami, although Griner just isn’t presently teammates with any of her future Dream teammates. The Dream can even have a brand new head coach subsequent season, longtime FGCU coach Karl Smesko, who will exchange Tanisha Wright, who was fired this fall.
At Unequalled, 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.
Unequalled helped facilitated Griner’s free company announcement
Griner first spoke about her resolution to hitch the Dream in a video of her fishing with Howard, Canada, and Grey on her break day in Miami.
“Free company has been every thing I wished it to be,” Griner mentioned whereas on a ship with the Dream trio. “I used to be capable of finding the place I wished to go, and actually, what led me to that call in the end was the staff, the gamers as people, and in addition my household. I’m thrilled for this chapter.”
Griner acknowledged that the selection to depart Phoenix was a tough one.
“You’re leaving what you realize — what I’ve identified for my entire profession,” Griner mentioned. “However, there’s additionally the excited issue of — this is sort of a rebrand now. I get to indicate one thing completely different.”
