PHOENIX- Atlanta Dream heart Brittney Griner returned to PHX Enviornment after spending 11 years with the Phoenix Mercury throughout an emotion-filled Wednesday.
Griner had a huge impact with the Mercury over time, each actually and figuratively, and is understood for her defensive presence and scoring skills. She is second in Phoenix’s franchise historical past in factors scored (5,572), first in rebounds (2,322), blocks (812) and area aim proportion (56.2 %).
Griner: Nostalgia Strolling Inside Mercury’s Enviornment
Within the offseason, Griner was knowledgeable by the Mercury’s entrance workplace the group could be getting into “totally different instructions,” as Phoenix went on to accumulate Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally by means of sign-and-trade agreements.
“The enterprise half is at all times robust,” Griner stated pregame. “Particularly once you’ve been someplace so lengthy the place it looks like household and it’s exhausting to have these robust conversations typically. Nevertheless it’s simply all love. I’m completely happy for them and completely happy for myself as nicely. Every part all labored out.”
Griner talked about she had many feelings strolling inside the sector the place she used to play in entrance of the Mercury followers, often known as the X-Issue. As Phoenix performed a video tribute, followers cheered when the general public announcer stated Griner’s title. She then walked over to one in every of her ex-teammates, Mercury ahead DeWanna Bonner, and hugged her.
The Phoenix Mercury performed a tribute video for Brittney Griner forward of tonight’s recreation. #WNBA pic.twitter.com/YPu0yOUr41
— Aya Abdeen (@ayabdeen) July 24, 2025
Griner grew up in Houston, the place she performed highschool basketball for Nimitz Excessive Faculty and faculty basketball for Baylor. She led the Girl Bears to a Nationwide Championship in 2012 and had her jersey quantity retired simply final yr.
Relating to being nearer to her household, Griner revealed making a transition to Atlanta has been seamless, as she adjusts to a brand new system underneath first-year Dream head coach Karl Smesko.
“It’s (a bit simpler making a transition to Atlanta),” Griner stated. “You understand, my mother-in-law, my father-in-law, they’re there within the state. After which I’m nearer to get to my dad and mom as nicely, as a lot as we would like everyone to remain round so long as we are able to. They’re getting up in age, so it’s been good to get again to them and see them.”
Griner Shares Recollections with Longtime Teammate
Throughout her tenure in Phoenix, Griner shared notable recollections with Mercury legend Diana Taurasi, her longtime teammate.
Griner and Taurasi performed collectively and for Staff USA in three Olympics. Additionally they performed for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia, the place the duo received the Euroleague Girls’s championship in 2016.
“Dee (Diana Taurasi) means every part to me,” Griner informed Ballislife. “I imply, I don’t assume my profession could be the place it’s with out the , she’s taught me a lot on tips on how to be a greater basketball participant, a greater particular person, partner. I used to be along with her Abroad, Olympics. She’s been there all through, she’s at all times been a mentor to me. She most likely hates being known as that, I’m certain, however she’s at all times been a mentor, greatest pal and sister to me.”
In her return to the Valley, Griner delivered one in every of her greatest performances with the Dream to this point this season, scoring 17 factors and grabbing eight rebounds in Atlanta’s win over her former group. She and her teammate, Brionna Jones, have been an excessive amount of for the Phoenix Mercury when it comes to measurement and size benefits.
Taurasi and her spouse, former Mercury teammate Penny Taylor, and Griner’s spouse, Cherelle, and her son, Bash, have been in attendance on the recreation on Wednesday to see Griner’s return. Additionally they made an look on the ESPYs in Los Angeles, the place Taurasi obtained the ESPY Icons Award alongside Alex Morgan final Wednesday.
After the sport ended, Griner and Taurasi shared a second collectively alongside Taylor and Bonner, with smiles and laughter as they reminisced about their days as Mercury teammates. They have been additionally part of the 2014 WNBA Championship group, the place Phoenix had one in every of their greatest seasons in franchise historical past with 29-5 file.
Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor are at tonight’s Phoenix Mercury recreation. #WNBA pic.twitter.com/puezzIiykm
— Aya Abdeen (@ayabdeen) July 24, 2025
“Meant every part,” Griner stated. “Once I appeared over, I noticed Dee (Diana Taurasi) and Penny (Taylor) over there, I feel that type of ignited me just a little bit. Simply being again on the court docket that I principally began my profession on and performed the vast majority of, it simply felt good. Like the group, seeing acquainted faces, listening to previous tales, signing jerseys. It was a extremely good feeling. I stated I used to be going to carry my tears to the top, however they acquired me just a little bit.”
Mercury followers will eternally keep in mind Griner’s legacy for her scoring and defensive dominance. One among Griner’s subsequent stops sooner or later shall be in Knoxville, Tenn., when she will get inducted into the Girls’s Basketball Corridor of Fame.
