PHOENIX- Atlanta Dream middle Brittney Griner returned to PHX Enviornment after spending 11 years with the Phoenix Mercury throughout an emotion-filled Wednesday.
Griner had a big effect with the Mercury over time, each actually and figuratively, and is thought 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 staff can be getting in “completely different instructions,” as Phoenix went on to amass Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally via sign-and-trade agreements.
“The enterprise half is at all times powerful,” Griner mentioned pregame. “Particularly once you’ve been someplace so lengthy the place it looks like household and it’s arduous to have these powerful conversations typically. However it’s simply all love. I’m glad for them and glad for myself as properly. Every little thing all labored out.”
Griner talked about she had many feelings strolling inside the world the place she used to play in entrance of the Mercury followers, also called the X-Issue. As Phoenix performed a video tribute, followers cheered when the general public announcer mentioned Griner’s identify. She then walked over to one among her ex-teammates, Mercury ahead DeWanna Bonner, and hugged her.
The Phoenix Mercury performed a tribute video for Brittney Griner forward of tonight’s sport. #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 school basketball for Baylor. She led the Woman Bears to a Nationwide Championship in 2012 and had her jersey quantity retired simply final yr.
In the case of being nearer to her household, Griner revealed making a transition to Atlanta has been seamless, as she adjusts to a brand new system beneath first-year Dream head coach Karl Smesko.
“It’s (a bit simpler making a transition to Atlanta),” Griner mentioned. “, my mother-in-law, my father-in-law, they’re there within the state. After which I’m nearer to get to my mother and father as properly, as a lot as we wish all people 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 Reminiscences with Longtime Teammate
Throughout her tenure in Phoenix, Griner shared notable reminiscences with Mercury legend Diana Taurasi, her longtime teammate.
Griner and Taurasi performed collectively and for Crew USA in three Olympics. Additionally they performed for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia, the place the duo gained the Euroleague Girls’s championship in 2016.
“Dee (Diana Taurasi) means the whole lot to me,” Griner advised Ballislife. “I imply, I don’t suppose my profession can be the place it’s with out the you already know, she’s taught me a lot on how you can be a greater basketball participant, a greater particular person, partner. I used to be along with her Abroad, Olympics. She’s been there throughout, 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 among 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 staff. She and her teammate, Brionna Jones, have been an excessive amount of for the Phoenix Mercury by way of dimension 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 sport on Wednesday to see Griner’s return. Additionally they made an look on the ESPYs in Los Angeles, the place Taurasi acquired 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 staff, the place Phoenix had one among their greatest seasons in franchise historical past with 29-5 file.
Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor are at tonight’s Phoenix Mercury sport. #WNBA pic.twitter.com/puezzIiykm
— Aya Abdeen (@ayabdeen) July 24, 2025
“Meant the whole lot,” Griner mentioned. “After I regarded over, I noticed Dee (Diana Taurasi) and Penny (Taylor) over there, I feel that form of ignited me slightly bit. Simply being again on the court docket that I principally began my profession on and performed nearly all of, it simply felt good. Like the group, seeing acquainted faces, listening to previous tales, signing jerseys. It was a extremely good feeling. I mentioned I used to be going to carry my tears to the tip, however they bought me slightly bit.”
Mercury followers will without end keep in mind Griner’s legacy for her scoring and defensive dominance. One among Griner’s subsequent stops in the future will probably be in Knoxville, Tenn., when she will get inducted into the Girls’s Basketball Corridor of Fame.
