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 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 discipline purpose share (56.2 p.c).
Griner: Nostalgia Strolling Inside Mercury’s Enviornment
Within the offseason, Griner was knowledgeable by the Mercury’s entrance workplace the staff could be getting in “completely different instructions,” as Phoenix went on to amass Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally by sign-and-trade agreements.
“The enterprise half is all the time powerful,” Griner mentioned pregame. “Particularly whenever you’ve been someplace so lengthy the place it appears like household and it’s arduous to have these powerful conversations typically. Nevertheless it’s simply all love. I’m comfortable for them and comfortable for myself as effectively. Every little thing 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, 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 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 College 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.
On the subject 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. “You already know, 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 effectively, as a lot as we would like all people to remain round so long as we will. 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 Staff 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 every part to me,” Griner informed Ballislife. “I imply, I don’t suppose my profession could be the place it’s with out the you already know, she’s taught me a lot on methods to be a greater basketball participant, a greater particular person, partner. I used to be together with her Abroad, Olympics. She’s been there right through, she’s all the time been a mentor to me. She in all probability hates being known as that, I’m certain, however she’s all the time been a mentor, finest pal and sister to me.”
In her return to the Valley, Griner delivered one in every of her finest performances with the Dream thus far 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 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 staff, the place Phoenix had one in every of their finest 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 mentioned. “After I appeared over, I noticed Dee (Diana Taurasi) and Penny (Taylor) over there, I feel that sort of ignited me slightly bit. Simply being again on the courtroom 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 very good feeling. I mentioned I used to be going to carry my tears to the top, however they obtained me slightly bit.”
Mercury followers will ceaselessly keep in mind Griner’s legacy for her scoring and defensive dominance. One among Griner’s subsequent stops in the future shall be in Knoxville, Tenn., when she will get inducted into the Girls’s Basketball Corridor of Fame.
