WNBA superstar Brittney Griner is making a big move! After spending her entire 11-year career with the Phoenix Mercury, the All-Star center has agreed to a one-year deal with the Atlanta Dream. The contract will become official on February 1, when WNBA player signings begin.
Griner announced her decision in an Instagram video alongside her new teammates, Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Jordin Canada. “Free agency has been everything I wanted it to be,” she said. “I’m thrilled for this chapter.”
Brittney Griner’s Legacy with the Phoenix Mercury
Griner leaves behind an incredible legacy in Phoenix. Since being drafted first overall in 2013, she has achieved numerous milestones, including:
- 2014 WNBA Champion
- 10-time WNBA All-Star
- 6-time All-WNBA Team honoree
- 7-time All-Defensive Team honoree
- 2-time Defensive Player of the Year
- 2-time WNBA scoring champion
- 8-time league leader in blocks
She also holds the Mercury’s all-time records for blocks (812), rebounds (2,322), and field goal percentage (56.2%).
Despite her success, Griner made it clear that the decision to leave Phoenix was not easy. “It was a hard decision … leaving what I’ve known for my whole career. But there’s also the exciting factor of like, ‘OK, this is a rebrand now, I get to show them something different,’” she explained.
A Fresh Start with the Atlanta Dream
Griner’s move to the Dream comes after a solid 2024 season, where she averaged 17.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 30 games. The Mercury improved from a 9-31 record in 2023 to a 19-21 finish in 2024, earning a playoff spot but ultimately losing in the first round to the Minnesota Lynx.
With Atlanta, Griner joins a young and talented team looking to rise in the WNBA standings. Her experience and dominant presence in the paint will add a new level of competitiveness to the Dream.
End of an Era: Griner and Taurasi Part Ways
Griner’s departure also marks the end of her longtime partnership with WNBA legend Diana Taurasi. The duo played 11 seasons together, winning the 2014 WNBA championship and multiple Olympic gold medals.
Taurasi, 42, is now an unrestricted free agent and has hinted at retirement. Her future with the Mercury remains uncertain, especially after Phoenix made a major trade for five-time All-Star Alyssa Thomas from the Connecticut Sun.
Griner’s Impact Beyond Basketball
Griner’s influence goes beyond the court. She made global headlines in 2022 when she was detained in Russia for nearly 10 months after authorities claimed to have found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. She was released in a prisoner exchange on December 8, 2022.
Throughout her ordeal, Taurasi was one of the loudest voices advocating for Griner’s safe return. “There’s no one like her in women’s basketball,” Taurasi said in 2023. “How she affects the game with her size and skill is unmatched.”
Brittney Griner’s move to the Atlanta Dream signals the start of an exciting new chapter in her career. While leaving Phoenix was a tough choice, she’s eager to make her mark with a fresh team. Fans will be watching closely to see how Griner’s presence impacts Atlanta and whether this move will lead to another deep playoff run.
Meanwhile, the Mercury are entering a transition phase, with Taurasi’s future uncertain and new talent coming in. No matter what happens next, Griner’s legacy in Phoenix is cemented, and her impact on the WNBA continues to grow.
