Brittney Griner, a 10-time WNBA All-Star and 2014 WNBA champion, has found a new home for the 2025 season.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Alexa Philippou, Griner has committed to a one-year contract with the Atlanta Dream after spending her first 11 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury.
The move for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft will not be official until Saturday, when contracts may be signed.
Although the Las Vegas Aces pursued Griner, they ultimately traded for Jewell Loyd from the Seattle Storm, focussing more on other post players. This ultimately opened the path for Atlanta to make its move.
This is without a doubt Atlanta’s largest free agency signing since its inception in 2008. Despite earning three WNBA Finals trips in its first six seasons, the Dream have not won a game since 2018. With 2022 No. 1 overall pick Rhyne Howard and two-time WNBA All-Star Allisha Grey already on the team, Griner provides Atlanta with a post presence as she has averaged 17.7 points, 56.2% shooting, and 7.4 rebounds over her career.
Griner has played at an elite level since being released in a prisoner swap after her unjust detention in Russia, which lasted over ten months and cost her the entire 2022 season.
With former Florida Gulf Coast head coach Karl Smesko taking over for Tanisha Wright, the 2025 season will see several significant changes for the franchise.
Griner’s decision may not be the only one that makes news in the Mercury. With veteran Dianna Taurasi unclear about her future, this might be the beginning of a new era for the Mercury franchise, which last won the championship in 2014.
This is shaping up to be an exciting season for the Dream, thanks to a historic free agent signing. If Griner continues where she left off with the Mercury, anticipate the Dream to be strong competitors throughout the season, putting an end to their recent problems.