This WNBA season is going to be an absolute shuffle-fest. With bigs in free agency, and stars moving left and right, it was bound to be epic. First, we got Kelsey Plum heading to the Sparks and Jewell Loyd joining the Aces, and now, Brittney Griner is heading to the Atlanta Dream. And she looks quite happy as she confirms the news along with her new teammates.
But honestly, Griner leaving Phoenix wasn’t exactly on anyone’s bingo card. She’s spent all 11 seasons with the Mercury, always re-signing, always happy. This time, though, she decided to test free agency, and here we are. Losing Griner, who put up 17.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game last season, is a major hit for Phoenix, especially if Diana Taurasi calls it a career.
That’s two of their top three scorers gone, leaving Kahleah Copper to carry the load. For Atlanta, though? This is huge. They desperately needed size, and now they’ve got a 6’7 star big to pair with Rhyne Howard.
Meanwhile, the baller herself looks quite excited about her new journey. Right after the move hit the Internet she broke her silence and in style. From a boat with her new teammates Allisha Gray, Jordin Canada, and Howard, Griner confirmed the news, saying, “I need to introduce my new teammates as I’ll be joining them.”
View this post on Instagram
In the video, Griner opened up about her free agency experience. “Free agency has been everything I wanted it to be. I was able to find where I wanted to go,” she shared. She revealed that her decision was based on the team, the players, and her family.
The star also admitted that it wasn’t easy but it feels like a “rebrand.” Captioning the announcement with “New City. New Journey. New Series,” the center made it clear she’s ready for her next big adventure.
At the same time, the Phoenix Mercury is already scrambling to fill the void, reportedly eyeing two-time WNBA All-Star Satou Sabally. If they land them, maybe, just maybe, losing Griner won’t sting as much. But for now, the Dream, a team that won just 15 games last season, must be thrilled.
The post Brittney Griner Breaks Silence on Phoenix Departure as Mercury Target 2x WNBA All-Star appeared first on EssentiallySports.
