WNBA Star Brittney Griner to Sign With Atlanta Dream in Free Agency

Longtime Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner is headed to a new WNBA team for the first time in her legendary career.
Aug 1, 2024; Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France; United States centre Brittney Griner (15) looks on at halftime against Belgium in a women’s group stage game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-Imagn Images
Aug 1, 2024; Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France; United States centre Brittney Griner (15) looks on at halftime against Belgium in a women’s group stage game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-Imagn Images / John David Mercer-Imagn Images

The WNBA's landscape has shifted drastically on January 28.

This started when it was announced that longtime Connecticut Sun superstar Alyssa Thomas would be heading to the Phoenix Mercury via trade.

The prospect of Thomas and longtime Sun center Brittney Griner, who might go down as the greatest post player in WNBA history, was terrifying for opposing fanbases to imagine. But they need not worry about that any longer, as ESPN's Alexa Philippou broke news on Tuesday evening that Griner has signed with the Atlanta Dream.

"After 11 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, 10-time WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner has agreed to a one-year deal with the Atlanta Dream," Philippou wrote.

"Griner, who spent her entire career in Phoenix after being drafted No. 1 overall in 2013, heads to Atlanta in one of the most stunning free agency signings in league history."

The article later added, "The Las Vegas Aces also looked at signing Griner, sources told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, in their long-standing effort to find another big to play alongside A'ja Wilson. But after acquiring former Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd and evaluating their style of play moving forward, sources said the Aces have turned their attention to other post players such as Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and trying to re-sign veterans Tiffany Hayes and Alysha Clark."

It's also worth noting that this deal isn't official, as signing can't actually occur until February 1. But ESPN reporting it means that it's all but guaranteed.

Griner joining the Dream is surprising, if only because they weren't one of the WNBA's elite teams last season and Griner is likely looking to compete for more championships before she retires.

However, with Griner, Allisha Gray, and Rhyne Howard, a new big three has emerged in Atlanta.


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Grant Young
GRANT YOUNG

Grant Young covers Women’s Basketball, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco (USF), where he also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and played on USF’s Division I baseball team for five years. However, he now prefers Angel Reese to Angels in the Outfield.