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Report: Brittney Griner, Dream Agree to Contract After 11 WNBA Seasons with Mercury

Andrew PetersJanuary 29, 2025

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 13: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury reacts after hitting a three point shot during the game against the Connecticut Sun at Footprint Center on September 13, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Sun defeated the Mercury 88-69. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.  (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
Chris Coduto/Getty Images

Brittney Griner's time with the Phoenix Mercury has come to an end.

After 11 seasons in Phoenix, Griner is departing in free agency. Per ESPN's Shams Charania and Alexa Phillippou, the 10-time All-Star is taking her talents to the Atlanta Dream. Griner and the Dream agreed to a contract on Tuesday.

Khristina Williams @Khristina

Brittney Griner is heading to the Atlanta Dream. <a href="https://t.co/mLFQlQ1pWl">pic.twitter.com/mLFQlQ1pWl</a>

The Mercury selected Griner first overall in the 2013 WNBA draft after her tremendous collegiate career at Baylor and she immediately made an impact, putting up 12.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and three blocks per game to earn All-Rookie team honors. She also helped lead Phoenix to the WNBA conference finals in her first season.

In Year 2, Griner put up 15.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game, winning Defensive Player of the Year and earning All-WNBA honors. She was an integral part of the Mercury roster as they won their third WNBA championship in franchise history.

In her 11 years with Phoenix, Griner was named to 10 All-Star teams, three All-WNBA First Teams and three All-Defensive First Teams. She was the league's scoring leader in 2017 and 2019, putting up 21.9 and 20.7 points per game, respectively, and led the WNBA in blocks eight times.

Now, Griner will take her tremendous inside scoring and defensive presence to Atlanta as the Dream look to find success after years of struggle. Atlanta reached the playoffs the last two seasons, but have not won a postseason game since 2018. The Dream haven't won a playoff series since 2016.

Atlanta has plenty of talent with Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray leading the way, and now it has another star in Griner to help ring in a new era with Karl Smesko taking over as head coach.