Brittney Griner’s lasting legacy in Phoenix

Champion. Community Leader. Changemaker. Diana Taurasi’s Partner in Crime.

Most Dominant Center Ever.

Brittney Griner leaves behind quite a legacy in The Valley.

 

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BREAKING: Brittney Griner is signing with the Atlanta Dream after 11 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, per @ShamsCharania and @alexaphilippou pic.twitter.com/CmPHihzd75

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 29, 2025

Since being drafted first overall in 2013: 10-time All-Star, 2-time DPOY, 3-time All-WNBA First Team, 2-time scoring champion, 8-time blocks leader.

Not to mention third in all-time WNBA blocks and second in all-time Mercury scoring.

Griner somehow surpassed the hype she generated at Baylor, where she was an NCAA Champion and 2-time Naismith Player of the Year.

Far beyond the on-court success and accolades, though, Brittney Griner loves Phoenix as much as any superstar has loved their city.

She’s shown it through community events like her Heart & Sole Shoe Drive and she showed it when the community fought for her return from wrongful Russian detainment.

 

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Brittney Griner introduced in front of the home crowd in Phoenix…

I know it’s preseason, but I got chills…

BG is back.@Sports360AZ @brittneygriner #WNBATwitter pic.twitter.com/yZ8TqFFUsR

— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) May 13, 2023

Griner’s class through some of the most hateful treatment I’ve witnessed an athlete, or person, receive on an international scale upon her return from Russia was truly remarkable. She not only returned – but she played at an All-Star level again.

Here’s the thing about Brittney: she’s the kind of person that always focuses on the positive. She also sticks by her word, so when she said she’s gonna work to bring other wrongful detainees home, she meant it.

Through her Bring Our Families Home campaign, Griner has already helped bring back detainees like Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and ex-marine Paul Whelan, and she isn’t done yet.

Every season she spent in Arizona she led with an energy and eagerness that was contagious to the entire franchise.

Her ability on the court is otherworldly; who she is as a person is what will stick with me, and Phoenix, forever.

 

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“WE OUT!”

Forever thankful for ⁦@brittneygriner⁩’s energy.

Every game, every presser, every interview – always classy, hilarious, & personable.

Her heart shined through every time.

Phoenix will always love BG. pic.twitter.com/62JaiZz9Xu

— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) January 29, 2025

She’s the ying to Taurasi’s yang. Their relationship is special – a true sisterhood.

Their leadership styles balanced each other out; Taurasi the ship’s captain and Griner the glue that held the ship together.

The GOAT and the Glue.

With Taurasi’s likely retirement around the corner, it’s fitting that both of them start new chapters as the Mercury looks toward the future with Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas leading the charge.

As Griner prepares to dream big in the Peach State, and continue to smash records, she knows she’ll always have a home in The Valley.