Brittney Griner is starting a new chapter with the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA after over 12 years in the league. She aims to prove her worth amid significant changes in the league.
After more than 12 years in the WNBA, Brittney Griner has a new opportunity with the Connecticut Sun — and something to prove.
Coming off an off year with the Dream, the former Baylor star believes she still has plenty to offer in a league undergoing massive change.
"A lot of people counting me out, want to call me old, want to set me to retire and s—," Griner said on ION TV. "But I'm not. I got a lot to go, and this team is bringing a lot out of me.”
Griner signed a one-year deal with the Sun after spending last season in Atlanta. Before that, she played the majority of her career with the Mercury. The move from Phoenix to Atlanta was not easy, and Griner has been open about how difficult that transition was.
"That transition from Phoenix to Atlanta for me, you know, I'll be honest, it was rough for me, a little bit, you know, the mental side of it," Griner told . "It was different. I'd been somewhere basically my whole career, and that was definitely, it was tough for me. It was an adjustment.
Q&A
What team is Brittney Griner joining for the upcoming WNBA season?
Brittney Griner is joining the Connecticut Sun for the upcoming WNBA season.
How long has Brittney Griner played in the WNBA?
Brittney Griner has played in the WNBA for over 12 years.
What challenges did Brittney Griner face in her previous season?
Brittney Griner had an off year with the Dream before joining the Connecticut Sun.
Why is Brittney Griner's next season in the WNBA significant?
Her next season is significant as she aims to prove her value in a league that is undergoing massive changes.
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"But I feel really good about this. I'm in the right headspace. I feel like I went into it, and I knew what I wanted. I knew what I was looking for. You don't know what you don't know until you know. And I know this is what I want. And this was the right place."
Connecticut offers Griner a fresh start and a chance to reset at this stage of her career. The 10-time All-Star and eight-time blocks leader joins a young Sun squad that includes Aneesah Morrow and Aaliyah Edwards.
There is also a bigger-picture angle to Griner's move. The Sun are relocating to Houston next season, giving Griner a potential homecoming in her native state if she can help build something meaningful this year.
Griner believes she still has more left. The Sun believe it, too.
Why Brittney Griner remains one of the WNBA's most important stars
Even at 35, Griner still has a commanding presence in the paint and remains one of the league's toughest players to guard. At 6-9 with a 7-4 wingspan, she can still impact the game as both a defensive anchor and an offensive force around the basket.
That size has long made Griner one of the WNBA's toughest matchups. According to Across the Timeline, general managers named Griner one of the hardest players to game plan against for several years, including a five-year stretch in which she was the top choice.
Despite averaging a career-low 9.8 points and 5.2 rebounds last season, Griner has shown she can still produce at a high level. Just two years ago, she averaged 17.8 points and 6.6 rebounds.
If she is healthy and motivated, Griner could still be a force — a dangerous possibility for a Sun team many around the league are already counting out.
What Griner brings to the court entering the new WNBA season
With Tina Charles retired, Griner gives the Connecticut Sun something they badly need: veteran leadership.
Charles leaves behind a major void as one of the league's greatest rebounders and most accomplished frontcourt players. Griner cannot replace Charles' exact resume, but she can give Connecticut a proven interior presence and a steady voice for a young roster.
It also helps that Griner spent most of her career alongside Diana Taurasi, one of the best leaders in WNBA history. That experience should matter as the Sun try to build a new identity.
"Some of my best leaders shared their experiences, grabbed me, pulled me underneath their wing, and I'm looking to do the same thing," Griner said via CT Insider.
"We expect her to be who she is, so a strong presence on both ends of the floor, and to bring her experiences, her leadership, her positive leadership," Sun head coach Rachid Meziane said. "I have a lot of respect for her and who she is."
Griner remains a top-tier rim protector and reliable shot blocker, giving the Sun a defensive anchor in the paint.
Her size and timing also make her a valuable matchup against elite frontcourt scorers, especially when Connecticut needs someone who can challenge shots without giving up easy position inside.
