Forward of Workforce USA’s first sport, SB Nation is introducing every of the 12 members of the US Olympic Girls’s Basketball group this week. Right here’s what you must learn about Brittney Griner, a two-time gold medalist who’s lengthy been a defensive anchor.
Quick Info
Workforce: Phoenix Mercury (13-12)
2024 Common Season Stats: 18.3 factors (56%), 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 blocks
Place: Middle
Draft Class: 2013, choose #1
All-Star Alternatives: 10 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Earlier Olympic Appearances: 2x Olympic Gold Medalist (2016, 2020)
Faculty: Baylor – gained NCAA championship in 2012
After spending a 12 months in Russian captivity, Griner is especially proud to symbolize USA
Brittney Griner was enjoying basketball abroad with the Russian Premier League when she was arrested for possession of lower than a gram of medically prescribed hash oil. After an unsure and public detainment that spanned ten months, she was launched in a highly-publicized prisoner change for Russian arms seller Viktor Bout.
It’s been a 12 months and a half since her return to the US, and this will likely be her first Olympics competitors because the detainment. So, whereas Griner already has two gold medals beneath her belt, she advised reporters that the prospect to symbolize the US post-detainment is additional particular now.
“It at all times meant every thing to me,” Griner stated, by way of andscape.com. “My dad fought for our nation. He’s a Marine… So, it’s at all times been one thing that we’ve at all times cherished, however now much more so. My nation actually saved my life and I’m capable of symbolize them once more and it simply means a lot extra.”
Griner detailed her expertise in Russia and, and the following re-acclimation, in her ebook, Coming House, which got here out in Might 2024. Diana Taurasi, who Griner has been teammates with for her whole WNBA profession, praised her for competing within the Olympics.
“What BG’s gone by means of within the final couple of years is clearly unprecedented,” Taurasi stated by way of GMA Community. “For her to have the ability to come again, to get on that flight, to come back abroad, it was a giant second for her in lots of methods. However I’m glad she did it as a result of she’s a exceptional individual.”
Brittney Griner has dunked (approach) greater than any WNBA participant
Griner has dunked 26 instances in-game — a feat that no different WNBA participant has achieved greater than twice. In reality, in her first sport as knowledgeable, she grew to become the primary participant to ever win
The one different lively participant who has dunked in-game is the Liberty’s Jonquel Jones.
However the 6’9 heart has been capable of dunk since she was a junior in highschool — a compilation YouTube video of her dunking as an adolescent truly garnered 6.6 million views. Her impression on the ladies’s sport definitely hasn’t been restricted to dunking, however Griner fully modified how ladies dunking has been perceived.
She doesn’t dunk each sport, however final 12 months, she dunked twice within the All-Star sport.
“I known as my knees and talked to them and gave them a bit of pep speak,” she stated afterwards, per Simply Girls Sports activities.
At her prime, Griner was the most effective defensive gamers in WNBA historical past
Griner’s potential defensive impression was clear from a younger age; as a freshman at Baylor, her 223 blocks set the all-time single-season file in NCAA historical past.
That defensive prowess seamlessly translated to the WNBA. The 32-year-old was named Defensive Participant of the 12 months twice — in 2014 and 2015 — and was named the All-Defensive Workforce seven instances — in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2019, and 2021.
She has the third-most profession blocks in WNBA historical past (766) and could possibly be a couple of wholesome years away from first place. Margo Dydek, who was the tallest participant in WNBA historical past at 7’2, is all-time blocks chief in WNBA historical past with 877. If Griner can play late into her mid-thirties, she’s well-positioned to turn into the league’s all-time block chief. A probably longer WNBA season transferring ahead might additionally assist Griner’s case.
