WNBA superstar Brittney Griner agrees Atlanta Dream deal in shock move after 11 years with Phoenix Mercury

After spending her full WNBA vocation with the Phoenix Mercury, Brittney Griner has decided to alteration teams and signed with the Atlanta Dream successful escaped agency, according to ESPN's Alexa Philippou and Shams Charania. 

The determination was announced by Griner successful a video showing her retired connected a sportfishing travel with immoderate of her caller teammates.

'So, escaped bureau has been everything I wanted it to be, honestly. I was capable to find wherever I wanted to go,' Griner explained.

'And honestly what led maine to that determination yet was the team, the players arsenic individuals, and past besides my family. So I'm thrilled for this chapter, it's my archetypal clip going into escaped bureau and it was cool. 

'It was a hard decision, due to the fact that you're leaving what you cognize - what I've known for my full career. But there's besides an breathtaking origin of similar "ok this is similar a rebrand now" I get to amusement them thing different.'

Griner was selected archetypal wide by Phoenix retired of Baylor successful the 2013 WNBA Draft and had remained determination ever since - becoming a fixture successful the organization.

But now, the ten-time WNBA All-Star is disconnected to Georgia to play for the Dream - joining stars similar Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray.

Her determination to motion distant from the Mercury comes connected the aforesaid time that Phoenix pulled disconnected a blockbuster trade.

Earlier successful the day, the Mercury acquired five-time All Star Alyssa Thomas from the Connecticut Sun on with Ty Harris successful speech for Natasha Cloud, Rebecca Allen, and the 2025 No. 12 wide pick.

Griner's services were besides nether information with the Las Vegas Aces, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.

But aft trading prima defender Kelsey Plum to the Seattle Storm successful speech for defender Jewell Loyd, Las Vegas decided to see different options.

It could awesome a caller epoch for the Mercury - who could beryllium without not lone Griner, but chap franchise icon Diana Taurasi if she decides to discontinue his offseason.

Griner is 1 of the top players successful the league's past with countless accolades crossed her eleven seasons successful the WNBA.

In that clip she's won a league rubric successful 2014, was named an All-Star 10 times, and led the league successful blocks 8 times. She was besides named a two-time WNBA Peak Performer successful 2017 and 2019.

Additionally, she's been named to the All-WNBA First Team 3 times, the All-WNBA Second Team 3 times, was named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year 2 times and was named to the All-WNBA Defensive First and Second teams a combined 7 times.

In 2021, the WNBA named her to the league's 25th day squad - acknowledging the 25 champion players to person taken the tribunal successful the WNBA.

Griner played successful each WNBA play but 2022 - erstwhile she was wrongfully detained successful Russia for 10 months before being released successful a captive swap.

Across her vocation truthful far, Griner's averaged 17.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game.