Brittney Griner is set to sign with the Atlanta Dream, concluding her 11-season career with the Phoenix Mercury.

Griner confirmed the move in a video on Instagram, expressing excitement for this next chapter. Her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, told The Associated Press that the star center will sign a one-year deal when WNBA free agency officially opens on Feb. 1.

“Free agency has been everything I wanted. Ultimately, the team, the players, and my family led me to this decision,” Griner said.

Drafted first overall in 2013, the 6-foot-9 center spent her entire career with Phoenix before testing free agency for the first time at 34. She opted for a one-year contract in anticipation of a new collective bargaining agreement in 2026 that could significantly raise salaries.

 

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Griner missed the 2022 season after being detained for nearly 10 months in Russia, accused of carrying vape cartridges with cannabis oil. She was freed in a prisoner exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Last season, Griner averaged 17.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks with Phoenix. She ranks third on the WNBA’s all-time blocks list, just 65 behind leader Margo Dydek.

Griner acknowledged the challenge of leaving Phoenix. “It was a tough decision, but also an exciting opportunity to rebrand and show something new.”

Her signing marks Atlanta’s biggest free-agent acquisition, bolstering a team led by Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. The Dream, which made the playoffs last season, recently hired Karl Smesko as head coach. Griner, Howard, and Gray are also playing in the new 3-on-3 league Unrivaled.

Meanwhile, Phoenix is undergoing major changes. The team is finalizing a deal to acquire Alyssa Thomas from Connecticut, and Diana Taurasi’s future remains uncertain.