Forward of Crew USA’s first recreation, SB Nation is introducing every of the 12 members of the US Olympic Girls’s Basketball group this week. Right here’s what you could learn about Brittney Griner, a two-time gold medalist who’s lengthy been a defensive anchor.
Quick Info
Crew: 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 Picks: 10 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Earlier Olympic Appearances: 2x Olympic Gold Medalist (2016, 2020)
School: Baylor – received NCAA championship in 2012
After spending a 12 months in Russian captivity, Griner is especially proud to signify 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 alternate for Russian arms supplier Viktor Bout.
It’s been a 12 months and a half since her return to the US, and this shall be her first Olympics competitors for the reason that detainment. So, whereas Griner already has two gold medals underneath her belt, she advised reporters that the prospect to signify the US post-detainment is further particular now.
“It all the time meant every part to me,” Griner mentioned, through andscape.com. “My dad fought for our nation. He’s a Marine… So, it’s all the time been one thing that we’ve all the time cherished, however now much more so. My nation actually saved my life and I’m capable of signify them once more and it simply means a lot extra.”
Griner detailed her expertise in Russia and, and the next re-acclimation, in her ebook, Coming Residence, which got here out in Might 2024. Diana Taurasi, who Griner has been teammates with for her total WNBA profession, praised her for competing within the Olympics.
“What BG’s gone by within the final couple of years is clearly unprecedented,” Taurasi mentioned through GMA Community. “For her to have the ability to come again, to get on that flight, to come back abroad, it was an enormous second for her in quite a lot of methods. However I’m glad she did it as a result of she’s a exceptional particular person.”
Brittney Griner has dunked (manner) greater than any WNBA participant
Griner has dunked 26 occasions in-game — a feat that no different WNBA participant has achieved greater than twice. The truth is, in her first recreation as an expert, 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 a youngster really garnered 6.6 million views. Her affect on the ladies’s recreation definitely hasn’t been restricted to dunking, however Griner utterly modified how ladies dunking has been perceived.
She doesn’t dunk each recreation, however final 12 months, she dunked twice within the All-Star recreation.
“I referred to as my knees and talked to them and gave them just a little pep discuss,” she mentioned afterwards, per Simply Girls Sports activities.
At her prime, Griner was among the best defensive gamers in WNBA historical past
Griner’s potential defensive affect was clear from a younger age; as a freshman at Baylor, her 223 blocks set the all-time single-season document 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 Crew seven occasions — in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2019, and 2021.
She has the third-most profession blocks in WNBA historical past (766) and may very well be a number 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 grow to be the league’s all-time block chief. A probably longer WNBA season transferring ahead may additionally assist Griner’s case.
