Brittney Griner is staying in Phoenix. I can confirm the Mercury and their All-Star center have agreed for her to return for the coming WNBA season, with final terms to be completed this week. This keeps the face of the franchise in the desert, where she remains the anchor at both ends and the voice in the locker room that sets the tone.
A franchise pillar stays in place
This is the move the Mercury needed. Griner’s presence gives Phoenix a clear identity, inside-out. She still draws double teams, opens clean looks for shooters, and controls the paint on defense. The Mercury want to play faster this season, but they will still flow through Griner. That balance is what makes them dangerous.
In the front office and on the practice court, the message is simple. Keep the ball high. Screen with force. Own the rim. Griner checks every box.
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Griner’s return locks in Phoenix’s core and resets the West playoff race.
She has been the Mercury’s foundation since going No. 1 in 2013. She led Phoenix to the 2014 title, won two straight Defensive Player of the Year awards, and owns two Olympic gold medals. Since returning to the league in 2023, she has rebuilt her rhythm, leaning on footwork, timing, and unmatched length. The numbers back it up. When she is on the floor, Phoenix’s defense tightens and the offense gets cleaner.
What it means on the court
Offense
Griner remains a matchup problem. Few teams can guard her straight up. Phoenix uses her as a screener high above the arc, then punishes switches. She seals early, finishes with either hand, and is a sharp high-low passer. Put a shooter in each corner, run pick and roll in the middle, and watch defenses choose their poison.
With a steady post target, guards can play with more pace. Early post touches create kickouts. Late clock, Griner is a safety valve that turns broken plays into points.
Defense
Paint defense travels, and Griner changes shots. Her timing as a shot blocker is still elite. She does not chase every block. She walls up, forces floaters, and ends possessions with secure rebounds. That lets Phoenix stay home on shooters and avoid overhelping.
Expect more drop coverage early in the year, with selective switches late in games. That keeps Griner near the rim, where she wins.
- Key benefits for Phoenix:
- Better spacing and shot quality around the arc
- Fewer transition leak outs after offensive boards
- Clear rim protection and rebounding structure
- A dependable crunch time option
The bigger arc, and why this matters
Since her detention in Russia and return in December 2022, Griner has carried more than a stat line. She came back in 2023, found her legs, and kept speaking about wrongful detention and LGBTQ+ rights. Her 2024 memoir, Coming Home, gave voice to what she lived through. In every gym, she draws respect because of how she shows up, not just how she scores.
This is the basketball layer of that arc. Choosing to stay in Phoenix is a choice to lead, to mentor, and to chase wins on a court that shaped her. It also brings stability to a roster that needs it. Veterans thrive with clear roles. Young players grow faster with a center who communicates on defense and shares the ball.
Griner’s return lifts expectations inside the building, not just outside it.
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Phoenix’s path forward
The Mercury still have work to do. They need consistent point guard play and stronger wing defense. But keeping Griner sets the board. Now they can build out lineups that fit her strengths.
- What to watch next:
- How Phoenix staggers minutes to keep lineups balanced
- Two-big looks that spare Griner wear and tear
- Late game sets that isolate her on the left block
- Defensive tweaks that funnel drivers into her length
Phoenix does not need to be perfect in May. They need to be connected by August. That means smart minutes, healthy practice habits, and a clear offensive package that travels on the road. With Griner back in the middle, the Mercury have a plan that makes sense.
Bottom line
This is the right move for the Mercury and for Brittney Griner. She anchors their style, raises their ceiling, and gives them a chance in every fourth quarter. The West is deep, and nothing is given. But Phoenix knows who they are again, and that starts with No. 42 in the paint. Game on.
