On a warm July evening in Phoenix, the Footprint Center was buzzing with excitement and emotion as Brittney Griner made her highly anticipated return to the city where she spent the first 11 seasons of her illustrious WNBA career. Now donning the colors of the Atlanta Dream, Griner was met with a heartfelt welcome from fans, former teammates, and the Phoenix Mercury organization itself on July 23, 2025.
The game marked Griner's first appearance back in Phoenix since signing with the Dream in free agency this past offseason. The atmosphere was electric well before tip-off, as fans clad in Mercury No. 42 jerseys gathered outside the arena hours in advance, eager to catch a glimpse of their beloved former star. The crowd, affectionately known as the "X-Factor," showered Griner with love and admiration from the moment she emerged from the tunnel.
Griner spent time signing autographs and taking pictures, visibly moved by the outpouring of support. "A lot of emotions walking in," she said. "Just good to be back in front of all the fans here, all the X-Factor." Before the game, she shared a warm embrace with Mercury president Vince Kozar, underscoring the deep bonds she forged during her time in Phoenix.
The Mercury honored Griner with a touching two-minute video tribute on the Jumbotron, celebrating her 11 years with the franchise and her many contributions to the team’s success. The tribute was met with two standing ovations from the crowd, who also held up "Thank You BG" signs distributed by the Mercury. Griner reciprocated by blowing kisses to the adoring fans, who cheered her on throughout the evening.
Adding to the emotional weight of the night, legendary Mercury players Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor were courtside, showing their support for their former teammate. Taurasi, the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, and Taylor, a Ring of Honor inductee, were part of the core group that led Phoenix to its 2014 WNBA championship alongside Griner and DeWanna Bonner. Bonner, who recently returned to the Mercury for a second stint, was also present and shared a heartfelt hug with Griner before the game.
Griner’s return was not just a reunion but a showcase of her enduring talent. Despite her numbers dipping this season, she delivered a performance reminiscent of her prime Phoenix days, scoring 17 points and grabbing eight rebounds on an efficient 8-for-12 shooting night. Her lone free throw attempt was met with playful jeers from fans, who shouted "missing one" rather than "making one," a sign of their fond familiarity with her.
Reflecting on the experience, Griner said, "When I looked over, I saw Dee [Diana Taurasi] and Penny [Taylor] over there, I think that kind of ignited me a little bit. Just being back on the court that I basically started my career on and played the majority of, it just felt good. The crowd, seeing familiar faces, hearing old stories, signing jerseys that I've signed like a thousand times, it was good. It was a really good feeling. I said I was going to hold my tears to the end, but they got me, they got me a little bit."
The game itself was a hard-fought battle, with the Atlanta Dream pulling off a 90-79 victory over the Mercury. Allisha Gray led the Dream with a game-high 28 points, including a crucial layup that gave Atlanta an 84-71 lead with just over three minutes remaining. Jordin Canada and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough also made significant contributions with 14 and 11 points, respectively. Notably absent was Rhyne Howard, Atlanta’s second-leading scorer, who did not play.
For Phoenix, Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper made their returns to the starting lineup after recovering from injuries, contributing 13 and 10 points respectively. DeWanna Bonner added 18 points off the bench, while Alyssa Thomas narrowly missed a triple-double with seven points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists. Despite shooting a low 29.7% from the field and struggling from beyond the arc, the Mercury stayed competitive by converting all nine of their free throws.
Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts expressed disappointment in his team's rusty play, particularly their near season-low 34-point first half. "We looked rusty," Tibbetts said. "We didn’t play our brand of basketball. It was extremely disappointing. We haven’t had any of these, but we had one tonight. You’ve got to give Atlanta credit."
Griner’s departure from Phoenix was a difficult but amicable business decision. "The business part is always tough," Griner acknowledged. "Especially when you’ve been somewhere so long where it feels like family and it’s hard to have those tough conversations sometimes. But it’s just all love. I’m happy for them and happy for myself as well. Everything all worked out." The Mercury currently hold a 15-8 record, placing third in the WNBA standings, just ahead of Atlanta and Seattle.
During her time with Phoenix, Griner was a dominant force, averaging 17.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game across 315 starts. She was a nine-time All-Star, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and a perennial MVP candidate. Her back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year seasons saw her average nearly four blocks per game, showcasing her elite rim protection. This season, she has started all 21 games for Atlanta, averaging 10.2 points and 5.7 rebounds, with her 17-point performance on Wednesday marking her fourth-best scoring output of the year.
Beyond the court, Griner’s impact on the Phoenix community endures. The Mercury revived her "Heart and Soul" shoe drive for her return game, a charitable initiative she started to provide shoes for individuals experiencing homelessness. Griner noted the shoe drive continued even during her 2022 detention in Russia, a testament to the team’s ongoing support. "It just shows how much they really mean what they say when they get behind you," she said.
Mercury coach Tibbetts praised Griner not only as a player but as a person. "She’s one of the pillars of the Mercury and maybe even a better person than she is a player," he said. Former teammate DeWanna Bonner echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Griner’s significance to Phoenix basketball and the community.
Looking ahead, the Mercury and Dream will meet again on August 1 in Atlanta, with the Dream returning to Phoenix on August 10. Given the close proximity in the standings, this season series could have important playoff seeding implications, adding even more weight to this developing rivalry.
Wednesday’s game was more than just a contest; it was a celebration of legacy, friendship, and the enduring spirit of Brittney Griner’s career. Her return to Phoenix was a poignant reminder of the impact one player can have on a franchise and its fans, and while the scoreboard favored Atlanta, the night belonged to Griner and the emotional ties that bind her to the Valley of the Sun.
