WNBA's Greatest Players in History: Brittany Griner

• 8-time WNBA blocks leader
• 3-time Olympic gold medalist
• 2014 WNBA champion with Phoenix Mercury

Brittney Griner is one of the most physically dominant and accomplished centres in WNBA history, known for her shot-blocking ability and dunking prowess.

Overview

Standing 6'9" tall with an 88-inch wingspan, Brittney Griner has been a transformative defensive presence since entering the WNBA in 2013. The #1 overall draft pick by the Phoenix Mercury, Griner immediately established herself as an elite rim protector, leading the league in blocks for eight consecutive seasons from 2013-2019 and again in 2021. Her combination of size, athleticism and timing make her nearly impossible to score over in the paint.

Career snapshot

Griner was a three-time All-American at Baylor University, leading the Bears to a national championship in 2012. As a WNBA rookie in 2013, she became just the third player to dunk in a game. In 2014, Griner helped lead the Mercury to a WNBA title while setting a finals record with 8 blocks in Game 1. She has been selected to seven All-Star teams and named to six All-WNBA teams. Internationally, Griner has won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA.

Playing style

On offense, Griner uses her height advantage to score efficiently around the rim, often simply reaching over defenders. She has steadily expanded her shooting range and developed a reliable mid-range jumper. Defensively, Griner's mere presence deters opponents from driving the lane. When they do challenge her, she has the leaping ability and timing to swat shots at an unprecedented rate, averaging over 3 blocks per game for her career.

Why Brittany Griner is on our list

Griner's defensive dominance puts her among the most impactful players in WNBA history. Her eight blocks titles are the most ever. She anchored a championship team in Phoenix and has been a key part of the USA's continued Olympic success. Griner changed how teams had to game plan when facing her and opened up new possibilities for what women's basketball players could do athletically.

Five Fast Facts

1. Holds the WNBA single-game record with 11 blocks
2. First openly gay athlete to sign an endorsement deal with Nike
3. Set NCAA records for career blocks (748) and dunks (18)
4. Has scored 4,000+ career points in fewer than 200 WNBA games
5. Spent nearly 10 months detained in Russia in 2022 before being released in a prisoner swap

Career Highlights Timeline

2013: Drafted #1 overall by Phoenix, leads league in blocks as rookie

2014: Wins WNBA championship, named Defensive Player of the Year

2016: Wins first Olympic gold medal in Rio de Janeiro

2017: Leads WNBA in scoring (21.9 ppg) and blocks (2.5 bpg)

2019: Named to All-WNBA First Team for third time

2021: Helps USA win gold at Tokyo Olympics, averages career-high 9.5 rpg

2023: Returns to WNBA after missing 2022 season, named All-Star starter