Brittney Griner just set a WNBA record, adding to her Hall of Fame resume
Brittney Griner, now playing for the Connecticut Sun, continues to etch her name in the WNBA record books, this time with a league record.
Mark
Brittney Griner has, since she entered the league, been one of the biggest defensive forces in the WNBA. She’s taken full advantage of her 6-foot-9, 219-pound frame to punish her opponents in the paint.
Now she’s added another major accomplishment to her resume.
Griner recorded her 878th career blocked shot on Monday night, passing Margo Dydek for the most blocks in league history. The moment came in the middle of the third quarter with Griner’s Connecticut Sun leading the Chicago Sky, 56-38.
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She started her career of strong, named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2014.
Griner is in the twilight of her career, but she is still averaging about 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks per contest this season. She famously spent the first decade-plus of her WNBA career with the Phoenix Mercury.
As good a player as Griner is, she’s been just as inspirational off the court.
She was infamously detained in a Russia in 2022 after carrying less than a gram of medical pot through an airport in the country while she was playing in the Russian Premier League during the WNBA offseason.
She was released from Russia in December 2022 after the United States government swapped Griner for arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Brittney Griner was named Outsports‘ 2024 Person Of The Year.
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Brittney Griner’s struggle in Russia, and her patriot comeback all the way to Olympic gold, has found redemption for her and us.
Griner has also had to put up with extreme homophobia and other biases throughout her career, but she has stayed focused on what matters and lived her life with authenticity.
She came out as gay in 2013 and became the first openly gay athlete with an endorsement deal with Nike. She spoke up for what she believed in when she refused to come to the floor during pregame warmups for the United States national anthem before a game in 2020.
The Sun star has been married to Cherelle Griner since 2019. They have a two-year-old son together. She had previously been engaged to WNBA player Glory Johnson in 2014.
Griner is surely a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee when she retires. She is a 10-time All-Star, a WNBA champion, and an eight-time WNBA blocks leader.
Coming out of Baylor and into the WNBA, she was considered one of the best prospects in the history of women’s college basketball.
She’s lived up to the hype, ranked No 17 on ESPN’s top 25 WNBA players of all time.
Griner is a true marvel for altering her game and focusing on her best skills to maximize her career once she got to the professional level. Every record she breaks reminds us of her bravery and resolve, both on and off the court.
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