MEDLEY, Fla. — Brittney Griner sat at the Unrivaled podium, holding her toddler son, Bash, briefly reliving the moment of being the first player to dunk in the new women’s basketball league.
Griner may be the most prolific dunker in women’s basketball history, but she doesn’t go into games with the intention to dunk. Phantom teammate Natisha Hiedeman proposed the idea during pregame warmups then found Griner open under the basket near the end of the first quarter on Monday night.
Griner felt like she had to deliver. She admits she was pumped, quickly trying to refocus on the defensive end to avoid a lapse after the highlight play. She even sank a 3-pointer just before the buzzer.
Despite the achievement, Griner’s thoughts were on her team’s 92-79 loss to the league-leading Lunar Owls.
“It’s always hype. My teammates love it. Fans love it. You know, try to bring some excitement. But I mean, at the end of the day, we lost,” Griner told USA TODAY Sports. “So, that’s what’s on my mind. Dunk, no dunk. Three, no three. We lost.”
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Then, Basketball Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie – the first player to dunk in a game in WNBA history – got hold of the microphone during Griner’s postgame press conference.
Leslie’s presence at Unrivaled has been priceless, furthering the game with the league’s brightest stars. She’s been helping players like Angel Reese, Satou Sabally and Napheesa Collier work on their games, while analyzing Unrivaled games with Turner Sports during the league’s inaugural season.
Leslie wasn’t going to let Griner pass up the opportunity to bask in her accomplishment.
“The dunk was outstanding, and it’s historic. And obviously I know what it’s like to have a historic dunk, but not the ending you want. The night I dunked, we lost that game, too,” Leslie told Griner. “So, I know what you mean about remembering that, but that is a historic moment for you to be the first to dunk in Unrivaled. It was awesome.”
With Leslie sitting just a few feet away, Griner took a moment to truly reflect.
Dunks have been more routine for the 6-foot-9 star than any other player in women’s basketball.
Griner dunked twice during the first WNBA game of her career on May 27, 2013 – quickly tying Candace Parker’s record for dunks in league history, while passing Leslie and Awak Kuier on the all-time dunks list.
Griner has 27 dunks in WNBA games during the regular season, playoffs and All-Star Game during her 11-year career.
It was only a matter of time before she cemented her name in Unrivaled’s record books with the league’s first dunk.
“You know what, it definitely is (awesome),” Griner said to Leslie, while holding her son. “I’ll be able to hold that (title). I got to do it with you here as well. It was pretty cool, when I actually take the time to think about it. And he’s here, too. So, it all kinda lines up.”
Griner’s Unrivaled experience comes three years after her controversial arrest in Russia.
Griner was detained on Feb. 17, 2022 – about two weeks before the public knew she was in custody on drug charges after customs officials allegedly found vape cartridges in her luggage. She was sentenced to nine years in prison on Aug. 4, 2022. She was released in a prisoner exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout on Dec. 8, 2022.
Griner’s past was not lost on Leslie, who felt like she had to praise Griner in person before the night was over.
“It’s amazing. I was happy that I was here. I think it’s great for BG, especially all that she’s been through to have that moment. And I think it’s great for Unrivaled,” Leslie told USA TODAY Sports.
At Unrivaled, an appealing offseason option domestically for WNBA players, Griner has played with Hiedeman, Sabally, Marina Mabrey, Katie Lou Samuelson, her old Phoenix Mercury teammate Natasha Cloud, and U.S. Olympic teammate Sabrina Ionescu for the Phantom, while being coached by eight-year NBA assistant Adam Harrington.
Griner has averaged 16.9 points (11th of 39 Unrivaled players) and leads the league with 1.6 blocks per game. She had season highs of 29 points and nine rebounds on Jan. 24, and had 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in Monday’s loss to the Lunar Owls.
Griner said she wanted to join Unrivaled to remind people she can still play the game at a high level. She’s also enjoying her time in Miami with her son and wife, Cherelle, before she joins the Atlanta Dream for her 12th season in the WNBA.
“It’s been a whirlwind. Shout out to my wife … I couldn’t do this without her, honestly. But I just wanted to come to Unrivaled to show everybody, you know, I still got it. I still can play,” Griner said. “A lot of people kind of counted me out in 3-on-3. So, I love to use that to prove everybody wrong.”
Griner smiled widely during the interaction with Leslie, almost holding her son as a defensive mechanism, as she received praise from the WNBA legend.
“Just know: We are so happy to have you here at Unrivaled, seeing you play. You’re not just back. You’re back and you’re better. And you warm our hearts,” Leslie told Griner. “Even though we don’t say it to you enough, it’s great to see you be able to finish out your career. And good luck in Atlanta as well.”
“Thank you, I really appreciate that,” Griner responded.
