Brittney Griner is signing with the Dream and people seem shocked.
The chatter on social media ranged from “I didn’t see this coming!” to “The Atlanta Dream!?” with various degrees of confusion.
You know who isn’t surprised? Anyone paying attention. Once she declared her intent to pursue free agency, Atlanta was a clear option for BG.
Dream general manager Dan Padover mentioned at the end of the 2024 season that Rhyne Howard is the franchise’s star, and the organization wants to build around her and the team. How do you support that mission? You address the areas needing help, like getting a true center.
If it wasn’t going to be free agent center Bri Jones or re-signing Tina Charles, Atlanta had to at least get on the phone with Griner. Her resume is immaculate. And while the current version of BG is not the BG of old, she’s still productive, and you can’t pass up that kind of help.
Here’s why Griner in Atlanta makes a lot of sense:
Brittney Griner’s size and production immediately elevates Atlanta’s profile
Atlanta spent a lot of the last two seasons getting bullied in the post. That’s not to say it wasn’t successful in establishing a presence, but it wasn’t consistent.
There were a lot of games where somebody was cooking against the Dream, and it was painful to watch. Remember when A’ja Wilson went off for 53 points against Atlanta? Twenty of Wilson’s 23 shots were from the field, and she only hit one 3-pointer. OUCH. Obviously, that’s A’ja Wilson. Nobody could have done a lot to stop that kind of greatness, but it was clear then Atlanta needed help.
In 2024, they called up WNBA great Tina Charles out of retirement. Charles was often the only bright spot on a roster riddled with injuries and struggling to keep up with other teams. However, one of Charles’ foremost advocates, former head coach Tanish Wright, is gone, and with the BG signing, Charles’ time in Atlanta is all but up.
What does BG bring that helps replace Charles’ contributions? An upgrade in size and comparable production. Here are the season averages for both players from last season:
| Player | Height | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Tina Charles | 6’4″ | 14.9 | 9.6 | 2.3 |
| Brittney Griner | 6’9″ | 17.8 | 6.6 | 2.3 |
Again, this isn’t Prime Brittney Griner, but the Dream get her on a one-year deal that will allow them to potentially draft a big and have them sit behind her. That’s a win-win scenario.
Brittney Griner’s existing relationship with the Atlanta Dream
If you were wondering how BG would feel about playing in a new city with new teammates, she seems to be enjoying it all.
Griner’s history with her teammates likely helped make her decision much more manageable. She’s previously spent time with Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard during Team USA basketball activities, and she’s currently in Miami with them and another teammate, Jordin Canada, for Unrivaled’s inaugural season.
Look at this wholesome Instagram reel she dropped with her new teammates to announce her decision. She looks so happy, and so do they.
Brittney Griner determines how her WNBA legacy ends
It’s unclear how much longer Griner will play, but if this is it for BG—if this is trending towards the end—what a ride it’s been, and she gets to do it on her terms.
Unfortunately, her time in Phoenix is likely done. Still, she now gets to determine the trajectory of her WNBA legacy, and that’s an underrated thing to have control over in today’s sports landscape.
Well done, BG. On to Atlanta.
