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☆ What the conversation about Caitlin Clark’s pay gets wrong
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The WNBA’s stars aren’t asking to be paid an equal dollar amount to NBA players, however. WNBA players have made progress on salaries since 2020, when they reached their latest collective bargaining agreement with the league. Sharing the revenue pieBecause it’s a smaller and younger league, women’s players have had less bargaining power with team owners over their pay than men. While NBA players receive 50% of total NBA revenue, the WNBA must hit a certain revenue threshold annually before any revenue sharing agreements kick in. This has held back women’s salaries.

Persons: Caitlin Clark, Clark, Angel Reese, ” Terri Jackson, David Berri, Kelsey Plum, Griner, Jackson, ” Jackson, “ It’s, ”, Alicia Jessop, “ That’s, ” David Berri, David Stern, “, Berri, Cathy Engelbert, ” Breanna Stewart Organizations: New, New York CNN, NBA, National Basketball Association, Women’s National Basketball Association, University of Iowa, Louisiana, NCAA, WNBA, ’ Association, CNN, Southern Utah University, Las Vegas Aces, —, Phoenix Mercury, ’, Pepperdine University, longtime, New York Liberty Locations: New York, men’s, Russia

☆ Caitlin Clark: Here’s what she said after being selected at No. 1 in the WNBA draft
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Few things in professional sports have ever been as certain as Caitlin Clark being selected as the No. That’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to be in there and be like, ‘Go make a layup.’ She’s going to make my life easy. “If you’re a women’s basketball fan or you’re not a women’s basketball fan, I encourage you to watch the show when it comes out,” Clark says. I think I’m just excited.

Persons: Caitlin Clark, –, Clark, “, ” Clark, ’ She’s, Cameron Brink, Angel Reese, Adam Hunger, ”, Clark Clark, they’re, It’s, Peyton Manning’s, Kamilla Cardoso, Kiki Rice, Brian Babineau, I’ve, it’s, hasn’t, Steph Chambers Organizations: CNN, Iowa Hawkeyes, NCAA Division, Indiana Fever, Boston, South, NCAA, ESPN, Peyton, Chicago Sky, UCLA Bruins, Clark, Getty, Fever, WNBA, Iowa, Phoenix Mercury, Pacers Locations: men’s, Boston, South Carolina, Los Angeles, New York, Peyton Manning’s Omaha, Phoenix Mercury . Iowa, Indianapolis

☆ Brittney Griner re-signs with Phoenix Mercury ahead of Team USA training camp
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Jill Martin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Brittney Griner has re-signed with her longtime WNBA team, the Phoenix Mercury, ahead of this year’s Summer Olympic Games in Paris. Griner also is a two-time Olympic gold medalist for Team USA. Tim Clayton/Corbis/Getty Images/FilePhoenix’s signing of Griner comes the same week that the USA Basketball Women’s National Team will hold a training camp in Cleveland, Ohio. On Thursday, the USA Basketball Women’s National Team announced the 14-athlete April training camp roster, which will be held Wednesday through Friday. When announcing the training camp roster Thursday, USA Basketball said at the time that Clark would attend contingent on Iowa’s progression through the NCAA tournament.

Persons: Brittney Griner, ” Griner, Griner, Tim Clayton, Corbis, Griner –, “, ”, Caitlin Clark, Clark Organizations: CNN, WNBA, Phoenix Mercury, Mercury, Team USA, Griner, Rio, USA Basketball Women’s, Paris, Phoenix, Las Vegas Aces, Team, NCAA Locations: Paris, Russia, United States, Cleveland , Ohio, Clark, Iowa, Cleveland

☆ Brittney Griner’s No. 42 jersey officially retired by Baylor women’s basketball
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Homero De La Fuente | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Baylor women’s basketball program retired Brittney Griner’s No. Fans in attendance were all given yellow shirts with the number 42 and a silhouette of Griner emblazoned on the front. After finishing her collegiate career as the most decorated player in the program’s history, Griner becomes the seventh player to have her jersey retired in Baylor women’s basketball history. Following her career at Baylor, Griner was the No. She’s also won two Olympic gold medals as part of Team USA’s women’s basketball roster.

Persons: Brittney, Griner, Sims, Melissa Jones, Nina Davis, Suzie Snider Eppers, Shelia Lambert, Sophia Young, LM Otero, she’s, She’s, USA’s, Viktor Bout Organizations: CNN, Baylor, Foster, Bears, Big, NCAA, Phoenix Mercury, WNBA, US State Department Locations: , Texas, Russia, Russian

☆ Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia forms new investment group called Player 15
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mat Ishbia, majority owner of the NBA's Phoenix Suns, talks to the media during his introductory press conference at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, on Feb. 8, 2023. Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia is forming a new sports, entertainment and real estate investment group as a single unifying place for his investments. The new investment or holding company will be called the Player 15 Group, the company announced Wednesday. It will house the National Basketball Association's Phoenix Suns, the Women's National Basketball Association's Phoenix Mercury and the newly acquired G-League team for the Suns. The group follows similar one-stop shop investment groups such as Fenway Sports Group, Harris Blitzer Group and The Kraft Group.

Persons: Mat Ishbia, Ishbia, Harris Organizations: Phoenix Suns, Footprint, Basketball, Phoenix Mercury, League, Suns, NBA, CNBC, Footprint Center, Phoenix, Mercury, Fenway Sports Group, Harris Blitzer Group, The Kraft Group, United Wholesale Mortgage, Forbes, Michigan State University Locations: Phoenix , Arizona, Phoenix

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Liberty are bringing their core group back and trying to add another piece with prized free agent Nneka Ogwumike while Seattle signed Skylar Diggins-Smith as WNBA free agency tipped off Thursday. The Liberty, who made it to the WNBA Finals last season before losing to the Las Vegas Aces, met with Ogwumike, according to a person familiar with the situation. Sabally, who was a restricted free agent, averaged career highs in points (18.6), rebounds (8.1) and assists (4.4) last season. They also signed free agent Megan Gustafson. Williams had a stellar season with Chicago last year, averaging 10.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and a career-best 6.3 assists.

Persons: Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, Smith, Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, Betnijah Laney, Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Jones, Diggins, Jewell Loyd, “, ” Diggins, Jewell, Noelle Quinn, Satou Sabally, Kalani Brown, Sabally, Brown, Kiah Stokes, Sydney Colson, Megan Gustafson, Courtney Williams, Alanna Smith, Williams, ___ Organizations: New York Liberty, Seattle, Liberty, WNBA, Las Vegas Aces, Associated Press, Nets, Los Angeles Sparks, ESPN, Phoenix Mercury, Notre Dame, Seattle Storm, Dallas, Wings, Aces, Minnesota Lynx, Chicago Locations: York

☆ Brittney Griner honored by the WNBA for her off-the-court community impact
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( David Close | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Basketball star Brittney Griner was honored Friday with the WNBA Cares Community Assist Award – an honor bestowed on the Phoenix Mercury center for her off-the-court volunteer work. Griner, who the US State Department deemed wrongfully detained, was released last December in a prisoner swap that involved Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Griner has spent all of her WNBA seasons with the Mercury, winning a championship in 2014. Griner founded the shoe drive in 2016 after noticing unhoused persons in the Phoenix area walking without shoes. The WNBA says it will split a $20,000 donation between the two charities in honor of Griner.

Persons: Brittney Griner, Griner, Viktor Bout, Adam Pantozzi, “, I’ll, ” Organizations: CNN —, WNBA, Phoenix Mercury, US State Department, Mercury, Phoenix, Team USA, University of Tennessee Locations: Phoenix, USA

☆ Griner receives WNBA Cares Community Assist Award
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 21, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner (42) reacts after scoring against the Chicago Sky in the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 27 (Reuters) - Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner has received the season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award in part for her continued work in championing the safe return of wrongful detainees overseas, the league said on Friday. Throughout the 2023 WNBA season, Griner, who was freed from a Russian penal colony in a high-profile prisoner exchange last year, worked with Bring Our Families Home, a campaign that helps spread awareness about wrongfully detained Americans. "I know the opportunity, privilege and responsibility I have to make a difference in the lives of others, and I'll always remain committed to that," Griner said in a WNBA news release. During the season, Griner and the Mercury also hosted families and friends of wrongful detainees at their games.

Persons: Rick Scuteri, Griner, Viktor Bout, Frank Pingue, Ken Ferris Organizations: Phoenix Mercury, Chicago Sky, Footprint Center, Mercury, Griner, BG, Phoenix Rescue, National Basketball Association, Russia, Thomson Locations: Phoenix , Arizona, USA, Russian, Phoenix, Moscow, Ukraine, Toronto

Days after Mat Ishbia reached a deal in December to buy majority stakes in the N.B.A.’s Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Mercury of the W.N.B.A., he met with top executives to learn more about the teams’ business operations, including how local fans were able to watch their games on TV. The executives detailed three possibilities going forward, including sticking with Diamond Sports Group, which owned the regional sports network that for more than a decade had held the rights to show the teams’ games. It might cost the teams money in the short term, but the bet was that it would help them reach more fans, including those who dropped their cable subscriptions or, like many younger fans, never had one. “What was interesting was the amount of people that were reaching out to me on social media about how they couldn’t watch the Suns games,” Mr. Ishbia said in an interview, adding: “It’s their team. To not be able to watch your game wasn’t an option that we were interested in.”

Persons: Mat Ishbia, Ishbia, ” Mr, It’s, ” Organizations: Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, Diamond Sports Group, Diamond Sports, Suns, Mercury

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Sky announced they have hired Naismith Hall of Famer Teresa Weatherspoon as the team's coach on Thursday, two days after her agent confirmed she agreed to take the job. “I’m excited to be a part of the Chicago Sky Family,” Weatherspoon said in a statement. Chicago announced at the end of the season, after it was eliminated from the playoffs by the Las Vegas Aces, that interim coach Emre Vatanseyer wouldn’t return. New York is back there now for the first time since then and trails Las Vegas 1-0. Half of the WNBA’s coaches are now former players, including both finals coaches, Las Vegas’ Becky Hammon and New York’s Sandy Brondello.

Persons: Naismith, Naismith Hall of Famer Teresa Weatherspoon, “, ” Weatherspoon, James Wade, Emre Vatanseyer wouldn’t, Wade, Vatanseyer, Teresa, Nadia Rawlinson, Weatherspoon, Becky Hammon, Sandy Brondello Organizations: CHICAGO, Chicago Sky, Naismith Hall of Famer, NBA’s Toronto Raptors, Chicago, Las Vegas Aces, GM, WNBA, NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, New York Liberty, Liberty, mater Louisiana Tech, Phoenix Mercury Locations: Chicago, . New York, Las

The Chicago Sky have an agreement in place with Teresa Weatherspoon to make her their next coach, according to her agent, Richard Gray. Chicago announced at the end of the season, after it was eliminated from the playoffs by the Las Vegas Aces, that interim coach Emre Vatanseyer wouldn't return. New York is back there now for the first time since then and trails Las Vegas 1-0. Weatherspoon was a head coach in college, leading her alma mater Louisiana Tech from 2009-14. Half the WNBA's coaches are now former players, including both finals coaches, Las Vegas' Becky Hammon and New York's Sandy Brondello.

Persons: Teresa Weatherspoon, Richard Gray, James Wade, Emre Vatanseyer wouldn't, Wade, Vatanseyer, Naismith, Weatherspoon, Becky Hammon, Sandy Brondello, Andrew Seligman, ___ Organizations: Chicago Sky, Associated Press, NBA's Toronto Raptors, Chicago, Las Vegas Aces, Weatherspoon, GM, WNBA, NBA's New Orleans Pelicans, Naismith Hall of Famer, New York Liberty, Liberty, mater Louisiana Tech, Phoenix Mercury, AP Locations: . New York, Las, Vegas

☆ WNBA Finals feature 'Superteam' showdown for the ages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Aces defeated the Wings 97-83. Mandatory... Acquire Licensing Rights もっと読むNEW YORK, Oct 6 (Reuters) - A "superteam" showdown fans were clamoring for tips off on Sunday as the defending champion Las Vegas Aces play a New York Liberty team hungry for a maiden major title in the WNBA Finals. The number one Aces lost twice MVP Candace Parker to injury in July but never missed a beat as last year's Most Valuable A'ja Wilson propelled Sin City to a WNBA record 34 wins. "We saw a different level of excitement in the off season this year because of the superteam narrative," said ESPN commentator and former WNBA All-Star Rebecca Lobo. New York coach Sandy Bronello said relief was her primary emotion as the Liberty eked out an 87-84 win in Game 4 against Connecticut.

Persons: A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Kiah Stokes, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Breanna Stewart, Candace Parker, Rebecca Lobo, Wilson, Stewart, Lobo, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, They've, Jonquel Jones, Sandy Bronello, Brondello, Becky Hammon, Hammon, Amy Tennery, Ed Osmond 私 Organizations: Las Vegas Aces, Dallas Wings, Michelob, The Aces, Wings, New York Liberty, WNBA, Liberty, Aces, ESPN, San Francisco Bay Area, NBA, Chicago Sky, Washington Mystics, Connecticut, Phoenix Mercury Locations: Las Vegas , Nevada, USA, Sin, San Francisco Bay, Las Vegas, New York

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty are poised to tip off their highly anticipated WNBA Finals showdown, a matchup of the preseason favorites projected to battle for the title. “This is kind of like our March Madness and anything goes,” Las Vegas forward A'ja Wilson said. Las Vegas set an WNBA record with 34 regular-season victories this season. Political Cartoons View All 1202 ImagesA Liberty championship would be their first, and fulfill the hopes of the several blockbuster offseason moves. They also were opposing captains at this year's All-Star Game in Las Vegas, with Team Stewart winning by 16 points.

Persons: blowouts, A'ja Wilson, “, Angeles Sparks, Becky Hammon, Sandy Brondello, ” Brondello, Breanna Stewart, Stewart, you’re, Wilson, ” Wilson, “ I'm, STEWIE Stewart, Kelsey Plum, Sabrina Ionescu, Plum, ”, Darren Waller, Ionescu, Doug Feinberg, ___ Organizations: LAS VEGAS, Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, Famers, Aces, Angeles, Sparks, Houston Comets, Detroit Shock, Las, Las Vegas, Liberty, Commissioner's, WNBA, NCAA, UConn, Storm, Phoenix Mercury, Mobile, NFL, “ Go Giants, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders Locations: Las Vegas, York, Seattle, New York

☆ Arizona Coyotes local games move to broadcast networks – the latest big shift in sports TV
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Arizona Coyotes are skating to a new TV home for local games – showcasing the pressure on cable TV bundles due to cord cutting while broadcast stations look to nab more sports media rights. Scripps Co. on Thursday that will see its local games air on over-the-air networks. The Coyotes' local games aired on Bally Sports Arizona. MLB began running the distribution of the Diamondbacks, as well as the San Diego Padres, another contract rejected by Diamond, earlier this year. The landscape for local games has dramatically shifted as consumers flee the traditional cable TV bundle and opt for streaming services.

Persons: Barrett Hayton, Diamond, Phoenix Mercury –, Gray, Scripps, Knights – Organizations: Arizona Coyotes, Dallas Stars, American Airlines Center, The Arizona Coyotes, nab, NHL, Scripps Co, Diamond Sports Group, Coyotes, Scripps, Bally Sports Arizona, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, Diamond, Suns, Mercury, Gray Television, MLB, Diamondbacks, San Diego Padres, CNBC, Vegas, Knights, Stanley, Warner Bros, Warner Media, MLB's Houston Astros, NBA's Houston Rockets, T SportsNet, City Home Network Locations: Dallas , Texas

NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA once again had strong metrics as the league had its most-watched regular season in 21 years and its highest average attendance since 2018. Viewership was up 21% over last year across its national television partners and the league's average attendance of 6,615 fans was the WNBA's highest since the 2018 season. An expanded schedule to 40 games this season helped the league gain its highest total attendance in 13 years (1,587,488). Las Vegas also hosted the highest-attended game this season, drawing a crowd of 17,406 on Sunday against Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury on the final day of the regular season. That game was played at the bigger T-Mobile Arena as opposed to the Aces regular venue, which seats about 12,000.

Persons: Cathy Engelbert, Brittney Griner, Nikki Fargas, ___ Organizations: WNBA, Aces, Phoenix Mercury, Mobile, ” Aces, ESPN Locations: Vegas

☆ Griner named WNBA All-Star for ninth time
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEW YORK, June 25 (Reuters) - Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner was named a WNBA All-Star for the ninth time on Sunday, just a little over six months after being released from a Russian prison. Griner warned during the preseason that she would need time to regain her full abilities after the 10 months she spent in Russian custody but has blown away her own expectations and was ninth in the league in average points per game as of Sunday. Twice MVP A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces and 2018 MVP Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty were named the captains for the All-Star Game, which is set for July 15 in Las Vegas. The Indiana Fever's Aliyah Boston, who went first overall in the 2023 draft, became the first rookie since 2014 to earn an All-Star selection. Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Griner, A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Amy Tennery, Hugh Lawson Organizations: YORK, Mercury, Western Conference, Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, Aliyah Boston, Thomson Locations: Las Vegas, The Indiana, New York

CNN —Following the harassment of WNBA star Brittney Griner at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Phoenix Mercury’s leadership plans to make adjustments to prioritize players’ travel safety, head coach Vanessa Nygaard said Sunday. When asked if Griner was approved to charter flights and why she wasn’t chartering on Saturday, Nygaard said the team was following league-established rules and guidelines. Griner’s longtime teammate and WNBA star Diana Taurasi said that the harassment occurred during the team’s first public appearance since Griner’s release. Describing the incident as “unnerving,” Taurasi said the players’ safety comes first. “We implore the league and the teams not to wait another day to change the rule regarding travel.”

Persons: Brittney Griner, Vanessa Nygaard, Griner, ”, Viktor Bout –, Biden, ” Nygaard, Nygaard, Brianna Turner, “, Griner’s, Diana Taurasi, ” Taurasi Organizations: CNN, Fort Worth International, Phoenix, WNBA, “, “ League, Indiana Fever, Mercury, Basketball Players Locations: Dallas, Russia, of

☆ Brittney Griner faced 'excessive harassment' by a right-wing social-media personality at Dallas airport
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Isobel Van Hagen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A right-wing 'provocateur' appeared to harass Brittney Griner at a Dallas airport on Saturday. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyWNBA player Brittney Griner was confronted by a right-wing social-media personality at a Dallas airport on Saturday. In the video, Stein shouts, "Do you still want to boycott America, Brittney?" Stein also shouts that Griner "hates America" and "What about the merchant of death Brit?" The Phoenix Mercury had been in Texas for a game against the Dallas Wings, which they lost 90-77.

Persons: Brittney, Alex Stein, —, Brittney Griner, Stein, Brit, Terri Jackson, Griner, Viktor Bout —, Brianna Turner, Turner, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez Organizations: WNBA, Service, Twitter, America, Washington Post, New York Rep, Capitol, Latina, Phoenix Mercury, Dallas Wings Locations: Dallas, Alexandria, Texas

CNN —Brittney Griner, the WNBA star who was freed from Russia late last year after being wrongfully detained, was harassed Saturday by a man described as a social media “provocateur” at a Dallas airport. A source familiar with the incident told CNN that around 9:30 am CT, Griner was at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport traveling with Phoenix Mercury teammates on their way to a game. CNN has reached out to local law enforcement and the DFW airport about the incident. “We remain steadfastly committed to the highest standards of security for players,” the statement reads. We demand better.”Unlike in the NBA, WNBA teams are not permitted to use charter planes for travel, CNN previously reported.

Persons: Brittney Griner, Griner, Viktor Bout –, ”, Biden, “, Brianna Turner, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, ” Colas Organizations: CNN, WNBA, Dallas Fort Worth International, Phoenix Mercury, DFW, “, Twitter, NBA Locations: Russia, Dallas, of, America

CNN —After spending more than 300 days in Russian custody last year, Brittney Griner made an emotional return to her WNBA home court in the Phoenix Mercury’s 75-69 defeat by the Chicago Sky. The crowd went crazy in applause as she ran onto the court while giving her teammates high fives. “There might have been a little dust in my eye, a little dusty,” Griner told reporters after the game. Carstens joined Griner at the podium after the game, alongside Representative Shelia Jackson Lee, and said it was “emotional” for them both seeing Griner on the court. BG’s family in the crowd and BG back on the court, doing what BG does best which is playing basketball.

LOS ANGELES, May 19 (Reuters) - Brittney Griner returned to the WNBA hardwood on Friday night in Los Angeles to cheers from a raucous crowd that included U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. "It felt good, it felt real good. U.S. officials said she was wrongly detained and was being used as a political pawn amid increasingly strained relations with Moscow. The two-time Olympic champion, 32, kicked off her 10th season with the Mercury on Friday after playing in a pre-season game one week ago. Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Jacqueline WongOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

CNN —Vice President Kamala Harris was among those celebrating the return of Brittney Griner to the WNBA on Friday, five months after the Phoenix Mercury star was released from a Russian penal colony. Harris met with players from both teams before the game and thanked them for their support while Griner was in Russian custody for almost 300 days last year. “A team is a team, that’s family.”Harris addressed the players in their locker room before the game. Mario Tama/Getty ImagesIn return, Los Angeles star and players’ union president Nneka Ogwumike thanked Harris and the Biden administration for securing Griner’s release. “Just appreciating everything because tomorrow is not guaranteed.”Griner scored 18 points on her WNBA return.

☆ Griner, 'superteams' in focus as WNBA season kicks off
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK, May 17 (Reuters) - Brittney Griner is back in action for the Phoenix Mercury while the New York Liberty and defending champions Las Vegas Aces are expected to usher in the WNBA's "superteam" era when a new season tips off on Friday. "It was cool, and then at the same time, I was sitting there looking around, zoned out a little bit," said Griner, who will open her season on the road against the Sparks on Friday. I mean, these are some of the best players in the league," head coach Sandy Brondello told reporters this week. She will join reigning MVP A'ja Wilson and All-Star Kelsey Plum, along with two-time champion Alysha Clark, who also signed as a free agent. Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Griner plays in WNBA for first time since Russia detention
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I didn't think I would be sitting here. I didn't think I would be playing basketball this quickly," Griner told reporters after the Sparks handed them a 90-71 loss. Griner was greeted to roars of celebration at Phoenix's Footprint Center on Friday as she exited the tunnel and strode onto the court. "I didn't feel like I was gassed or dying," said Griner, who offered a withering self-appraisal of her defensive performance. The two-time WNBA scoring champion has been subject to enormous media interest since her return to the United States, using her super-sized platform to champion the cause of other Americans detained abroad.

CNN —Nearly five months after she was released from Russian detention, WNBA star Brittney Griner says it feels “a little overwhelming” to return to public life given the widespread interest in her case. Griner spent nearly 300 days in custody before being released as part of a prisoner swap involving Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in December. She has since been reintegrating into life in the United States, meeting with US President Joe Biden, attending the Met Gala on Monday, and preparing for the season ahead with the Phoenix Mercury. “I didn’t think it could get that big,” Griner told reporters during the Mercury’s annual preseason media day on Wednesday. Griner arrives back in the United States in December.

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