Biggest free agent acquisition in franchise history.
At the outset of free agency in the WNBA, the Atlanta Dream have reportedly pulled off a veritable blockbuster. Per Shams Charania and Alexa Philippou of ESPN, Atlanta has landed nine-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Brittney Griner on a one-year free agent contract.
Breaking: 10-time WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner has agreed to a one-year deal with the Atlanta Dream, sources tell me and @ShamsCharania
Griner spent her entire career with Phoenix and now heads to Atlanta in one of the most stunning free agency moves in league history pic.twitter.com/bPpqIEx7bw
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) January 29, 2025
The Dream faced major turnover at the center position this offseason with Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and Tina Charles both hitting free agency. New head coach Karl Smesko and general manager Dan Padover now reportedly get one of — if not the — top options at the position and a proven winner.
The 6-foot-9 center was drafted first overall by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2013 WNBA Draft and has averaged 17.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks in her illustrious WNBA career. She was also a major part of the 2014 championship Phoenix Mercury as well, teaming up with Diana Taurasi for a decade to form one of the most fearsome duos in league history.
This is a historic moment in franchise history, and the focus now turns to filling out the rest of the roster around Griner, Rhyne Howard, and Allisha Gray for a suddenly — maybe — contending Dream team in 2025.