Michael VoPel
Michael VoPel
ESPN senior writer
Michael Voepel is a senior writer that covers WNBA, women’s university basketball, and other university sports. Voepel began to cover women’s basketball in 1984 and became ESPN since 1996.
Kevin Pelton
Kevin Pelton
ESPN senior writer
The co -author, the professional basketball prospectus series, used to develop an Indiana Paysers consultant.
The major movements in the WNBA Free Agency were standard for the past few years, but on Tuesdays they provided huge things in 2025. For Atlanta’s dream.
Grinner, a two WNBA defensive player of the year, has won an average of 17.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.6 block shots in her career. Former Baylor Star is one of the best true centers in WNBA history, leading the league eight times in blocks. In the 812 block, the grinner trails only the late Margodec (877) and Lisalley (822) in a carrier block.
Grinner, the three gold medalists of the Olympics, is synonymous with Mercury and Most of the Phoenix community. Along with Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor, who were all three Mercury Championship teams, Grines is one of the most loved signature players in Mercury.
Mercury will have a new appearance because the addition of the reported forward Alissa Thomas and the 42 -year -old taulashi in the next season is thinking about retirement. We find out how Grinner is engaged with his dream, what she means to mercury, and how she adjusts without her.
How does Grinner fit the list of Atlanta’s dreams?
Among the long careers on the Florida Gulf, Karl Smesco, a new dream coach, was known for playing a small lineup of many three -pointer. This is his first entry into WNBA, so I don’t know how he changes his system with professional talent. However, surrounding the center of Gliner’s abilities with the shooter sounds like a good idea.
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This dream was 15-25 under Director Tanisha Light last season, and was the last team that made playoffs as the eighth seed. They lost to the final Champion New York in the first round. It was not enough to save the light work. She was fired three seasons in Atlanta.
Atlanta entered the league as an expansion team in 2008 and won the first place Angel McFoil in 2009. My dream has reached the WNBA Final three times -2010, 2011, 2013- has never won the finals. Seattle swept them in 2010, and Minnesota did twice.
This dream played twice in the last six seasons in 2023 and 2024. However, Atlanta has a young star like 2022, and the young star who led Atlanta last season was 17.3 ppg, which had a solid nucleus that won a highly versatile guard. ALLISHA GRAY (15.6 PPG) and point guard Jordin Canada.
Griner, 34 years old in October, has played a wide range of US basketball abroad, so it is not difficult to adapt to a new system. It’s interesting to see how Atlanta completes the team around her. -Voepel
What does the signature green mean to a dream?
This is the biggest signature that Atlanta has done in free agencies so far. His dream was signed last year, and she opened a way to become the best rebounder in WNBA and to be second in the highest scorer in history. This dream also added Canada via Sign and Trade. However, Grinner is a legend that is still in demand from multiple teams. According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, ACES also considers grinners.
Putting the basketball element aside and adding a grinner will enhance the dream status in the world of Atlanta’s sports, even if it can only be done economically. Last week, it announced that it sold out of season tickets for the 2025 season.
Last year, Atlanta played both Indian Fever at Dream’s Home of The Dream’s Home, a very large state farm arena from 2008 to 2016. With a grinner on board, Atlanta may feel that this season will move additional games more comfortably. If she sticks, the future. -Pelton
Breaking: 10 times WNBA All -Star Britney Gliner agreed to Atlanta’s dream and one year of contract, and I and @shamschherania.
Grinner spends his entire career in Phoenix, and now heads to Atlanta with one of the most stunning free agencies in the league history pic.twitter.com/bppqiex7bw
-Alexa PHILIPPOU (@alexaphilippou) 2025 January 29,
What is a heritage with Grine’s Mercury?
Mercury was a recent WNBA title in 2014, won the second season of the league in the league, and traveled to the WNBA Final in 2021. In February 2022, Grinner was imprisoned in Russia and missed the 2022 WNBA season after playing the off -season.
GRINER was released on the prison exchange in December 2022. Returns to Phoenix’s hometown in May 2023 -The most emotional game in the league history two days after Grinn and Mercury opened the season in front of a large and supported crowd in Los Angeles. After returning from her detention, she said many times in her career, including her at home, and she couldn’t imagine playing elsewhere.
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But do not say in professional sports. Mercury dropped CRASH in 2023 and became 9-31, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Last season, they improved 19-21 under the new coach Nate Tibet and lost in the first round of the playoffs. Phoenix has been reset as the departure of Tibbetts and General Manager (Nick U’ren).
However, her heritage was set in Phoenix as a player in response to her potential, consistently one of the WNBA star players and fans’ favorite. No matter what grinner experienced in her life and career, the X Factor’s Mercury fans stick to her. They miss the grinner, and vice versa. -Voepel
What kind of influence is Phoenix affected by the addition of Grinner’s exit and Thomas?
Grinner and Mercury were preparing to go in various directions. The cap space is a premium, considering Phoenix’s ambitions to add Thomas and Satou Sabally and potentially adding Dewanna Bonner. (ESPN’s Alexa PHILIPPOU reported on Tuesday that Mercury was one of Bonner’s two finalists, unlimited free agents, Thomas’ Fiancée.)
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In addition, it may be difficult to meet the coat between Thomas and Grinner. Thomas played at the non -shooting center in Connecticut (Briona Jones), but as a result, he ranked 11th of the 12 WNBA teams in three points, and there was a relatively small space to operate. did. It is not a style that Tibet likes to play.
Based on these situations, the mercury was certainly comfortable, and the grinner searched for a free agency and found a better fit. At this point of each career, Thomas is more effective in the court. She was a runner -up of the MVP voting in 2023, all of which was the first team of WNBA last season.
If Phoenix can land in Savarry via sign and trade, Mercury positions himself as an off -season winner despite the loss of grinners. If Thomas is likely to be the best player who will change this season, Savary was excluded from participating in Thomas in the first team of all WNBA for two years, but he could be second in that list. I have sex.
Nevertheless, Phoenix is delighted when one of the off -season newcomers approach the impact of Grinner given in the valley. -Pelton
