Brittney Griner Returns Phoenix Leads Atlanta Dream Win

Brittney Griner made an emotional return to Phoenix, where she played 11 seasons with the Mercury, leading the Atlanta Dream to a 90-79 victory over her former team. The Mercury honored Griner with a tribute video before the game, and longtime teammate Diana Taurasi was present courtside. Griner scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Allisha Gray led Atlanta with 28 points, including a crucial layup late in the game. Despite Phoenix shooting just 29.7% from the field and struggling from beyond the arc, the Mercury stayed competitive thanks to perfect free-throw shooting and contributions from Satou Sabally, Kahleah Copper, and DeWanna Bonner. Atlanta managed the win without second-leading scorer Rhyne Howard, with Jordin Canada and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough adding 14 and 11 points respectively. The game marked a significant moment as Griner acknowledged the emotions of playing again in the city where she started her career.