Brittney Griner - The Blessing & The Curse
BASKETBALL - WNBA - PHOENIX MERCURY
ARCHETYPE: THE BLESSING & THE CURSE
Day 102/135
Athletic Accomplishments
Brittney Griner has made headlines and waves this season after roaring back to full strength as a star of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. But how did it all begin?
In high school, Griner played varsity basketball and volleyball as a freshman , before focusing exclusively on hooping. She practiced with the boys’ team and worker with a football strength and conditioning coach to develop her leg strength with one goal in mind: this 6’8” woman was destined to dunk.
That focus paid off, as Griner not only dunked 52 times in 32 games her senior year of high school, but also landed a scholarship to Baylor, to play for the Lady Bears.
As a freshman, she set the all-time single season record for blocking shots, with 223.
As a junior in 2012, Griner—by herself—blocked more shots than any other Division I TEAM that year. She led Baylor to a perfect 40-0 undefeated season and national championship title, and was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player. Griner was subsequently named AP Player of the Year and The 2012 Premier Player of Women's College Basketball.
In her four years at Baylor, Griner had one of the most impressive college careers of any player:
NCAA champion (2012)
NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (2012)
AP Player of the Year (2012)
2× First-team All-American – AP (2011, 2012)
Honda Sports Award (2012)
Second-team All-American – AP (2010)
2× Wade Trophy Player of the Year (2012, 2013)
3× Big 12 Player of the Year (2011–2013)
4× Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2010–2013)
In 2013, Griner was selected as the overall No. 1 pick by the Phoenix Mercury, where she had an instant impact on the team AND the WNBA at-large. In 2014, the Mercury won the WNBA championship, thanks in large part to Griner, who was the Defensive Player of the Year and leader in shot blocks that year.
Griner is a six-time WNBA All-Star and has led the league in scoring in both 2017 and 2019, and led the league in blocks seven consecutive years (2013-2019). In addition to dominating in the WNBA, Griner is also a three-time Russian National League champ and two-time Euroleague champion.
And Griner is not done yet.
Character Archetype: The Blessing & The Curse
At 6’8” with a 7’4” wingspan, Brittney Griner was basically built to play basketball. She can dunk, play at the rim, and has led the WNBA in blocked shots SEVEN times. Griner’s height and physicality are an absolute game-changer for the Phoenix Mercury, where she has been one of the most dominant players in the WNBA since they selected her first in the 2013 draft.
But being that tall is a blessing and a curse. Growing up, Griner got bullied for her height, for her sexuality, for not wanting to conform to traditionally feminine standards of beauty or dress. And that shit stays with you. Because it hurts.
And while Griner can mostly channel that into her game—becoming a six-time All-Star, two-time scoring champion, and two-time Defensive Player of the Year—she has also let her anger get the best of her at times, including on-court fights and a domestic violence incident with her then-partner.
Last summer, Griner left the Wubble in August—before the end of the season—for undisclosed personal reasons.
She later discussed seeking counseling and how much it helped her cope with her struggles.
Let’s not confuse taking care of yourself for weakness. Griner is still one of the strongest players in the game.