Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury is a WNBA legend in the making. The 6-foot-8 center anchors the defense of the team that allows the least points in the league, 73.8, while leading the WNBA in blocked shots with nearly four per game. Her career average of 3.5 blocks per game is also tops in league history. Griner talked to rolling out about what makes her so proficient at blocking shots and her mentality in the paint.
“I’ve always said that’s my favorite stat, the blocked shot. It’s the only personal record I care about … being a beast in the paint is good for my team. I’m keeping other teams from scoring, I’m altering shots. When they drive in, they know I’m coming.”
Blocking shots requires great timing, and Griner credits another sport with helping her stay a beast in the paint. “I give all the credit to blocking shots to playing volleyball,” she said.
Griner also stands tall off the court. When she came out last year, it grabbed headlines, and she talked about setting an example for all. “Being an out athlete, the one thing I want to do, I just want to show the youth, and you know just anybody honestly, to just be comfortable in your skin. That’s my main message that I’m always telling everybody. Be comfortable in your skin. Don’t try to mirror somebody else. Be who you are. Be unique. That’s what makes us all different, all beautiful,’” she said.
Griner thoroughly enjoys participating in community service projects with the WNBA, and recounts one event that was particularly heartening. “At All-Star we had a clinic for the youth and just seeing the kids, so happy to get out, and move around, play and see us. One of the biggest things that I loved is there were a lot of boys there, and we asked who wanted to be a WNBA player and the little boys raised their hands, too,” she said with a smile.
Brittany Griner stands tall on and off the court, by inspiring people in many ways.
