The Connecticut Sun have signed Brittney Griner to a seven-figure deal, according to Yahoo Sports.
Griner, a 6-foot-9 center and nine-time WNBA All-Star and three-time Olympic gold medalist, is one of the most decorated players in league history.
Griner spent the better part of her career with the Phoenix Mercury from 2013-24, winning the 2014 WNBA Championship, but spent the past season helping lead the Atlanta Dream to a franchise record 30 wins in a 30-14 season. That was despite not meshing well with the team’s offensive style, which focused on perimeter shooting. She averaged a career-low of 9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. She also played in the inaugural season of Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 basketball league founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.
But the move to the soon-to-be Comets will be a homecoming for Griner in 2027. The Houston native played for Nimitz High School, then for Baylor from 2009-2013, where she established herself as one of the greatest shot blockers in NCAA history while leading the Bears to a 2012 NCAA National Championship with a 40-0 record.
The move comes after the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement, which, according to ESPN, features a salary cap increase to $7 million and a 20-percent revenue-sharing model. The deal boosts average salaries to over $583,000, mandates 12-player rosters, and improves retirement and family benefits.
As the Sun prepare for their “sunset” season, Houstonians will be keeping a close eye on roster moves, not just for the potential drafting of a superstar in 2027, but also on how Griner meshes with her new team.