After the Atlanta Dream made the move to bring Angel Reese in from Chicago, many people wondered what Brittney Griner’s future would look like. The All-Star center moved from Phoenix to Atlanta in 2025 for a new opportunity, and was a big a part of the overhauled team that ended the regular season as the three-seed. Yet, with Brionna Jones and now Reese leading their frontcourt, Griner’s role was about to be significantly reduced.
WNBA Free Agency: Grading Brittney Griner to Connecticut
Brittney Griner set herself up for a Houston homecoming by way of Connecticut.
Chelsea Leite has been writing about professional basketball since 2021, and covers both the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Tempo as a credentialed reporter for SB Nation.
She’ll now make the move to the Connecticut Sun, joining the franchise for their last season in New England before they make the move to Houston.
Grading Brittney Griner to the Sun: B-
Griner transitioned from a starting role to a reserve for the Dream in 2025, a process that saw her production drop from her usual standard. Still, at 6-foot-9, she will be a commanding presence in the paint no matter where she goes. Presumably, she will resume her place as a starter role on a very young Connecticut team, taking on a veteran leadership position.
There is no indication of the length of Griner’s deal with the Sun franchise, but this seems to be a bigger move to ultimately get her on the team when they move to Houston. Griner is from Houston, and once the Sun make the move in 2027, Griner could play the final years of her career in her hometown.
So, is this a win-now move? Not really, as Connecticut isn’t in a win-now position — they are tied with the Chicago Sky for the worst title odds in the WNBA at +50,000, per our friends at FanDuel — and Griner alone won’t change that. Yet, she will have a big impact on the younger players, be a good vet for them, and set herself up for a homecoming.
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