New WNBA sensation Britney Griner didn’t waste any time announcing her arrival on the WNBA scene Monday night.
With emphatic force and athletic grace, the much talked-about Griner threw down two dunks in her debut game for the Phoenix Mercury en route to 17 points and three rebounds for the Phoenix Mercury Monday night. It wasn't enough to stop Elena Delle Donne and the Chicago Sky from trouncing the Mercury, 102-80, but for hoops fans, the message was heard loud and clear—the Next Big Thing in women’s basketball had arrived.
The first dunk came with 7:55 left in the fourth quarter, as Chicago held a 78-54 lead over Phoenix. Coming off a pick and roll, Griner nailed a one-handed dunk with grace and precision.
However, the second dunk was arguably the most memorable, was later in the fourth quarter with 2:23 left in the game. While the Sky were up with a commanding 96-72 lead, Griner capitalized off a steal and a lob pass to her for a flying two-handed dunk where she hung off the rim, Dwayne Wade-style, in what was probably the highlight clip of the night for the game.
Griner, the No.1 pick in the WNBA draft, has come in with an unprecedented level of attention and hype. Griner made Baylor University a powerhouse in women’s basketball, blocking more shots than any Division I women’s team—yes, a team—that season, and won the Big 12 Player of the Year three times, as well as the 2012 Division I Player of the Year award. In her final season this year, Griner averaged 23.6 points and 4.2 blocks for Baylor, her 736 career blocked shots a record for any player, male or female, in NCAA history.
Her admission that she is gay generated much attention, as did Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban commenting recently that he would strongly consider drafting Griner in the upcoming 2013 NBA draft.
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