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Owen Ziliak/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Brittney Griner a ‘game-changer’ for Mercury since returning from significant injury

Originally posted on Burn City Sports | By Alec Cipollini | Last updated Jun 19, 2024 6:59 PM ET

When the news first broke that Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner suffered a toe fracture to her left foot during preseason, the team had to weather the storm due to how big of an impact her absence would turn out to be.

But now that she has returned, the superstar is performing at the caliber the Mercury were hoping for.

Griner fitting into Mercury’s new system seamlessly

Having a decorated resume filled with various accomplishments since being drafted in 2013, Griner has won almost everything she could possibly earn in women’s basketball but is not settled, wanting to achieve more.

The Baylor product won the 2014 WNBA championship with Phoenix, is a nine-time WNBA All-Star, eight-time WNBA block leader, two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, has won the gold medal at both the 2016 Rio de Janeiro and 2020 Tokyo Olympics with Team USA and even more.

She claimed she had a strong offseason and was well-equipped for the 2024 season before falling with her injury. Injured after the Mercury’s first preseason game against the Seattle Storm, the Texas native had to sit out for the first 10 games.

Needing to find a resolution, Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts went to Natasha Mack who has been reliable when incorporated into his new systems.

Once she came back, however, Griner took over for Mack at center and the team has drastically changed ever since.

Opponents are finding it difficult to be able to attack the paint with Griner’s 6-foot-9 stature blocking lanes as well as her ability to collect rebounds with ease on either side of the floor as she towers over most players in the league.

Acknowledging her dominance and how special Griner is, Tibbetts praised the impact she has made since her return, with the Mercury now 4-1 in its last five games.

“Getting BG back, she’s a game-changer,” Tibbetts said after the Mercury beat the New York Liberty on Tuesday. “Getting her back when we put this team together, we saw it a little bit in training camp and for her to miss the first 10 games. This is a big week for us to get over .500 with BG missing those games and to get some of the wins that we got here with her and Bec [Rebecca Allen] back, hopefully it is a confidence booster.”

"Getting BG back, she is a game-changer."

Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts on how Brittney Griner has helped the team go 4-1 in its last five games.#ValleyTogether #WNBA #LightItUpNYL pic.twitter.com/IPESSfWuNE

— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) June 19, 2024

In five games, Griner is averaging 21.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists. On the defensive end, she has 1.8 blocks per game.

Comfortability improving more and more

The serious injury added to her detainment in Russia last year produced challenging times for Griner who has battled adversity to get to this stage of her life.

With her back on the court, named to the USA Basketball Women’s National Team for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and her wife Cherelle being pregnant, there is light at the end of the tunnel and she is more than elated with all of the positive things going on around her.

Trying to feel as comfortable as she can on the court, Griner claims that she is close to being fully acclimated and close to her true potential.

“We’re getting there, we’re getting close,” Griner said after Phoenix won 87-78 over the Seattle Storm on Sunday. “Don’t want to peak too soon. Each day I feel better and better. Feel more comfortable each game. It’ll come, it’ll come, let it ride slowly.”

Since he arrived in the Valley, Tibbetts has been fortunate to be surrounded by WNBA stars like Griner, Diana Taurasi, Natasha Cloud and Kahleah Copper.

Trying to build chemistry and comradery throughout the roster, Tibbetts detailed what it has been like to coach someone like Griner and how she adapt to his tendencies.

“Well part of my job and our staff’s job is to move BG around,” Tibbetts said. “Obviously we are going to throw it to her in the post. Her willingness to screen is something that we worked a ton on after our staff got the job was her screening angles, and she’s really bought into that. You are seeing our players find her on rolls. We got high-level players coming off the pick-and-roll. Their defender that’s in the coverage or in a drop, they’ve got a decision [to make]. If they are back, BG is putting pressure. She is getting out of the pick-and-roll at a good rate.

“We are trying to move her around, blocks, elbow catches, rolls and she has really bought into it. She’s been so great to coach because she is so willing and open to try new things.”

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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