Brittney Griner Delivers Clear Message to Start Dream Tenure

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dibyendu Mondal | Last updated May 18, 2025 8:15 AM ET

Brittney Griner started in the season opener against the Washington Mystics, playing for 28 minutes and scoring 18. In a pre-game interview, Griner delivered a strong message regarding her desires.

She stated her ambition to play for Team USA at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The three-time Olympic gold medalist said the opportunity to compete on home soil would be “amazing” and a lifelong goal for her and her parents.

"It's a goal of mine," Griner told ESPN in an extended interview this week as she prepared for her debut with the Dream on Friday night against the Washington Mystics. "It hasn't been in the U.S. for a while now, so I think to be able to play at the Olympics in your home country would be amazing."

"My parents have never been to the Olympics. So, I'm going to strive for it and try to do what I need to do so I can get that call-up or at least be at the camp and help out the ones that will go, whatever it's going to be."

Brittney Griner congratulates DeWanna Bonner on becoming third in #WNBA all-time scoring list in league history and surpassing Tina Thompson on her Instagram story. They were teammates on the Phoenix Mercury throughout the 2010s. #WNBA ⁦@Ballislife⁩ pic.twitter.com/r0oWO0SAmt
— Aya Abdeen (@ayabdeen) May 17, 2025

Griner didn't want to leave the Phoenix Mercury after playing there for 12 seasons. But management made it clear that their future plans did not involve her. The team focused on a different direction and recruited Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas.

If selected for 2028, Griner would chase a fourth Olympic gold medal on U.S. soil and carry forward the legacy of the 1996 Atlanta team that won the last women’s basketball gold on home ground.

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

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