Brittney Griner Responds to Retirement Talk After Sun Loss

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated May 4, 2026 9:55 AM ET

Connecticut Sun center Brittney Griner had something to prove on Sunday. The 10-time All-Star and her new team fell to the New York Liberty, 79-67. It was the Sun’s 2026 WNBA preseason finale at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Griner stood out as the clear bright spot. The 35-year-old center posted 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field. She added four rebounds in 21 minutes of action.

Griner's performance pushed back hard against retirement chatter.

Her postgame comments delivered the message just as clearly.

"A lot of people counting me out, want to call me old, want to set me to retire and [expletive]," Griner said. "But I'm not. I got a lot to go, and this team is bringing a lot out of me."

Griner interview after cookin in the first half:
“People…wanted to call me old, wanna say I need to retire and sh*t…I’m not”

NY vs CT def coming w the competition of an in-season game so far pic.twitter.com/kmWK2DTVlg
— Rosalina Lee (@YoitsRosie) May 3, 2026

Entering her 13th WNBA season, Griner showed she is still adding new dimensions to her game. The 6-foot-9 center connected on two three-pointers on two attempts, which both tie career-high marks for the veteran.

Griner did not play like a player winding down. She played like one still evolving.

Griner won the 2014 WNBA title with the Phoenix Mercury. She averaged 16.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game across her first 12 seasons.

Doubts crept in after a forgettable 2025 campaign with the Atlanta Dream. Griner averaged career lows across the board. She posted just 9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Questions mounted about whether she could still compete at an elite level.

The Sun did not listen to the noise. Connecticut signed Griner to a one-year, $1.2 million deal in free agency on April 11.

Griner and the Sun open the 2026 regular season Friday against the Liberty at Barclays Center in New York.

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

More must-reads: