Brittney Griner, Mercury Agree to New Contract Ahead of 2024 WNBA Season

Adam WellsMarch 30, 2024

UNCASVILLE, CT - AUGUST 31: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury looks on before the game against the Connecticut Sun on August 31, 2023 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images)

Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images

Brittney Griner is returning to the Phoenix Mercury for her 11th WNBA season.

The Mercury announced they signed the eight-time All-Star to a new deal on Friday.

WNBA @WNBA
🚨 RE-SIGNED 🚨<br><br>2014 WNBA Champion, 9x All-Star, 8x Blocks Leader, 2x Defensive POY and 3x All-WNBA First Team member, Brittney Griner has re-signed with the <a href="https://twitter.com/PhoenixMercury?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PhoenixMercury</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBAFreeAgency?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBAFreeAgency</a> <a href="https://t.co/AU7uNXTaz1">pic.twitter.com/AU7uNXTaz1</a>

Griner didn't play during the 2022 WNBA season after being sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison after being found guilty on charges of drug possession and smuggling. She was detained at a Russian airport in February 2022 while traveling to the country to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg in the Russian Premier League.

Customs officials alleged Griner was carrying vape cartridges with hash oil in her luggage. The cartridges contained less than one gram of hash oil and was legally obtained in the United States.

Lawyers for Griner argued during the trail she was prescribed medical cannabis to manage severe chronic pain.

Griner returned to the United States in December 2022 as part of a prisoner swap. In her first public statement after returning home, she announced her intention to play the 2023 season in the WNBA.

The Mercury signed Griner to a new deal in February 2023. She averaged 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game in 31 starts and was named a starter in the WNBA All-Star Game.

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Griner, the No. 1 pick in the 2013 draft, has spent her entire WNBA career in Phoenix. She is a seven-time All-Defensive team selection, two-time Defensive Player of the Year winner and led the Mercury to a WNBA title in 2014.

The 2024 WNBA season tips off on May 14. The Mercury will take on the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces at Michelob Ultra Arena on opening night.