Ballislife Exclusive: Brittney Griner Speaks on Diana Taurasi Documentary, Atlanta Dream

PHOENIX— Center Brittney Griner is in her first season with the Atlanta Dream after spending 11 years with the Phoenix Mercury.

Photo Credit: Jineen Williams | Ballislife

Griner played alongside franchise legend Diana Taurasi, forming a bread-and-butter duo for over a decade in The Valley. They won the 2014 WNBA Championship together, the last time the Mercury won the title. Throughout her illustrious career, Griner has been a ten-time WNBA All-Star, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and has earned multiple First and Second Team honors.

A two-time scoring champion, she was named to the All-WNBA First Team and the WNBA All-Defensive Team three times each. Additionally, she is a three-time All-WNBA Second Team member.

With her new team, the Dream is having one of its best seasons since 2018, when the franchise finished 23-11 and advanced to the semifinals as the second seed. With Karl Smesko at the helm as head coach and essential players such as Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada, and Brionna Jones, Atlanta has a strong chance to break its playoff losing streak.

Gray is having the best season of her career in her third season with the Dream, averaging 18.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. An MVP candidate, her contributions to Atlanta are impressive and Griner sees it as well as anybody. Griner also admires forward Naz Hillmon, who is one of the favorites to win the Sixth Player of the Year award, averaging 8.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.

Brittney Griner Elaborates on Dream, New Teammates with Ballislife

Now in her 12th season in the WNBA, Griner is averaging 10.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while adjusting to Smesko’s up-tempo and perimeter-oriented system while carving out her role with the Dream.

Griner spoke with Ballislife to discuss the new Taurasi documentary that’s on Amazon Prime and what she has seen from her Dream teammates throughout this season.

Ballislife: How much does Allisha Gray mean to this Atlanta Dream team?

Griner: “To this Dream team, to me too. I mean, she makes my life easier. She makes all our lives easier. And then, I mean, every time it leaves her hand, I don’t think anybody thinks this is not gonna go in. So, what she’s doing on the offensive end, but what she’s doing on the defensive end as well is just so big for us. Coach (Karl Smesko) challenges her all the time in practice, she steps up right to it and does everything.”

Ballislife: What have you seen from Naz Hillmon this year?

Griner: “I mean, the three ball for one. Let’s just start there. That three-ball is sweet. She’s making the reads, Naz (Hillmon) in the huddles, when it’s just us rallying us together, that part of her game isn’t talked about enough, because it’s such a big piece someone that can bring everybody together, say the right things in the right moment. And that’s a big part of her game, too.”

Ballislife: Have you ever had a chance to watch the new Taurasi documentary that’s on Amazon Prime?

Griner: “I have started (watching) it. So while I’m traveling (with the team), I’m watching the episode. So I gotta watch the second episode on this flight (from Phoenix to Seattle as the Dream are on a road trip).”

Ballislife: If so, what have you thought about it?

Griner: “Love it. Love it. I mean, I know so much about her, but just seeing it, hearing it (from her parents) Mario, Lily, (her older sister) Jessika, her whole family. Love them so much. And her story is just so amazing, like, it’s bigger than basketball, honestly.”

Ballislife: How do you think the Taurasi documentary will help grow women’s basketball, especially by acknowledging its past?

Griner: “I was just gonna say, I mean, she’s done it and still doing it right now. I mean, the way that she competed, she showed up every single day, I mean, she put everything on the line every time she played. And then she brought people along with her, she’s a player, that’s great, but then also brought people along to make them great as well.”