After everything Brittney Griner has been through over the last year or so, she always told us that she was going to get back on the court for this WNBA season.
Here we are 579 days later and Griner is officially back like she never left.
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The Mercury center made her first WNBA appearance since 2021 on Friday when Phoenix played the Sparks. Griner’s Mercury didn’t win the game, but she was impressive nonetheless. And it felt like just about everyone came out to support Griner and show her love for her return.
Here are 7 awesome moments from a night we won’t forget anytime soon.
Outside the arena
The Crypto Dot Com arena in LA was decked out to welcome Brittney Griner back with Nike advertisements on big screens everywhere.
It reads “Basketball is home.”
Live look at @nikebasketball’s billboard outside of https://t.co/eVdfhDiduM Arena in honor of Brittney Griner’s return to the floor pic.twitter.com/eAlQT5feoa
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 20, 2023
Brittney Griner arrives at the arena
Here’s when Griner arrived at the arena getting ready to warm up.
Brittney Griner has arrived.@Sports360AZ @Winsidr #WNBATwitter #WNBA pic.twitter.com/2MrcBPOWal
— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) May 20, 2023
Vice President Kamala Harris showed up
Lots of folks came out to support Griner. That includes Vice President Kamala Harris, who came and spoke to both the Sparks and the Mercury in their locker room ahead of the game.
Vice President @KamalaHarris welcomes BG back ahead of the @PhoenixMercury’s first matchup of the season 🧡 #BGisBack pic.twitter.com/Eg70Ikx8dB
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 20, 2023
She took this photo with Griner and her teammates.
What a moment.
A big hug with Dawn Staley
Griner also shared a huge hug with South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, who showed a lot of love and support for the Mercury center while she was detained.
Dawn Staley and Brittney Griner share a big hug before Mercury-Sparks ❤️
(via @SportsCenter)pic.twitter.com/MMcymxMjZk
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) May 20, 2023
Her first bucket
Here’s Griner scoring her first WNBA points in 579 days. This is a pretty incredible moment.
Brittney Griner sinks her first FG attempt of the game 👏
Welcome back, BG 🧡
(via @WNBA)
pic.twitter.com/Ib2hPagJYh— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 20, 2023
Celebs showed up
Lots of celebrities showed up to show Griner love, too. Obviously, that includes Staley and Harris. But Pau Gasol, Magic and Cookie Johnson, Darvin Ham and more came out to be part of the moment.
Lakers legend Pau Gasol is at the Sparks season opener vs. Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury. pic.twitter.com/8bnLQzuQjc
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) May 20, 2023
Lot of noteworthy folks here at Crypto who came to see Brittney Griner play in her first regular season or postseason game in 579 days — VP Kamala Harris, Magic & Cookie Johnson, Dawn Staley, Billie Jean King, Pau Gasol, Darvin Ham, Leslie Jones. BG got a LOUD ovation when…
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) May 20, 2023
Some legends in the house to welcome @brittneygriner home. @MagicJohnson @BillieJeanKing ❤️@PhoenixMercury @WNBA pic.twitter.com/RvGR1GmB25
— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) May 20, 2023
Lakers coach Darvin Ham is in the house to see the Sparks play against Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury. #NBA #WNBA #WNBATwitter pic.twitter.com/xrxpPCEMHg
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) May 20, 2023
Griner put up numbers
Though the Sparks won the game 94-71 after raining down 3-pointers on the Mercury, Griner still had a pretty good night with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks. It’s almost like she never left.
Brittney Griner in her first WNBA game in 579 days 🔥
18 points 7-of-9 FG
6 rebounds 4-of-4 FT
4 blocksWelcome back, BG! pic.twitter.com/oJ8WZvfdZm
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 20, 2023
Though I’m sure she’d love to have come out with a win, nothing could’ve spoiled that moment for Griner. What a major accomplishment and a huge moment in history.
Shoutout to BG, man. Glad she’s back.
