← Bird's Eye View with Sue Bird
Bird's Eye View with Sue Bird
Brittney Griner on Learning to Stand Tall, Surviving Russia, and Getting Back to her Authentic Self
01:15:23
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- [00:00]
Host
When I got a new car, I thought my insurance premium would increase and empty my bank account. Like if Fatween won the lottery. I've invested most of my winnings in chicken tenders because they're bomb. But bro, I bought a house and it's sick, bro. I'm thinking the floor is going to
- [00:14]
Brittney Griner
be all trampoline, bro.
- [00:16]
Host
With a helipad on the roof. The contractor said it's structurally unsound, but they're just being babies. But switching to Geico saved me hundreds so my bank account is safe.
- [00:25]
Brittney Griner
It feels good to save some hard earned cash. It feels good to Geico.
- [00:31]
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Support for this show comes from Odoo. Running a business is hard enough, so why make it harder? With a dozen different apps that don't talk to each other. Introducing Odoo. It's the only business software you'll ever need. It's an all in one fully integrated platform that makes your work easier. CRM, accounting, inventory, E commerce, and more. And the best part, Odoo replaces multiple expensive platforms for a fraction of the cost. That's why over thousands of businesses have made the switch. So why not you try Odoo for free@odoo.com that's o d o o dot com.
- [01:11]
Host
Do you like low key or high key? Probably know it and feel it. When players are scared of you in the lane. Like when someone comes driving down the lane and they see you and then they don't shoot it.
- [01:22]
Brittney Griner
Yeah. Or they have like they're coming down and then they get there and they like freak and like throw that thing all weird or like they look at it and you know they're a player that attacks every single big but they got the ball and they're like pass out. Go set a screen. I'm like oh, okay.
- [01:48]
Host
Hey everybody, welcome back. My guest this week is the one and only Brittney Griner. She has been one of the WNBA's most dominant centers for over a decade. She's won pretty much every award and honor there is. A 10 time all star, two time defensive player of the year, led the league in rebounding four times and scoring twice. She's on pace to be the all time leader in blocks this month passing Margot Dick's record of 877 blocks. And let's not forget her record. 27 dunks, the most by far in WNB history. Is it really 27? That's wild. Anyways, throughout her career in and basically wherever she's played, Bee Gees achieved success at the highest of levels. After A legendary college career at Baylor, where she led the Lady Bears to a perfect 400 season and the 2012 national championship. She was selected by the Phoenix Mercury as the number one pick in the 2013 draft. She spent 11 seasons in Phoenix anchoring their dominant 2014 championship run. On the international stage, she's won four Euro league championships and three Russian league championships and three Olympic gold medals as a member of the US women's national team. This year, she is bringing her veteran leadership to the sun, which is scheduled to move to Brittany's home state of Texas in 2027. As she continues to climb the WNBA's all time blocks and rebound charts, she remains one of the most unstoppable forces in the game today. We're going to get to that interview in a second, but before we do, you know what time it is. It's time for Sue's view. First and foremost, for Sue's view. You probably knew this was coming. I'm sure you did. I don't really have much to say, except we can change the 1973 on this shirt to 2026. That's right, folks, the Knicks are NBA champions. I don't think any of us actually thought this was ever going to happen. For years and years, the ups, the downs, the almosts, we finally did it. And by we, I do mean all of us in New York. All of us that have been Knick fans, even the new ones. I don't even care. The streets were insane. I sadly wasn't in New York. Not my fault. I had to work that night. But watching all the celebrations was incredible. I'm just so thrilled for literally everybody, but especially the actual players, the actual franchise. Just so special. And I mean, wow. You can't tell us nothing now. Nothing. Not a thing. Okay, and now it's time for the real Sue's view. The WNBA Sue's view. I've done this segment before. It's this time last year. For this week, I'm going to do Kelsey Plum. This time last year, after 12 games, Plum was averaging 21 points, 5.6 assists, but on 38% shooting from the field and 37% from three. She finished that season with like somewhat similar numbers. A little higher here, lower there, it doesn't matter. Plum this year after 12 games, is averaging 25 points per game, 6.4 assists a game. Those are career highs on 54% shooting from the field, 40.5 from three. For like, context in all of this, Asia Wilson, who became the first player to score a thousand points in a single WNBA season in 2024 averaged 26.8 points per game. So Plum in the early parts of the season obviously has a long way to go, is kind of knocking on that door. And it's really been historic. Historic as far as every player goes, but historic as far as guards go. It's very rare for guards to be this efficient just because they're generally shooting from further from the basket. And that's really what stands out. That's what makes this so remarkable. It's the efficiency. Like I said, she's doing it on 54% shooting. And again, to give more context, of all the all time top 10 scorers, only Asia Wilson and Lauren Jackson are in that top 10. So basically like averaged over 20 points in some way. Who shot above 50% also. The other thing I want to point out is, you know, yes, the points per game, the efficiency. She's also averaging a career high in assists, 6.4. So shout out to Plum. She came on the pod last year and literally talked about efficiency. Talked about it was the one thing that people knocked her for. Right. She had the numbers, but she wasn't doing it efficiently. And I just feel like that's Plum in a nutshell. You challenge her, you say something about her, and she goes out and does something about it. So pretty impressive right there. Okay. Speaking of scoring and scoring in general, the scoring is up. It's. It's up. It's been up. We've mentioned this before. As of this recording, teams are averaging 85.3 points per game, up 3.6 points from last year. Also, the number of times a team has scored a hundred or more points in a game is way up. As of this recording, again, 30 times it's already happened. Compared to last season, when we're at this point, it only had happened six times. This season. Every team in the league except for the Valkyries and the Storm have scored over a hundred points in a game at least once. The Aces have done it already five times. That's crazy. And speaking of Plum, her and Kaliyah Copper Both just dropped 40 in a game. The same game. That game went into overtime. That was a WNBA first. I feel like we're seeing firsts in points all over the place. There's been a lot of articles and things, you know, talked about as possible reasons. I think it's pretty clear cut. I mean, listen, I'm going to start by saying at the end of the day, the players are going out there and doing it. The teams are going out there and doing it. So there's really nothing to be taken away. You got to put the ball in the basket. But I do think it's pretty obvious that with league expansion it just dilutes a little bit, right? So a player that was maybe eighth or ninth on a roster last year, the year before that, year before that, and is now maybe a starter. And so it just changes, you know who you're playing against. This is just kind of like a fact. The refs are calling more fouls and really what that means is defenses have to loosen up a little bit. That also lends to more offense, which again I love. So that's a part of it. I also think there's like an analytical thing happening, right? A lot of teams are shooting more threes, a lot of teams are shooting higher percentage twos. This has become, if you look at shooting maps that people put out, shout out to those people that do that. By the way, if you look at shooting maps, you can see a lot of teams are shooting in the paint and then behind the three point line, down goes the pull up. Down goes the pull up. But you know what? I feel like low key. That's where I would have still killed because people give that up. I digress. So it's interesting. I love the high scoring. Let me know what you guys think. Last but not least, before we get to the interview, WNBA Pride Month is coming as part of WNBA Pride presented by Coach. For every free throw made during the 24 designated Pride Games played from June 20th to 27th, coach will donate a hundred dollars to Athlete Ally and up to 200k in total. Is that a good segue to Brittney Griner or what? Let's get to it.
- [09:10]
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- [09:37]
Brittney Griner
It feels good to have support. It feels good to Geico.
- [09:40]
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Support for this show comes from Odoo. Running a business is hard enough, so why make it harder with a dozen different apps that don't talk to each other? Introducing Odoo. It's the only Business software you'll ever need. It's an all in one fully integrated platform that makes your work easier. CRM, accounting, inventory, e commerce, and more. And the best part, Odoo replaces multiple expensive platforms for a fraction of the cost. That's why over thousands of businesses have made the switch. So why not you try Odoo for free@odoo.com that's o d o o dot com. Support for this show comes from Odoo. Running a business is hard enough, so why make it harder with a dozen different apps that don't talk to each other? Introducing Odoo. It's the only business software you'll ever need. It's an all in one fully integrated platform that makes your work easier. CRM, accounting, inventory, e commerce, and more. And the best part, Odoo replaces multiple expensive platforms for a fraction of the cost. That's why over thousands of businesses have made the switch. So why not you try Odoo for free@odoo.com that's o d o o.com.
- [11:08]
Host
BG welcome to the show.
- [11:10]
Brittney Griner
Ah, thank you, thank you. Excited to be here.
- [11:12]
Host
I'm so glad you're here. It's gonna be fun. I figured we would just kind of, I figured we would just kind of like start like where you are. Like you're with the Connecticut Sun. You know, we're going to get into all the, all the, the journey of it all. But you were 11 years with Phoenix. You had a year in Atlanta. What ultimately got you to Connecticut?
- [11:34]
Brittney Griner
Ooh, just trying to find, find a place to be after being in Phoenix for so long. That kick, that, that was, that was a, that was a weird experience, honestly. First time really being in free agency, you know, I thought I would be in Phoenix till I retire and you know, things just doesn't, things don't always work the way you want them to work. But so I found Atlanta, was hoping that, you know, that would be home, you know, until the end. Because I don't like moving around. Like I like to get somewhere and be there. Just put in the work there. And then, you know, we had our season and again, still just trying to find the right fit. And Connecticut came about and you know, everybody, no one really wants to go to Connecticut. Like I'll throw it out there. No one, you know, no one, no one wants to go to Connecticut. But I was just like, I wasn't looking at it like where I would be. I was looking at the opportunity, you know, what I'd be able to do. Being with a Younger team, being a vet, you know, it's no surprise that they're going to Houston. I haven't played in Houston in forever, and, you know, that's appeasing to me, you know, so. So I wanted to, you know, go somewhere and, you know, I was like, instead of waiting till. Trying to get there once they get to Houston, I was like, well, shoot, like, I'll go and put in the work and do the grind and, you know, learn the system, learn the people. And yeah, so I just ended. That's how I ended up here. Honestly, it's not. It's not that bad, as people say. Like, I mean.
- [13:12]
Host
All right, tell me it's not big city.
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Brittney Griner
It's not big city. Literally, you know. You know, I know.
- [13:17]
Host
I'm like, give me. Give me a day off then. What's your day off there? Maybe it's over now because you've got Bash too, though.
- [13:27]
Brittney Griner
Yeah, well, he. They're. Well, my wife just got here yesterday. He's coming up Saturday, tomorrow or day after tomorrow, but day off day for me. It's real chill, real chill. You know, I'll go down. I'll leave team housing, drive down to.
- [13:47]
Host
Yeah, I don't even know Natic. Natick, something like that, little bitty town.
- [13:51]
Brittney Griner
They got a really good bakery. They have a fire bakery down there and they got a little boardwalk. Town's cute. So I'll go down there, chill, walk around. You know, I'm in nature, hike, you know, I'll go for a walk. But I like being around the water, though. I'm an outdoors person, so I like being out in nature. So, like, I literally will just go outside and just kind of chill. Bottle of water and the city. And the little city town.
- [14:15]
Host
Yeah, well, you brought up. You brought up Houston. It's like. And you're right, not a lot of people want to play in Connecticut. Honestly, as somebody who went to school there, my sister lives there now, lower part of Connecticut, but still, I wouldn't even want to go there. I get it. I wouldn't want to go there. But now that they're moving to Houston, people are going to want to go to Houston. So how cool is it that, you know, if everything plays out the way it should, you'll be on the first. The, like, resurrected first Houston Comets team. Like, how dope is that for you?
- [14:44]
Brittney Griner
I mean, for me, it means a lot just being from Houston. My whole basketball career literally started in Houston. So organically, like, just kind of found it, got told to come over and I haven't been able to play. Last time I played in Houston was my sophomore year of college. Literally, we played Rice, and I mean, it was a quick, quick little game, and then we were out of there. So I haven't played in front of my dad and my mom and my family since then. So they're all excited. You know, when. When it all came out that, you know, Konnected will be going, will be moving to Houston, it was. I mean, literally, I felt like the city. Text me and was just like, please tell me. Please tell me there's a chance. Please tell me there's a chance that you'll try to come back home. And I was just like, guys, like, you gotta see how it works out. Like, you know, like, as much as I would love to say 100%, like, yes, like, that. That will happen. I mean, you never know. I got my fingers crossed and everything. But it would be amazing just to be there. The city's ready. I mean, the history of the Houston Comets, like, I mean, I think it's been way too long, you know, for them to get a team back. But, you know, we're here, we're there. They're throwing a lot of money into it. I hear the facility is going to be really nice, renovating, bringing back old players, you know, to be a part of it and stuff. So, like, I just think it could be something really special. And I. I mean, I would love to be a part of that, honestly.
- [16:11]
Host
So, yeah, your ticket requests are going to be crazy.
- [16:14]
Brittney Griner
Oh, my God. Yo, this is.
- [16:16]
Host
You might have to hire somebody for that.
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Brittney Griner
Don't hit me about tickets. I'm the worst person. I'm like, yo, I got enough to worry about. Text somebody else. Hit my wife. Like, don't.
- [16:27]
Host
I swear, I. Listen. So much love for all my friends and family, former teammates, you name it, like, high school former teammates. Anybody who hit me up for tickets. So much love. Thank you guys for coming to the games. Thank you for support. My. What I couldn't stand was when they would text and be like, hey, when are you coming to New York? When are you playing in New York? I'm like, there's a schedule online. You can just go look. You're asking me to go do that. Just go look yourself. And you. And then you tell me, oh, you should drive me nuts.
- [16:57]
Brittney Griner
That one. That's a pet peeve. Yeah, that's a pet peeve.
- [17:00]
Host
Yeah. I'm like, you.
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Brittney Griner
You. You can go text, but you're texting me. You can easily just go to Google, like, Exactly.
- [17:06]
Host
You should drive me nuts. No, but that's exciting. That's exciting. Okay, so let's talk a little bit about just like on the court right now. You guys, obviously you're in the bottom of the league. You're a young team. You're kind of trying to like develop and grow and build like a culture of what will then go to Houston. But you do have a lot of like young talent. And you just kind of mentioned coming to a team. You're now like a vet. So twofold question one, just talk about the young talent. Like, I feel like especially the post players, because that's probably who you're working with, like on a day to day. And there's like so much I'm seeing in Anissa Morrow, so much I'm seeing in Olivia Nelson Adota. Just like, what are you seeing in the young talent of the Connecticut Sun?
- [17:50]
Brittney Griner
Yeah, I was excited, honestly, because with Lili being here with Niece being here with. With Olivia being here as well, you know, playing against him, we all know what nese can do on the boards. Like, I've never seen somebody that just literally attacks every rebound. Like, even with us, it's like, we got it and here come niece snatching it from us. We're like, okay, Niece. All right, you got it. Oh, I mean, she had like 12 rebounds in the first quarter one game. So she has just so much raw talent that just needs to get developed and, you know, just the game, just the breeds and everything. But she is a work woman. I've never seen somebody work so hard, never seen somebody lift as heavy as she does. Every time she comes into the weight room, we're like, well, that's niece's rack. Okay. Saniya has some of the best hands, but, you know, just getting her to understand her potential, you know, sometimes we can see it in them and, you know, you gotta get them to realize, like, if you just make up your mind and just get downhill, there's really no one that can stop you. You're so fast so ath. I mean, you even see it. You see it. You see the progression already with her. Like, she came in the game the other day and got six points really quick. Just getting down low and doing what she needs to do down there. So there's a lot to do with her. She has a big ceiling of growth as well. Lili, we all know what she has. And the thing about Lili I love the most is her situation with being in D.C. and then coming to Connecticut and everything, that was probably tough, but she's used it to really show what she has unravel. I mean, it started unravel that one on one tournament that first year.
- [19:40]
Host
Yeah, it did. Yeah, it did.
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Brittney Griner
What? No one. I mean, people weren't expecting. People weren't expecting that. And we like buckled up.
- [19:47]
Host
Neither was Stewie. Neither was Stewie.
- [19:49]
Brittney Griner
Oh, my God. Yeah. But I love it. And they want to learn. They literally started it off. That was a crazy one. We were all like that.
- [20:01]
Host
They wanna learn.
- [20:03]
Brittney Griner
Yes, they wanna learn. Like they want to get better. They're always looking to know more. You know, you go to talk to a player sometimes, it's not always, you know, receptive. They literally wanna hear it. They want to get better. They wanna know the areas of growth they don't mind getting told, you know, the things that they're not good at, which, I mean, that's all you can ask when you're trying to like, give back and help out another player. But our post player, our post game, yeah, I definitely see a lot of potential there, A lot of growth.
- [20:34]
Host
So the second part of this is kind of like you as a leader and really like how you've seen your growth in that. But now that you're on like a team where you kind of are the main veteran, the one that has accomplished the most with the most experience, how has your leadership changed this year? Or like, what have you been trying to do as a leader this year?
- [20:56]
Brittney Griner
Being more vocal. Not gonna lie, I used to hide behind D. Like, D was the ultimate vet. So I'm just like, I'm like, she got it, let her talk. But I've had people tell me like, bg, you need to be more vocal. You need to be more vocal. So coming into this year, even in training camp, starting right off the bat, I was just like, okay, like lead by example. First off, you know, always first one in, last one out. Like all that thing, you know, going hard, but really just helping them and being more vocal. Like commanding stuff before a coach says it, I say it. And at first it was a little weird for me, like to not demand the floor, but to overspeak a coach a little bit. But they wanted me to do it. They were like, it's better, you know, coming from a player and coming from you than us sometimes. Which I do get that it is better sometimes coming from a player than from a coach for whatever reason. So I've been noticing that on the bench when I wasn't playing, I was just used to just being on the bench, you know, cheering, clapping and all that I've had my little orange paper, my little pen, my little coach's paper.
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Host
Oh, yeah, you know, writing down clips.
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Brittney Griner
What are you trying to say? I'm jotting down time, time, time for clips.
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Host
Third quarter, 1:30.
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Brittney Griner
Yeah, I'm learning. Hey, I'm learning how to clip already. Like, so I'm doing that too, as well. Like, I'm in the midst of playing and doing all that, learning how to clip. And do the coaches work on the backside as well, which. It's been fun, honestly. I'm not gonna lie. I like it. I like it a lot, but it's been really good.
- [22:34]
Host
Wait, wait, wait. What do you mean? Like, which part do you like working with the young kids or you like the coaching aspect? Like, I was just foreshadowing.
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Brittney Griner
I like the coaching aspect, honestly. I really like. I mean, I love working with the young kids. I love working with them. Honestly. I love working with my post players and showing them, you know, all the little tips and tricks, like, I've learned over the years. Bets and things I've developed as well. But I. I like the clipping. I like the film. I like the film part of it. Like, I don't know. It's tedious. It's tedious. Coach Greiner.
- [23:04]
Host
We got Coach Greiner in the building.
- [23:05]
Brittney Griner
I really like it a lot, actually.
- [23:08]
Host
Okay, I love that. I love that. I mean, when you think about, like, again, I'll bring up your experience. Just, like, everything you've kind of seen, there's really no better. That's like, the best teacher is having lived it and then kind of sharing that. If I were to, like, stay with your. Just kind of like the leadership part, you saying how you wanted to be more vocal. And by the way, it's what you're saying about quote, unquote, hiding behind D. You weren't really hiding, but I totally get it. When you have older players, more experienced players that are just gonna do it as a younger player. What a gift. Cause you get to just kind of be yourself. But, like, I feel like for you, if we go back to literally when you were a kid, like, I'm sure so much of your experience, like, you were super tall, super early. Like, you're six, nine. I'm just trying to make this connection between, like, what you've had to go through as, like, a person and how that kind of has led to where you are as a leader now, but as like, a kid, you're six nine before you find basketball to, like, give that height, context in terms of how people see you and treat you. Like, what was that like as a kid? Like, I know that there were. I mean, you've talked about it publicly before, like, some bullying and things like that. So what was that experience like?
- [24:21]
Brittney Griner
Yeah, I mean, was lonely, for one. Because, like, I was. I had no one. No one in reference to. I mean, I had people I could talk to. But when you're young, you're like, it's awkward, it's weird. It's like, I don't really want to say anything because no one else. I feel like no one else is going through this. So, like, you kind of. Like, I internally processed it a lot. But I also love being different at the same time as well. Like, even though it was causing me so much problems and bullying and navigating that, like, I love being different, too. Like, it was like, what set me apart from everybody else. So, like, you know, when I am talking with players and stuff and whatever it is, maybe it's not hype. Maybe it's something else. Like, I'm like, you want to set yourself apart from everybody else in a way, you know, like. But everything that I went through, like, going through hard times, sticking in it, like, not giving up, perseverance, all that, like, I definitely see how those life experiences came over to basketball when, you know, things get tough, when you're at the bottom of the standings and you're trying to claw your way up, you know, they definitely translate over. But, yeah, growing up, it was a little tough. It was a little tough.
- [25:42]
Host
Yeah. Wait, so did. So this idea that you. You kind of also liked being, quote, unquote, different? I don't know if that's really the right word to say because it's feels so silly to say it like that. But is that something that you just like. Yeah. Unique. Yeah. Is that. Is that something that you just had or is that like, did somebody kind of.
- [26:02]
Brittney Griner
I think my dad put that into me. I think my dad. I think my dad helped me with that a lot. Honestly, like, my dad and my mom, you know, they. They would always. My mom would breathe into me, you know, you're beautiful. You're this, you're that. I'm just like, all right, mom, thanks. You know, like, thanks, Mom. But my dad was just like, you're big. Like, who cares? Stand tall. I mean, my dad was military. Marine, Vietnam, 68, 69. Law enforcement, 30 plus years. So, like, you're going to stand tall. You're different. Oh, well, let him see it. You know, like, he. He was like, that's a. That's an advantage. He was like, you'll have an advantage. He didn't know it was going to be basketball, but, like, he was like, you have an advantage. You're seeing your first one seen. Like, he's thinking probably workforce or, you know, being out there being a leader or whatever it is. Like, he was like, you. You command, like, your presence. Like, when you speak. Command, presence, talk with conviction. Like, these are things that he put into me growing up. So. And I can see it now, like, when I'm with a team or with an organization, talking with people, you know, like, look at them in their eyes, shake their hand, don't slouch. Like, these are things that I go into, you know, these rooms with, and, like, I. I notice people noticing it and appreciating it. So I've always, like, used that, you know, going through my life. But, yeah, he definitely helped me be comfortable with me in a different way. Instead of being like, you know, some other way he used it. He was a little bit hardcore, but it. The message got through, though.
- [27:34]
Host
Right? Right. So this is crazy. All right. I'm going to. Because, like, obviously I have, like, notes, you know, as I do these interviews, things I want to get to or don't want to forget kind of a thing. This is literally what I wrote. Ask her about the way she carries herself now. The. And then. Then, like, in your. Like, the presence you have when you walk into a room. I've seen you in public. I've heard you tell stories of people, like, stopping you from walking into the women's bathroom. Like, moments like that where they misgender you. And I said, it reads like someone who made a decision at some point to just not give a fuck. And, like, the fact that you just talked about, like, presence. First one seen. Like, I know when I walk in those rooms, like, that's exactly how you come across. That's exactly what I see. You know what I mean?
- [28:12]
Brittney Griner
Yeah.
- [28:13]
Host
So it's. You're actually pretty lucky, in a sense, that somebody taught you that so early, because I do think, like, your dad maybe didn't know it was basketball, but figuring out, like, who you were, and then all of a sudden, basketball becomes this place where you do have this advantage. Like, that's like. I don't know. It's like you were. You were, like, positioned and ready for that.
- [28:40]
Brittney Griner
Definitely.
- [28:40]
Host
But was there kind of. Was there also kind of a moment where you did just be like, man, fuck this. Like, everybody's gonna be looking at me like, what?
- [28:47]
Brittney Griner
Fuck that, yeah, honestly, high school, I think ninth grade. Going into ninth grade, that was like in my mind where I kind of came out. Like my first, my first little come out to my friends and everybody.
- [28:59]
Host
Yeah, yeah, My first little come out,
- [29:00]
Brittney Griner
you know, I showed up, I had my red monkey jeans on, Ibizu shirt, like all baggy. Like, I don't know what I was thinking. Thought it was so cool. But that was like my first. Like, I don't care. Like, literally you're either gonna like me or not. Like, I can't lose something I never had. You didn't want to be my friend back then, you don't want to be my friend now. I'm not losing shit. Like, that's literally what I told myself. And it felt great. And then once I went to college, I made another little step and then once I got to the pros, I just made the biggest step and I was just like, I really could care less. I'm a post what I want to post. If somebody doesn't like it. Oh well, someone's always going to have something to say. I can't live my life worrying about somebody else because then I'm be trying to live their life or the life for them and not me. You ain't got but one. So, yeah, my presence and everything. But yeah, even going like you said, he brought up going to the bathroom. I'll never forget being in Turkey. Oh my God, Istanbul.
- [29:58]
Host
Oh, my God.
- [29:59]
Brittney Griner
Went to the bathroom in the airport. Shouldn't have ate them hot chips. And I'm in there, yo, I'm in there and they're like banging on the door like. And it's a guy. I'm like, you shouldn't eat. You shouldn't even be in here, sir. Like banging on my door, talking about, sir, you have to come out. I'm like, well, y' all gonna have to wait. I can't stop. You gotta wait. And I come out and I'm just like, I flash down low because clearly I'm a little flat chested. That ain't gonna. That's not gonna get me through. So I flash low. I'm just like, I'm a girl. They're like, oh, I'm sorry.
- [30:34]
Host
And what they do.
- [30:35]
Brittney Griner
You should be sorry. Like, you should be sorry.
- [30:37]
Host
You should be sorry. Oh my God, you actually pulled your pants down. I'm dead.
- [30:44]
Brittney Griner
Literally, like, I'm like, you want to come in here? All right. You want to, you want to do this?
- [30:48]
Host
You asked for it.
- [30:49]
Brittney Griner
Here we go. You asked for it, sir.
- [30:51]
Host
Oh, man, is it harder? It must be harder in other countries that way.
- [30:55]
Brittney Griner
Oh, it's hard. I mean, but literally, it is harder in other. It's harder in other countries. But at home is the same thing at home, too. Like, I've literally had to change, like, how I move. Like, I just won't use public bathrooms. Like, I just have to, like, wait till, like, I'm somewhere I feel safer or I feel like. Or I take a freaking buddy, I bring one of my teammates. I'm like, come on, you can vouch for me. I need to go to the bathroom.
- [31:18]
Host
Yeah, I know. I know. You, you, you. I mean, the way you handle those moments, it's like you make it look so easy, but we can move on. But, like, I know it must. It's gotta take a toll. Okay, before we get back to your. So annoying. Before we get, like, back to your pro career, you brought up college. Just talk about your time at Baylor, like, kind of, like, how it shaped you. I actually. I'm curious because we can. There's so many parts of your game to. To talk about, but. And, like, listen, you're tall, so of course you're gonna block shots. It's, like, kind of what it is. Like, I'm. I'm a point guard. Of course I'm gonna have some assists, but that doesn't mean there's not, like, nuances and skill to that. So when you're at Baylor, you're now hitting the scene. You know, you guys win a national championship your junior year, go undefeated. All that's happening. But talk about, like, how you're finding your game and then, like, specific to shot blocking,
- [32:13]
Brittney Griner
I mean, I feel like I went in freshman year very, very raw. I had a coach, Bill Brock, who helped me with the backboard and just finding angles, and I feel like that helped me out a lot throughout my, you know, throughout my career. Just finding the right angles for, you know, my hooks. I used the backboard a lot more in college, too. Like, little bank shot and just getting down low, I think, for blocking shots. Volleyball, honestly, helped me with blocking shots. That was my first sport was volleyball. 7th and 8th grade and 9th grade. I played that. Loved it, honestly. It's funny, my first. My first letter in the college was actually for volleyball, honestly, but that helped me with blocking shots. Oh, man. But those little tights. I couldn't do it.
- [33:03]
Host
I was gonna say that. Or, like, if you had to die for a dig, that might be a long way down.
- [33:06]
Brittney Griner
Oh, I was front row. I subbed out. Okay, there Was no back row.
- [33:09]
Host
You subbed out. There's no back row.
- [33:11]
Brittney Griner
Okay, no back row. So look right, hit her middle blocker, leave me in the front. Yep. But it. It translated to timing for blocking shots, too. And now what got me a lot in the beginning was how I used to swing down. You know, someone was like, I forgot who it was. Somebody told me, just break your ribs. And I was like, huh? Break my wrist? They were like, yeah, just break your wrist and block it. Like, don't swing down. And I'm like, oh, okay, well, that'll keep me out of foul trouble. And then, like, that little thing right there, literally, it helped. Even now, still, I'll do it. I'll be like, hands all the way up, and I'll be like, block. But it is harder. I mean, being tall, yes, it does help, but controlling your body, timing it, not jumping into them. You know, knowing players that like to jump into you. So when you jump, you kind of gotta jump back, but still ext. Extend out. Like, using my left with the right with the righties, using my right with my. With the. With the lefties. So it just matches up better. Those are things that, you know, I developed at Baylor and, like, took that into my career.
- [34:15]
Host
What about, like, your touch around the rim? Because, you know, for, like, someone of your size, obviously a center, it's actually crazy because you have a power about you, but you also have, I would argue, even more, like, a finesse about you. Like, when you would spin baseline, like, that was, like, your. I feel like that was like, a go to for a while. Like, that quick spin baseline. Like, there's, like, a footwork and a finesse, but it always finished with, like, crazy touch. So is that, like. Is the touch something you always had, or did you have to develop that?
- [34:46]
Brittney Griner
Nah, I definitely didn't have touch. I had a touch of a mechanic in the beginning.
- [34:50]
Host
Jesus Christ.
- [34:53]
Brittney Griner
Oh, I definitely. Definitely worked on it too much.
- [35:00]
Geico Ad Voice
Yeah.
- [35:00]
Brittney Griner
Yeah, definitely worked on it. I would say working with guards because I would. I would work out with the post players, but then I would also, like, jump into, like, the guard lines and do stuff with them. Like, I mean, I didn't need to, but, like, I was like, why not? I always. I always told myself, why not? Like, why not work on this? Even though I may not ever use it, but I might be in a game, and it might be a situation where, like, I do have to put it on the floor. I do need to crossover. Like, I mean, I'm not between tween behind the back and all that. Absolutely not. But you know, finishing at the rim, like, slow details. Like, I like that. Like, I feel like those are things that I can incorporate into my game. You know, my coach in Ekat, Olaf, now with Sandy, her husband in Toronto, he worked with me a lot. I have to credit, literally my spinning and my pivoting. I have to credit to Olaf, like, he gave me that to go through these, like, spin cycles and pivot cycles. So, like, I would get to the end of my move, spin, pivot, pivot, pivot through the double team to, you know, go up and then, you know, you know, finesse, late left hand, right hand off the right foot, you know, off the wrong foot. Like, those are little things that helped me. And then just making weird shots. Like, I did that on my own. Like, I would get the ball, go down underneath the goal, you know, reaching back, stretch em through, using the other side of the rim. Those are things that I would do, like, and I would be in those situations, get the ball with 4 seconds left, or they throw it to you because you're the tall one. Cause it's easy to get it to you and they get trapped. So now you gotta make like a crazy shot. Like, I would practice those things. Like, literally, like, people would be like, what are you doing? You're just messing around. I'm like, nah. Like, I'm actually like, thinking about scenarios like, and that I could be. And I was always in those scenarios.
- [36:54]
Host
That's so funny. It is true. You're like the ultimate bailout. I'd be like, oh, God, I'm trapped.
- [36:58]
Geico Ad Voice
Bg.
- [37:00]
Host
I got you. I know playing with you on the national team, you'd always be like, hey, throw it higher. I'd be like, okay, I throw it, but higher. You could throw it even higher. Just throw it high.
- [37:10]
Brittney Griner
Hey, you threw it perfect. Damn, I wish we would have. I wish we could have got to play together. That shit would have been crazy.
- [37:15]
Host
I know that would have been nuts. But honestly, watching. I always used to love watching, like, seeing you and Dee on the national team together, it gave me like a different understanding. Well, let me start over. Playing with you on the national team, understanding how to play with you, and then seeing Dee play with you in Phoenix all those years, like, you got the way she would throw it. Like, you just had. You guys had, I don't know, like a connection there with the way that you could link up. It was like she always knew where you were and you were, you were always able to get the right position to make it Easier for her. And it was like, it went back and forth. Um, yeah.
- [37:48]
Brittney Griner
Worked well together.
- [37:50]
Host
It did work well. It did work well. Do you like, low key or high key? Probably know it and feel it. When players are scared of you in the lane, like, when someone comes driving down the lane and they see you and then they don't shoot it.
- [38:04]
Brittney Griner
Yeah. Or they have, like, they're coming down and then they get there and they, like, freak and, like, throw that thing all weird. Or like, they look at it and, you know, they're a player that attacks every single big. But they got the ball and they're like, pass out. Go set a screen. I'm like, oh, okay. All right, all right. Did my job. Yeah.
- [38:25]
Host
But like, you know it.
- [38:26]
Brittney Griner
And you kind of.
- [38:26]
Host
Do you, like, laugh a little bit? Are you kind of like, I do, I do.
- [38:30]
Brittney Griner
Like, I'll laugh, I'll smile. I mean, I can't have my emotions on the court. So, like, I'll. I'll just laugh. Or, like, I'll hit a shot and it would just be like, what? Yeah, I love it. It is true.
- [38:43]
Host
People do get weird. That's funny that you say it like that. It's true. A player, like, it could be like, my teammate. I've seen her drive a thousand times. She drives on you if something gets weird at the end.
- [38:54]
Brittney Griner
Yeah. I mean, and I had to realize that, like, even being, like, on defense, you know, the coaches had to remind me, they were like, bg. Like, I know you don't want to be at the point of the screen because you don't want to get attacked, but, like, when you're at the point and you're freaking, like, all the way out and big, when that guard comes off and they see that, they're like nine, like, nine times out of 10, they're probably gonna pull back or, you know, go the other way or something. I'm just like, okay. And then once I actually trusted myself to do it, I was just like, oh, I see what you mean. Like, the amount of times that they actually came off that an attack went down a little bit versus what they were doing when I wasn't there, you know, so sometimes you just gotta do it and see it, put yourself in that predicament.
- [39:45]
Host
So good. So good.
- [39:46]
Brittney Griner
So good. New markdowns up to 70% off are
- [39:50]
Host
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- [40:02]
Brittney Griner
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Host
That's why you Rack.
- [40:13]
Brittney Griner
This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50 page restoration block. Or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it, ready to make anything online make sense. There's no place like Chrome. Check responses, Setup required. Compatibility and availability. Various 18 study and play come together on a Windows 11 PC. And for a limited time, college students get the best of both worlds. Get the unreal college deal. Everything you need to study and play with select Windows 11 PCs. Eligible students get a year of Microsoft 365 Premium and a year of Xbox game Pass ultimate with a custom color Xbox wireless controller. Learn more@windows.com studentoffer while supplies last ends June 30th terms at aka Ms. CollegePC.
- [41:13]
Host
Okay, we've already brought up D, brought up Phoenix a little bit. So let's get to that. Let's get to draft night. We know Phoenix is going to take you. They were plotting for a year to get that pick, which I have no problem with. And then you spend the next 11 years there. But draft night, you get styled by Ellen Stylus, you come out kind of like around draft night, you were kind of like ahead of your time. When you think about that, like now that's like normal. Well, first of all, most players are already out, which is like a wonderful thing prior to the draft. Um, but like the style, the do like, you were kind of, you're kind of doing it there. Like, what, what went into some of those decisions again?
- [41:55]
Brittney Griner
You know, going to be pro. I was like all the way out. Like, I'm wearing a suit. Like, and like, I look back on it, there was things that I wish I wouldn't have did, but I was still, still, still young. Still a little bit more, still impressionable. You know, like, they're like, oh, put the paint on your nails. Oh, let's do the little makeup so you won't shine. I'm like, I don't if I'm shiny. If I'm shiny, I'm just supposed to be shiny that day. Like, I don't care. So like, I look back at little things like that. I'm just like, I really wish I wouldn't have did that. But I am glad that I was the way I was. You know, it was me. And there Was another person, actually Tony Young. At the time, we were both like, yeah, nah, we're gonna wear suits. We're gonna, we're, we're not gonna, we're not gonna conform. And you know, I told my agent at the time, told Lindsey at the time, I was just like, hey, like, I'm not gonna change myself to get any deals. I don't care. Like, if I'm supposed to have it, I'm supposed to have it. Like, you know, like, it is what it is. Like, I'm not gonna change myself at all. And I've been very proud of that. Like, my whole career. I feel like everything that I've done, I'm proud of doing it because I was my authentic self the whole entire time. Did I miss out on things? Yeah, probably. Probably. So not worth.
- [43:19]
Host
Doesn't matter. It wouldn't have been worth it.
- [43:21]
Brittney Griner
It wouldn't have been worth it.
- [43:22]
Host
You would have had to like, play a part to get it. And that's not, that's just not conducive to like, not for me, you know. Hey, so I know, I know something else. Like during the not draft process, but like, as you're getting drafted, I know that Lindsay connected you and Dee to like, you know, start your friendship off, start your relationship off. So just talk. You've already mentioned her a bunch of times. But when you think back on your, on your time with Dee, like, just the ways in which she helped and what she means to you.
- [43:53]
Brittney Griner
Nah, Dee means everything to me. I mean, I know she hates being, you know, said that she's a mentor and all that type of thing, but, like, I always looked at her like a mentor, big sis, for real. Like, for her to actually, you know, for one, for me to be a rookie doesn't matter. Number one, all that, like, that doesn't matter. Like, to be a rookie on a team. And I went to a team that had bets, like, literally like everybody. I was the one rookie with them. Like, so, like, I could have been like, put to the side or like, you know, over talked or overlooked. And she didn't do that with me. Like, she took the time to like, show me stuff, tell me stuff. She took the time to hit me up the side of my head too. The first day of of training camp with the ball and like, told me, have your hands ready, you better be ready. I was just like, okay. And she put some heat on that ball too.
- [44:48]
Host
And if you know Dee, you know, there is nothing is by accident.
- [44:53]
Brittney Griner
Nothing is by accident. And I learned everything. There's a reason. Like, she'll say something to you or she'll joke or challenge me, but she knew what she was doing. She knew I liked being challenged. She knew I liked being told, like, oh, you can't do that, or, oh, like, we're getting ready to play seal first game. You know, she's still going to put. Still going to put it on you. Like, you know, like, it was just all these little things she did to bring it out of me, coming up to me, like, pop me in my chest, like, you know, when I wasn't playing good to get me going, but then also breaking it down, like, telling me, like, not just why I should duck in right here, like, why this action is a good action to duck in on when you have what they got going on on the wing, on the other side and we're coming off and, like, they're in help side or at the nail, you know, go attack them and get that deep seal. Like, these are things that she would, like, come and talk to me about, or, like, she would tell me why she was doing something to set it up on the backside. Like, I never really had a player really take the time to, like, do all that. And she would bring me into her workouts with, like, her and the other guards and stuff. Like, I would shoot with her, like, and it meant a lot to me. She. I don't think she understood how much it meant to. And I credit a lot of my success and my game to Dee. Like, literally, like, I credit a lot of my basketball knowledge to Dee. And she just funny. I mean, you know, Dee's just hilarious. Like, oh, man, I used to love just being by her like that.
- [46:23]
Host
Like, yeah, constant comedy.
- [46:24]
Brittney Griner
Yeah, yeah, constant comedy.
- [46:26]
Host
Constant comedy. And I feel like on a team, like, in a team like, practice, it can get, like, you know, you're going to. Okay, we're going to go shoot. Or I think overseas, like, the 2A days. Dee's personality, like, made those days kind of, like, manageable. It, like, made them. Every day was different. Every day was fun. She brings that to it, too. So I know that.
- [46:46]
Brittney Griner
Hell, yeah. And she brings the best out of everybody. Like, you can't not go hard with Dee on the court. Like, there's no way. Like, what? There's no way.
- [46:55]
Host
Yeah. What separates her from other great players is just that, like, she brings that to everybody. So when you first start, like, during your rookie year, what. What was, like, the toughest adjustment and then what kind of, like, pretty quickly you were like, oh, I'm gonna Be able to do this.
- [47:13]
Brittney Griner
Uh, I mean, the pace. Like, I'm not gonna lie, watching it in college and then getting there, I was like, okay. On tv, it didn't look like it was this quick pace. Like, the. The pace was this quick. And. And then when I got there, I was like, oh, shit. Like, okay, all right, all right. And then how well they know you? Like, I mean, at the time, we had less teams, too. Everyone knew everyone's game. So whatever you thought you were gonna do, like, nah, they were taking that away from you. You know, like, moves that I was doing in college, like, that wasn't working in the pros. I'm also going against grown women now, too. Like, this isn't play. Like, I was big dog in college. Not gonna lie. There was games I went into. I knew I was going to these games. I was just like, this is easy. Like, I'm not gonna sit here and lie. Like, I'm like, I'm not worried about this game. I'm not worried about these players. Like, it is what it is. But you get to the W, it's like, no, you can't have that mindset, like, at all. Like, you will lose. Like, they have scouted you inside and out. They're gonna take away and make you do all the things that make you feel uncomfortable. Like the scouting, the schemes. The schemes was a big thing how in college, we were just like, one scheme for everybody. Yeah, yeah, that's not gonna work. You know, keep this person off her left hand. Keep that person off her right hand where we're blitzing this person and we're three players switching this right here. Like, I was just, like, my mind was literally spinning, and I would have this face sometimes, and Dee would come up to me and be like, yeah, you're lost right now, huh? And I'm like, yeah, big time.
- [48:52]
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Help.
- [48:53]
Brittney Griner
Help me, please. And she would just simplify it for me. But, yeah, that transition to college, like, watching film, knowing my players and getting stronger. Like, everybody talk about my first game. Oh, you dunked twice. You had the two hand. Yeah, yeah, we lost. We lost. We lost that game to Chicago. Like, that's what I remember. So. And I remember being not over my head, but I was just like, they have an advantage right now, and I have to, like, quickly turn that around where I can get that advantage. And a couple games, like, a couple games in, I started to feel better, started to get into my groove. And I would say halfway through the season, I was like, yeah, this is going to be fun. This Is going to be a fun ride. Halfway through my. Halfway through the season, I was like, oh, yeah, this is going to be good.
- [49:44]
Host
I don't know if you. If you know this. So last week on NBC, you guys played the Fever. So I was in studio, we covered it, and something that we did. I didn't even know this until they showed it to us. You know how they do. You know, every team has a media day. All these young players got asked, what was your welcome to the league moment? And like, five different people said it was.
- [50:04]
Brittney Griner
You Wait, really?
- [50:07]
Host
Most of it? Yeah, most of it. There was like, a couple of them said, you got em like the Sonya Citron screen last year that, like, went around everywhere. Everybody saw that. A couple people had those. And then, of course, a couple people talked about you blocking their shot. But, like, four, five, six of them, you were their welcome to the league moment. Do you have a welcome to the league moment?
- [50:26]
Brittney Griner
Oh, yeah. Oh, hell yeah. Definitely. Kara Braxton. Kara Braxton, rest in peace. Yes. Gail Braxton, rest in peach. Yes. Yes, yes. She caught a rebound, went the turn to outlet it out, and, you know, I tried to press up on her, and it was the worst thing I could have ever did because she wrapped me around her elbow so bad. Like, it was like that grown woman old school. Just. I literally felt like my ribcage set to her arm and wrapped around it. It hurt so bad, but I didn't want to show any pain. I didn't want to show that. Like, I was crumbling, so I just ate it. Like, hurt so bad. And like, I remember going right back at her, too. And like, I saw a look on her face like, okay, she got me back again. But that was like my welcome to the Reading moment right there with her. Honestly, like, that. That one. That one was probably like, yeah, that one, she got me. I felt. I felt that one for a while, but I loved it.
- [51:34]
Host
I mean, that's the thing. I mean, I say this all the time on the pod just so people know. It's like, even in moments like that, it's always all love. Like, the league's small. Like, we all know each other. Yes, stuff happens. But, like, it's not what. Who were like, some of the toughest matchups for you?
- [51:52]
Brittney Griner
Sil Big Sil Silver fouls. That was one of the toughest matchups. Like, I mean, just her length, her size. I mean, Seal gonna seal you too. Like, she gets you down low, she gets you behind them hips. It's over. Like, it is over. What she. It is over.
- [52:10]
Host
Her lower body is strong.
- [52:12]
Brittney Griner
What? And then like just her positioning, her footwork, her arm work, just the swim moves, the setup to get her seal to, okay, you want to front, she spin around, catch you on the, on the high side for the pass on the backside. Like once they swing it. Like, like she was just so good. Like I studied her a lot. Like Sil was one of the players that like I actually like even in the midst of playing against her, like, like I'm like noticing things that she's doing. I'm like I'm still in that. Like I'm implementing that. I have no shame. Like what? No, I want to get better too. So I'm going to do this. Like it's working against me. So let me work this against somebody else and then work it against her. So Sil was like probably like one of the ones that like yeah, I watched her a lot.
- [52:58]
Host
I mean when you think about. So in. Wait, you won in 2014. So in 2014, the Phoenix Mercury win, you guys have like a dominant season. I think you set the record for regular season wins at the time when it was like a 36 or something game schedule. I remember ESPN maybe did like a, they did like a, not like a special but like a little thing on like a feature on your guys length. You're starting five and it was just U5 lined up along like the free throw line and you basically went sideline to sideline like U5 with your arms out like the Michael Jordan poster. Like that's how it looked. And that really was like a special starting five, a special roster. You went deep veteran wise. Annette's on the team, Ev is on the team. Phillips on team like so on and so forth. Special, special team. You guys win, I'm sure and I know this because D has said kind of felt like you're going to win for the next couple years like this. We got this. Let's go. And just for those listening, it's you, Diana, Penny Taylor, Candice Dupree and Dewana Bonner. So that's the starting five we're talking about. But you happen to come along at the same exact time these two teams as the Minnesota Links. Now we're talking the Maya Moore, Simone Augustus, Lindsey Whalen, Rebecca Brunson. And then at some point Sil gets added to that. So I mean when you think back on, let's call that like a three, four year span, you guys have won. They're in the midst of winning their own championships. Like what does that feel like? It kind of Makes me feel like how people must feel about Michael Jordan, like, playing against him in the. In the Bulls era. Like, oh, man, we were good. We would have won. But fucking Michael Jordan's playing.
- [54:41]
Brittney Griner
That's how I feel, especially with my being there. And then after we won, I think that's when Cassille was with Chicago at the time. And then she went to Minnesota. I. That next year. I think that next year she went to Minnesota, and they got even better. Like, Jesus Christ. Like, that team. I remember those battles against Minnesota. Like, if I had to compare it, like, I would compare it to the Michael Jordan era and all that. It was just like, you're going there, you're in there, their crowd is all over you. You feel like you're not going to get any calls in their house. And you really didn't, honestly. But then every single player, it wasn't like, oh, okay, well, let's just take these two away and let the other ones make the other ones beat us. But we couldn't make the other ones beat us, because they definitely would.
- [55:25]
Host
They're Olympians, too. Yeah.
- [55:27]
Brittney Griner
Literally. It was. It was the Olymp. It was like we were getting ready for the Olympics, honestly. Like, hey, it was like, I remember
- [55:35]
Host
when we were at the Olympics. I know. I remember being at the Olympics. And when the four of them. This is Lindsey, Moen, Maya and Sil, we'd be like, oh, the links got it.
- [55:42]
Brittney Griner
Let's just put Lynx are here. And you would see their chemistry. But, like, those battles were crazy. Crazy. Like, I lived for those games. It's like you. Like, you're hyped up, like, you're ready to go out there. Cause you know it's gonna be a grind. You know, you can't take up play off. You can't let any 50, 50 ball go anyway. Like, you gotta get a shot every single time. Trying to limit their shots and their rebounding. But you got Maya going in there rebounding. You got Seal, you got Brunson. First off, Brunson, I don't think Brunson was talked about enough. Like, so I'll never forget that All Star game when she went off, like, I'm talking threes driving. We were like, what's going on right now? Like, she was so good. Then you had McCarvel, Janelle McCarvel, one of the best post passers.
- [56:33]
Host
She's not talked about enough either.
- [56:35]
Brittney Griner
Definitely not one of the best passers ever. Like, just there, just flick it. Boom, boom. Back cut. Lindsey Whelan, cutting back, hitting her like yeah, she. She was. She was. She was a hard. And she was a really good defender of taller post players. I will say she was, like, really good at that.
- [56:52]
Host
Strong. Yeah.
- [56:54]
Brittney Griner
Super strong.
- [56:54]
Host
Yeah. No, those teams were. Those teams were good. It feels like you guys had some crazy. I mean, you basically met each other. You had some crazy matchups, but, man. Yeah, those are fun to watch. Those are fun to watch. You also. You guys in Phoenix also went on this nutso string where, like, string of years where it's like, I don't know, you'd finish. You'd have to do the single elimination games, upsetting everybody. Literally upsetting everybody. Only to, you know, and then you'd get to the. To the semis. That was crazy, that little run. Yeah. Like, how did you guys, like, battling with y'?
- [57:26]
Brittney Griner
All? I never.
- [57:28]
Host
Just a couple times. Just a couple times.
- [57:29]
Brittney Griner
Just a couple times. Yeah. Yeah.
- [57:31]
Host
No, you guys had something mentally going on that was. That was fun to watch. Bg. Like. Like, I'm curious, like, as a. As a. As like a true center, who. You really did, like, define the position for so long. Like, you have the most dunks in the game. In games, it's like 27 dunks. I'm like. I read that. I was like, 27. That's fucking crazy. So you have the most dunks in a game. You've led the league in blocks eight times. You've literally done things physically that nobody has seen or done and honestly might not ever do. What. How do you feel about, like, the style of the game right now? And, like. Cause it's kind of shifting and changing to, like, everyone wants to play five out and, like, you gotta be able to shoot threes. So how does that make. As somebody who made their, you know, built their career on the block, like, how do you. How do you. How do you see that?
- [58:25]
Brittney Griner
I mean, I like the way the game is changing. You know, the five out. I still think that, like, trying to get rid of fives is never gonna really happen.
- [58:39]
Host
I don't think so either.
- [58:41]
Brittney Griner
You see it. I mean, like, we're playing seven game series now. You know, like, those shots aren't always gonna fall. You're gonna need more people down low that can get those shots. Like, that can get the easy two that can get to the line, get people in foul trouble, defend, keep people out the paint. Cause people are getting way more explosive and get into the rim. And I feel like you have to have rim protectors. And there was a. There was like a flux of, like, there was no real Big bigs coming out of college. And then, like, now you start. Like, there's. I feel like there's more coming in. Now you got Betts that just came in that's doing her thing, too. But I definitely feel like you have to have a five. Maybe not so traditional, just back to the basket, just the whole game, but I definitely think you need that aspect. But then also for us, we have to evolve our game as bigs. Like, we have to be able to put the ball on the floor, like, from the elbow, get into the rim, you know, from the short block, the low post, and knocking down that shot. I mean, so many times they just sag off of us, and we could just walk right into it. You know, Dawson has literally made a career over shooting that three. We all know, like, we're just like, don't let Dulson get the shot at the top of the key. And what does she get? Everybody start helping in, and everybody's driving, and she just starts sneaking back, and it's like, oh, there it goes. Like, those are things that, like, we have to add to our game as well. And I do love it. It's making the game better. It's making it more exciting. But I also think that we definitely still need those post players down low, or at least that footwork and that post work to get to it. Like, you know, you're driving, you get down there, turn it into a little post, and then you got your pivots, you got your shimmies, you got your step three. I still feel like that part of the game is still needed and need to be taught.
- [60:35]
Host
No, I agree. I honestly, you really kind of said it perfect. It's like, it. It is not going anywhere. I think bigs, when they're dominant, are still going to dominate. I mean, even if you look at, like, the Asia Wilsons of the world, right? Like, she's obviously not just like a traditional, quote, unquote, traditional five, but still bigs dominate. But I love that there is, like, this evolution of that position also. It's like both are happening at the same time. So. Yeah, I totally agree. Okay, so I want to take it to, you know, 2021 Phoenix Mercury. You guys go to the finals. I actually covered that game or those games in studio, and the whole time, it was just like, if BG plays well, they'll win. Like, if BG play. Like, you really were. Even though Ds on the team, Skyler's on the team, and obviously they, as guards especially have to play well. You were like, I mean, you dominated you guys, you kept them in games, you won games for them in that series. And then obviously, you know, you fast forward to February of the next year, and everything happens in Russia where you're kind of like, at the top of your game in this way, but then now you're in literal Russian jail for 10 months. So just. Just want to, like, go back to that for a little bit. Definitely more so from a basketball standpoint. But just to start off, when you look back and just so everyone knows, like, BG has a book out, you know, it's called Coming Home. You guys can check out and read the doc's coming out, you know, within, hopefully the next year or so. The Brittney Griner story, which I'm sure Sundance was amazing. Congrats on that. Sundance is really cool.
- [62:07]
Brittney Griner
It was so amazing.
- [62:08]
Host
So amazing. But real quick, just from, like, I don't know, like a mental standpoint, when you look back on that, like, how did you get through it?
- [62:17]
Brittney Griner
I mean, it was tough. I will say it was the hardest. I mean, literally the hardest thing I've ever been in and been through my whole life. Like, just. It got really real, really quick, and it turned into, like, I couldn't really worry about basketball or WNBA or any of that. Like, it was more so, like, super basic. Like, stay alive and, like, get through. Like, just stay alive and get through. It was hard. It was hard. I was. In my mind, I was thinking, I did think about ball, and I was just like, well, if I'm here the whole time, that's it. Like, you know, that's it. I was like, if I'm here for a year and I come back, you know, I'll give it a shot. If I'm here for two years, I'm probably done. So I was just like, yeah, that was, like, kind of what I was telling myself once I got back. The mental aspect was probably the hardest. Once I got back as far as, like, getting back into it, my body had changed. I was different. You know, nothing slows down. The world keeps going. Like, everything keeps going. So, you know, people, you know, make plans. They think that. That I'm going to retire or I'm going to come back, play one year and then retire. And I was just like, nah, nah, I'm going to put in the work to get back to it. But it was hard. It was really hard for me to come back and play. I think that first year I came back, I was just so grateful to just be back. I don't feel like I was my real self. I was just happy to be back and happy to be able to have an opportunity to play basketball, but I was not myself. I. The most I've ever weighed. I gotta pick. 260 pounds. Wow. Like, I have never weighed that.
- [64:02]
Host
What do you normally weigh?
- [64:03]
Brittney Griner
Just for like context, like 2, 215.
- [64:07]
Host
Oh shit, 220.
- [64:09]
Brittney Griner
Maybe like around 220, 225, like when I'm feeling like really strong. But by the end of the season, like I'm like 215, 205. Like I'm 204 right now to give contest.
- [64:21]
Host
Oh, wow. Okay.
- [64:21]
Geico Ad Voice
Yeah,
- [64:24]
Brittney Griner
yeah.
- [64:24]
Host
60 something pounds is no joke.
- [64:26]
Brittney Griner
Yeah. So just dealing with that and then. Yeah, I wasn't eating. I finally talked about it like here recently, but like I was literally starving myself, like on game days and like not eating before or after, like trying to like lose weight. Like I was trying everything.
- [64:41]
Host
Really.
- [64:42]
Brittney Griner
Like it was bad. Like I. Yeah, it was, it was a lot. Yeah. First and second year, honestly.
- [64:49]
Host
Versus second year. Yeah, I mean, I don't know that there's any. The. Honestly, the only thing I keep thinking of is kind of what you said when you're talking about your childhood a little bit earlier. Just kind of this perseverance that, you know, you, you learned at a, at a young age. It sounds like that's what kicked in, you know, whether you were actually in Russia or you know, even in those two years coming back. But I don't think anyone can ever really truly relate to just like what you had to kind of face encounter. And that's where I was really curious about. I mean. Cause I can only imagine there had to have been like a. Maybe like a grieving of sorts. Yes. When you're in prison and you're thinking about your actual life. But I mean, you get out, you're now on this climb back to getting your body back, getting your game back, when like a year ago, two years ago, you had it and you're on top. So is that like a, A, Is that like a grief? Like, what, what's that experience like?
- [65:47]
Brittney Griner
It is a grief. It is a grief like one thing can literally alter and change everything. Like, and it's hard to get it back. You sometimes you just don't ever get it back. So depress depression. Like, definitely. There was times where like I just was second guessing myself so much, which I had never did before in my life. I never did in my basketball, at least not in my basketball career. I've never second guessed myself. Like, should I do this. Should I retire? Like, should I not? Should I just give it up? And, like, I mean, I'm not. I'm not a quitter. So I was like, I'm not gonna quit until, like, I feel like myself. And if I feel like I can't do it, then once I get me back to, like, how I want to feel, then I'll make that decision. But, yeah, like, it was. It was tough too. Like, it was. It was a lot. Like, I was smiling and everybody thought I was good too. Cause, like, you know, my same normal, happy, go, lucky self. Like, I'm putting on the. I'm smiling, I'm doing all the things, but, like, literally behind closed doors, like, I was not myself. I mean, my wife felt it probably the most, honestly, like, she was looking at me like, yo, you're not the same person that you were. Like. Like, you're not happy. You're, like, mad and angry and just like, I. Yeah, like, I. It was eternally and behind closed doors, that's where, like, it was just turmoil, honestly, is the best way I can explain it. It was just turmoil in me.
- [67:16]
Host
Yeah. When do you feel like that started to turn a corner or is it still just, like a process?
- [67:24]
Brittney Griner
I feel like right now, even though, yeah, this season is what it is and all that, but when I'm on the court, everything that I want to do, I can do it. And that was a hard thing too, that first year and last year. Like, I was in so much pain. Like, I was in so much pain. Like, my body, my knees, my. Everything. Finally got all that taken care of this off season. Yeah. Did everything I needed to do. I finally feel good. Like hell. I dunked like six times in warmups the other day. Like, just like, I. I haven't two hand dunked in two years, and I, like, did it three times yesterday, warming up, and I was just like, oh, shit. Like, okay. Like, I feel really good.
- [68:09]
Host
Like, play that video for all these people calling you old. When people call you old, I'm like, shut.
- [68:15]
Brittney Griner
It's so funny. It's so funny.
- [68:17]
Host
But honestly, as someone who. As somebody who, like, I think. And by the time I was 35 or 6, just all the people older than me had retired. So I was the oldest and I played another. I literally played another, like, five years. So I was like the oldest for five years. Eventually you just stop hearing it, but in the. In the. The first couple times you hear it, you're just like, you fucking serious? It's. It's. It does. It. It kind of has like a. But then for me. So maybe this is my advice to you. I started to take like pride in it. I was like, yeah, I'm old and I'm still doing this. Yes, fuck out. Like, get out of my way. You start to take pride in a little bit and you still don't want.
- [68:56]
Brittney Griner
You still don't want me to guard your ass at 35?
- [68:59]
Host
Exactly. Yeah. You know, I know I used to start to. Maybe this is my one experience of kind of what I was asking you before. Like when you can see people like playing against you and getting like frustrated or getting scared. But my favorite thing now I'm like in my 40s, you know, I'm like really old, quote unquote, really old now. And whenever I would like score or do something against a younger player and I could see on their face this look of like, fuck, I can't believe I let a 40 year old do that. I'd be like, yep, yep. That was like my own little game within the game.
- [69:35]
Brittney Griner
Good gratification. You're just like, yeah, yeah. You thought you were gonna muscle me? No.
- [69:41]
Host
Oh my God. Okay, bg, I have some rapid fire before I let you go. But I did wanna say one thing. The only, like there's a couple, you know, parts of your career we didn't get to. One was like USA Basketball. So I'm just going to say like three time Olympic gold medalist, two time World cup champion. I can sit here and honestly say, I'm not blowing smoke. We've had, you know, in my time with USA Basketball, like, you know, the Diana Taurasis, the Maya Moores. This is. These are the players. Right? You go back like the Cheryl Swoops, the Lisa Leslie, like all these like players where it's like, like they're people's mount. Bg, we do not win without you. And I can't like, it's not blowing smoke. I can't emphasize enough. Especially when you came along is the same time like Liz Camage came along.
- [70:30]
Brittney Griner
Yeah.
- [70:31]
Host
And like we don't have you. Who the hell knows what happens? All those.
- [70:35]
Brittney Griner
I love those battles for her too.
- [70:37]
Host
Oh my God, you too. I feel like we would go into those games just like, oh, we're about to watch the best one on one matchup of all time. It was just like popcorn at that point for us. I loved it. But very. Yeah, but very, like, honestly and sincerely, like, thank you for the gold medals. I truly believe we don't win without you. There were so many times and we joked earlier about, like, just throw it up to bg. But because these USA Basketball teams, like, we're not, like, real. We're not, like, a. Like, a real team yet. We're only together, like, a couple weeks. There really were times where it was like, well, thank God we can just throw it up. Up. Because, like, our offense isn't doing this, but, like, we have bg, and you always showed up. You always offensively, defensively, like, carried us in so many ways. So I just want to say thank you for that. Like, legit.
- [71:21]
Brittney Griner
I appreciate it. And I have to say, I just. I love playing with you at USA and winning gold medals. And honestly, like, the times on the bus, the music on the bus, the locker room, like, those are. Those are the memories that I remember the most, honestly, like, in being out in the city. Like, I cherish those. I mean, I cherish my gold medals and winning all that, but, like, I really cherish those moments that we had, like, on the bus and stuff. Like, so. And y' all just let me. Cause I was the young one. Like, y', all, literally. I'll never forget my first time when you were at basketball. Like, I was so nervous. Y' all were all sitting down on the floor, like, taking your shoes off and everything. And I came over there, and y' all just, like, welcomed me into the group. Like, that was so big for me in that moment. Like, I don't think y' all honestly knew, but that was a big moment for me. And I appreciate y'.
- [72:08]
Host
All. Thank you. I love that.
- [72:10]
Brittney Griner
I love that.
- [72:11]
Host
I just remember we. We played Australia in, like, a exhibition game. We lost. Liz was on the team at the time. You weren't there. Like, who knows? Maybe you guys were still in the playoffs or something. You remember this, and then you can. Then you join the team. And now we're, like, about to start probably, like, a World Cup. We're, like, about to do it. And you were like, man, y' all lost Australia, huh? You're like, don't worry. Daddy's here now. And I was like, thank you.
- [72:35]
Brittney Griner
Save us, Big papa.
- [72:36]
Host
Yeah, Big Papa's here now. Don't worry. I got you.
- [72:42]
Brittney Griner
Oh, my God. For me to say that, too, is so wild.
- [72:46]
Host
I know. So funny. It's literally what you said.
- [72:49]
Brittney Griner
I'll never.
- [72:49]
Host
I know exactly where we were. We were in Turkey. I will never forget it. I will never forget it. It was so funny. But honestly, it was so true. I was like, oh, my God. Yeah. Thank you. Okay, now I'm just gonna finish with a little Rapid fire. It's gonna go quick. Okay. Favorite candy.
- [73:08]
Brittney Griner
Ooh. Pez.
- [73:09]
Host
Pez. Oh, my God.
- [73:11]
Brittney Griner
Yeah, I stopped you with that one, huh? I don't need the dispenser.
- [73:16]
Host
Pez.
- [73:16]
Brittney Griner
Unless it's like a classic. Unless it's like a classic, like Flintstone, Jetson, something like that. But yeah, Pez. Love Pez.
- [73:23]
Host
Yeah. You don't want the new one. Yeah. You don't need, like, I don't even know. K Pop Demon Hunter on there. Favorite player. Favorite player all time.
- [73:34]
Brittney Griner
D I gotta say. D that's my. That's my dog. I gotta say. D. Yeah.
- [73:38]
Host
Great pick. Great pick. Favorite Current WNBA player.
- [73:42]
Brittney Griner
Favorite current WNBA player. I got two. I'm sorry. I like watching Paige, but I also like watching Zaza when she gets in. Like, I. I love zaza. Down in D.C. or D.C. down in Dallas or. Yeah, down in Dallas. Like, her game is just so, so good. I can't wait to see what she's going to do.
- [74:05]
Host
Okay, pregame music.
- [74:08]
Brittney Griner
Future.
- [74:09]
Host
What you listening to?
- [74:10]
Brittney Griner
Anything. Future.
- [74:10]
Host
Future.
- [74:11]
Brittney Griner
Anything.
- [74:11]
Host
Future.
- [74:12]
Brittney Griner
Future is. Yeah. Future.
- [74:13]
Host
Who's doing the. Who's doing the ox? On the young. I feel like young teams.
- [74:17]
Brittney Griner
Like.
- [74:17]
Host
Who does the ox?
- [74:18]
Brittney Griner
Yeah, they're all over it. Liv does the ox. Liv is on the ox. Normally. Yeah. All the ratchet music you already know.
- [74:27]
Host
I saw your guys tik Toks early in the season. Season.
- [74:29]
Brittney Griner
Oh, yeah.
- [74:31]
Host
You're pretty flexible there, vg, you know,
- [74:34]
Brittney Griner
hey, you know, if basketball didn't work out, you know.
- [74:42]
Host
Oh, man. Getting that. Yeah. Yoga in. Okay. All right, last one. What's your favorite car?
- [74:50]
Brittney Griner
Ooh. 68 Chevelle Super Sport 454. Big block in it. Yeah, yeah.
- [74:56]
Host
Sounds like you're describing yourself there.
- [74:58]
Brittney Griner
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And my car, too, because I got it.
- [75:03]
Host
My favorite car, bg. This was so much fun. I feel like I could have. I mean, there's so much we didn't even get to. But thank you so much for coming on. I really appreciate it.
- [75:12]
Brittney Griner
Yeah, of course. No, I appreciate you always. Yeah.
- [75:19]
Host
All right, that's it for our episode. BG was so much fun. I always love talking to bg. I always love seeing bg. She's just like, good vibes. But I thought it was really cool to hear both. Just, like, her story as a person, as a player, the perseverance of it all. Obviously, when it came to her time in jail in Russia, it's just an unbelievable. I don't even know what to say. It doesn't feel like a story. Just like an unbelievable journey and life changing experience for her and hearing her be so honest and raw about it was really special because it's gonna help people. But also on like a different note, hearing the experience of a center was really cool for me. I mean I never, you know, I'm a guard, I don't really know what it's like down there. So it was interesting to hear her thoughts on that as well. Hope you guys enjoyed this episode is a co production of Together and the Vox Media Podcast Network and was produced by R. Chung, Charlotte Silver, Christine Williams, Ashley Bogan, Kelsey Zarl, Tommy Alter and Jennifer Jessica Dolan Clarendon.
- [76:20]
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- [76:47]
Brittney Griner
It feels good to have support. It feels good to geico.