Griner’s Historic Dunk Highlights Unrivaled Game Despite Team Loss
MEDLEY, Fla. – Brittney Griner, the towering figure in women’s basketball, achieved a milestone moment in the burgeoning Unrivaled league, becoming the first player to dunk in the new competition. The historic event occurred during a game between Griner’s team, the Phantom, and the league-leading Lunar Owls. While the dunk ignited the crowd and showcased Griner’s enduring athletic prowess, the Phantom ultimately fell to the Owls with a final score of 92-79.
The dunk wasn’t a pre-planned spectacle but rather a spontaneous decision that arose during pregame warmups. Teammate Natisha Hiedeman playfully suggested the idea, and the opportunity presented itself near the end of the first quarter when Hiedeman spotted Griner open beneath the basket. With the chance before her, Griner seized the moment and delivered a powerful dunk, etching her name into Unrivaled history.
Despite the thrill of the dunk, Griner remained focused on the game’s outcome. She admitted to feeling a surge of excitement after the play but quickly redirected her attention to the defensive end to prevent any lapses in concentration. Adding to her impressive performance, she even sank a 3-pointer just before the buzzer. However, in the post-game interview, Griner made it clear that the loss overshadowed her personal achievements.
"It’s always hype. My teammates love it. Fans love it. You know, try to bring some excitement. But I mean, at the end of the day, we lost," Griner told USA TODAY Sports. "So, that’s what’s on my mind. Dunk, no dunk. Three, no three. We lost."
Adding to the significance of the moment, Basketball Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie, the first player to dunk in a WNBA game, was present at the Unrivaled game. Leslie’s presence has been invaluable to the league, as she has taken on a mentorship role, working with players like Angel Reese, Satou Sabally, and Napheesa Collier to refine their skills. She also contributes to the league by providing insightful analysis during Turner Sports broadcasts.
During Griner’s postgame press conference, Leslie took the microphone and offered words of encouragement and recognition. She acknowledged the historical importance of Griner’s dunk, drawing parallels to her own experience of achieving a similar feat.
"The dunk was outstanding, and it’s historic. And obviously I know what it’s like to have a historic dunk, but not the ending you want. The night I dunked, we lost that game, too," Leslie told Griner. "So, I know what you mean about remembering that, but that is a historic moment for you to be the first to dunk in Unrivaled. It was awesome."
With Leslie’s words resonating, Griner paused to fully appreciate the significance of her accomplishment. As a player known for her prolific dunking ability, she has consistently pushed boundaries and challenged expectations in women’s basketball.
Griner’s dunking prowess was evident early in her WNBA career. In her first WNBA game on May 27, 2013, she dunked twice, immediately tying Candace Parker’s record for dunks in league history and surpassing Leslie and Awak Kuier on the all-time dunks list. Over her 11-year career, Griner has amassed 27 dunks in WNBA games, including regular season, playoff, and All-Star contests.
Given her history, it was only a matter of time before Griner made her mark on the Unrivaled league with its inaugural dunk. Holding her toddler son, Bash, Griner acknowledged the special nature of the moment.
"You know what, it definitely is (awesome)," Griner said to Leslie. "I’ll be able to hold that (title). I got to do it with you here as well. It was pretty cool, when I actually take the time to think about it. And he’s here, too. So, it all kinda lines up."
Griner’s participation in Unrivaled comes after a challenging period in her life, marked by her detainment in Russia in 2022. She was arrested on drug charges after customs officials allegedly found vape cartridges in her luggage. She was sentenced to nine years in prison on Aug. 4, 2022 and was eventually released in a prisoner exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout on Dec. 8, 2022.
Leslie acknowledged Griner’s past struggles and expressed her joy at witnessing her success in Unrivaled.
"It’s amazing. I was happy that I was here. I think it’s great for BG, especially all that she’s been through to have that moment. And I think it’s great for Unrivaled," Leslie told USA TODAY Sports.
Unrivaled, with its appeal as a domestic offseason option for WNBA players, has attracted a wealth of talent. Griner has teamed up with players such as Hiedeman, Sabally, Marina Mabrey, Katie Lou Samuelson, her former Phoenix Mercury teammate Natasha Cloud, and U.S. Olympic teammate Sabrina Ionescu on the Phantom team, guided by NBA assistant coach Adam Harrington.
In the Unrivaled league, Griner has demonstrated her continued dominance, averaging 16.9 points (11th among 39 players) and leading the league with 1.6 blocks per game. She showcased her versatility with season highs of 29 points and nine rebounds on Jan. 24, and had 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in Monday’s loss to the Lunar Owls.
Griner expressed her desire to join Unrivaled as a way to reaffirm her abilities and demonstrate her enduring skill. She is also cherishing her time in Miami with her wife, Cherelle, and son before returning to the Atlanta Dream for her 12th season in the WNBA.
"It’s been a whirlwind. Shout out to my wife… I couldn’t do this without her, honestly. But I just wanted to come to Unrivaled to show everybody, you know, I still got it. I still can play," Griner said. "A lot of people kind of counted me out in 3-on-3. So, I love to use that to prove everybody wrong."
During the interaction with Leslie, Griner smiled brightly while holding her son, possibly using the embrace as a form of comfort as she received praise from the WNBA icon.
"Just know: We are so happy to have you here at Unrivaled, seeing you play. You’re not just back. You’re back and you’re better. And you warm our hearts," Leslie told Griner. "Even though we don’t say it to you enough, it’s great to see you be able to finish out your career. And good luck in Atlanta as well."
"Thank you, I really appreciate that," Griner responded, acknowledging the heartfelt support and encouragement from Leslie.
