Atlanta Fans And Team Showed Support To Griner
By: Jameelah Johnson
As Phoenix Mercury’s Brittney Griner (BG) made her way to the visitors’ locker room at Gateway Center Arena, she changed directions to head towards a fan who had called after her. The fan then asked for Griner’s autograph and a photo. As this all transpired, more fans appeared and Griner began taking photos with each person. All the while, Griner smiled and laughed and made conversation with those excited to see her.
“She’s so authentically herself that she makes everyone around her better and wants you to be authentically yourself and supports you in every single way,” Atlanta Dream’s Danielle Robinson said of her time with Griner. Robinson was a part of the Mercury in 2017. She remembers being around Griner and the type of positive energy she exuded. “I think BG is incredible. She’s an incredible human being. Goofy as all get-out, she always keeps the atmosphere light.”
When Griner was detained in Russia, Robinson, like many others, took to social media to voice her support of her former teammate. Robinson even reached out to Griner by mailing letters, unsure of whether or not she would get to read them, but hoping they would help somehow.
“She actually told me today, those letters meant a lot to her. And so, you know, it got me choked up,” said Robinson. “You never know the impact you’re having on somebody and so I was thankful that I had that outlet, even if I wasn’t getting anything back, knowing that she was receiving love, hopefully from thousands of people.”
“I mean, it’s just nice having BG back. I said it, we said it all last year. This league is not complete without BG here, who’s one of our sisters,” the Dream’s head coach Tanisha Wright said following the team’s game against the Mercury, as she donned her “We are BG” pin. “So, for her to be here in Atlanta and for the fans to come out and pack the gym for this particular game, just another way of continuing to show support.”
2021 was the last time Atlanta Dream fans saw Griner in arena, so when she was introduced – the crowd welcomed her back with a resounding applause.
The Dream paid tribute to Griner pregame by showing a video of her and the Bring Our Families Home (BOFH) campaign. The campaign was formed by family members of American hostages and wrongful detainees held overseas.