PHOENIX — Brittney Griner won the opening tip and ran to her familiar spot in the low post.
There was nowhere else the ball was going to go on the Phoenix Mercury's opening possession of the season — not after what Griner had gone through to get here.
Her back to the basket, Griner faked as though she would shoot a turnaround, spun the other way and put up another up-fake. Chicago's Elizabeth Williams fell for the deke, Griner absorbed the contact and hit the shot to begin a three-point play.
After all the emotional buildup, Griner got off to the perfect start in her first regular-season home game since being released after more than 10 months in a Russian prison.
The number speaks for itself. pic.twitter.com/ga83oBsGdy
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) May 21, 2023
It didn't end quite the way she wanted.
Griner finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots, but the Chicago Sky held on for a 75-69 win on Sunday.
Griner received a warm reception in her lone preseason game and again in the Mercury's season opener at the Los Angeles Sparks.
Her home debut had an entirely different vibe.
Many fans wore Griner's 42 jersey and some waved small black towels with “BG” on the front. One young fan held a sign that said “We (heart) BG. Welcome home!”
During warmups, Griner shared hugs with her teammates, Sky players and Chicago coach James Wade, who had coached her overseas. Just as warmups were winding down, Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham grabbed a microphone near midcourt and addressed the crowd.
“Last year, all we wanted was to get BG home. We did that and we’re all together now," Cunningham said, drawing roars from the crowd.
Just before player introductions, a poet paid tribute to Griner while being surrounded by the Mercury's dancers. Once introductions started, the fans gave each of the Mercury players loud cheers before Griner came out last.
The 6-foot-9 forward walked out from behind a wall and, surrounded by flashing lights, stepped into the bowel of the arena, drawing a massive ovation. It was the moment 610 days in the making.
Griner had an immediate impact against the Sparks Friday night, finishing with 18 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots in the 94-71 loss.
She opened with the three-point play against Chicago, blocked a shot on the Sky's second possession and dropped a nifty bounce pass to Diana Taurasi for a backdoor layup.
Griner swatted another shot and sprinkled in some trash talk as she turned up the floor. She added another three-point play late in the second half to pull the Mercury within seven points.
Griner drew a laugh from the crowd early in the third quarter when, after fouling Courtney Williams, forcefully helped up Williams, who flew through the air to accentuate it.
The support turned into a roar when Griner hit a 3-pointer, the fans rising from their seats and to match the two-handed, three-fingered gesture she flashed while screaming on the court.
"That moment was very special. It took me back to my last season playing just felt really good honestly. It was a crazy moment," Griner said during a post-game news conference.
Griner scored on a three-point play to pull Phoenix within 69-67 with just under two minutes left, but it was hers and the Mercury's last gasp.
Phoenix had a couple of sloppy turnovers, Chicago's Dana Evans scored on a running bank shot and the Sky held on for the win.
Griner ended her home debut by hugging Sky players and Wade again before heading to the baseline to hug her wife Cherelle.
ride or die 🖤 pic.twitter.com/eYqCyPVt00
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) May 21, 2023
"Part of the process of healing is just letting it out, so yeah, I got choked up a little," said Griner.
Neda Shargi, whose brother has been detained in Iran since 2018, was present at the game. She formed the Bring Our Families Home Campaign, which has been working closely with Griner and the Mercury to help fans write letters to detained Americans overseas, their family members, and to lawmakers.
"There was a while where we didn't know if he was alive or dead, at least we hear his voice," said Shargi. "At least he knows we are fighting for him and we told him about this and it gives him hope."
Bring Our Families Home received a $5,000 donation from the Mercury.
