Brittney Griner's Exciting Post Before WNBA Season Catches Attention - Yahoo Sports

Brittney Griner is playing for the Atlanta Dream this season after playing the entirety of her career with the Phoenix Mercury. In one of her first games for her new team, she delivered a big hit with a bigger message to a rookie rival.

During yesterday’s game between the Dream and the Washington Mystics, rookie No. 3 overall pick Sonia Citron was trying to play defense when Griner came in and delivered a devastating body check. Citron fell to the ground as though she had just run into a brick wall and was sprawled onto the floor at CareFirst Arena.

But while some fans may have reeled at the sight, most fans agreed on one thing: It was Citron’s “Welcome to the WNBA” moment.

“Knocked Soni into next week chile…welcome to the league,” one user joked.

“honestly if you’re gonna get your welcome moment might as well be brittney griner that’s one of the players you can brag about lmao.”

“lol the welcome to the WNBA (expletive) makes me laugh every time.”

“She’s so lucky…to have your welcome to the w moment be a screen from BG. I’m sick.”

“welcome to the league sonia…ouch.”

To her credit, even Citron acknowledged that it was a “Welcome to the WNBA” moment for her. After the game she said she felt “very welcomed” as a result of that hit.

“I feel so, so welcomed to the league. I mean, I’m just trying to defend my person and, clearly, I didn’t see her. She’s a big, strong woman. So she definitely got me good. Yeah. I decided to take a second on the floor there and catch my breath. She hit me right in the ribs, so it was like sharp pains, but I couldn’t really breathe. Just had to lay down for a second. But just gathered myself, I was all good. But yeah, I definitely felt very welcomed.”

Apr 14, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Sonia Citron poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the number three overall pick to the Washington Mystics in the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

© Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Citron was a two-time All-ACC selection at Notre Dame who helped lead the team to four-straight Sweet Sixteen appearances in the NCAA Tournament. She was one of the top players in college basketball throughout her career and proved more than worthy of the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft a few weeks ago.

But Griner has been one of the most dominant players in the WNBA for most of her career. She is a 10-time All-Star, a two-time scoring champion, an eight-time blocks leader and a former WNBA champion.

Suffice it to say, Griner has a lot to teach Citron – one way or another.