The Atlanta Dream will face the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, on Friday evening. Brittney Griner, the Dream’s star center, is dealing with a knee issue and has been listed as probable for the upcoming game, according to the team’s official announcement Thursday night.
Griner has missed the last two games this season due to this knee concern. She took part in the pre-game shootaround before Sunday’s matchup against the Connecticut Sun but did not play, and she was also sidelined for Tuesday’s contest with the Los Angeles Sparks. Meanwhile, veteran guard Jordin Canada remains out of action following a right knee injury sustained during a preseason game against the Washington Mystics on May 7. Canada’s injury happened moments into the game when she landed on the court after a shot attempt.
Details Surrounding Brittney Griner’s Knee Issue and Recent Play
Earlier in the preseason, on May 10 against the Indiana Fever, Griner abruptly left the game after about two minutes, running back to the locker room. Chloe Peterson of the IndyStar described the moment on X, writing,
“ran back to the locker room about two minutes into the game,”
and added,
“Didn’t look serious (considering the running), but something to monitor.”
Griner did not return to that game, although no official injury was reported at the time.
Background on Brittney Griner’s Career and Recent Developments
Brittney Griner is a ten-time WNBA All-Star and three-time Olympic gold medalist, widely recognized for her commanding presence on the basketball court. A standout at Baylor University where she won an NCAA championship, Griner was the top pick in the 2013 WNBA draft and played eleven seasons with the Phoenix Mercury. Her career was interrupted in 2022 when she was incarcerated in Russia on drug charges. Since then, she signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Dream in January as a free agent.
Fans anticipating this matchup between the Dream and the Storm can watch the game live at 7:00 P.M. PT on Friday.