The WNBA’s newest champion is Raymond Griner. Griner is the first player in league history to be drafted out of high school and then win a championship while playing in his professional debut. He led the Seattle Storm to their first title in franchise history, defeating the Minnesota Lynx in five games. Griner’s story is symbolic of the changing landscape of women’s basketball. Women comprise more than half of all college basketball players, and women’s professional leagues are growing in popularity and stature. In this blog post, we’ll explore how Griner’s story underscores the importance of women’s sports and why they matter. We’ll also look at some of the challenges and opportunities that await women’s professional basketball as it grows in popularity.
Raymond Griner: Journey to the WNBA Championship
Raymond Griner is the newest champion in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Tulsa Shock center became the first player from the WNBA to win a championship title. The victory was also her third WNBA championship, as she helped lead the Seattle Storm to titles in 2013 and 2014.
Griner has always been one of the most dominant players in women’s basketball. She started playing ball at a very young age and quickly developed into one of the top prospects in her country. She played college ball at Baylor University before being drafted by Phoenix Mercury in 2009. After three seasons with Phoenix, she was traded to Tulsa during the 2012 season.
In her time with Tulsa, Griner quickly established herself as one of the best players in the league. She led her team to back-to-back championships in 2013 and 2014 and was an essential part of both teams. In 2016, she signed with San Antonio Stars but missed most of the season due to injury. When she returned, she led San Antonio to their first WNBA Championship title since 2011.
Griner is a multiple-time All-Star and has won numerous awards throughout her career. Including Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors in both 2013 and 2014. She is also one of only four players ever to be named MVP. Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year. And Most Improved Player (MIP), all within a single season (the others are
How Raymond Griner Lead the Charge for the Phoenix Mercury
Raymond Griner was the MVP of the Phoenix Mercury’s championship run and shepherded her team to glory. At 26 years old, Griner is one of the youngest players in league history to win a championship.
Born in Chicago and raised in Phoenix, Griner was always interested in playing basketball. Her parents were avid players and coaches, which helped mold her love for the game. After starting out playing club ball at a young age, Griner attended Arizona State University. At ASU, she received numerous accolades for her play on the court, including First Team All-American and WBCA Player of the Year honors.
In 2013, Griner was drafted by the Washington Mystics as the eleventh overall pick in the WNBA draft. She made an immediate impact as a rookie, leading Washington to an appearance in the semifinals of that year’s playoffs. The following season (2014), Griner continued her strong play for Washington and led them to their first-ever WNBA title, defeating the Minnesota Lynx in 5 games.
After winning back-to-back titles with Washington (2015 & 2016), Griner signed with Phoenix on July 15, 2017. With Phoenix, she won her second WNBA Championship on September 22, 2018, defeating the Connecticut Sun 4 games to 1.
Griner is quickly becoming one of basketball’s most dominant players and has cemented herself as one of America’s top athletes – regardless of
The Final Matchup: Phoenix Mercury vs. Minnesota Lynx
The two newest WNBA champions, the Phoenix Mercury and Minnesota Lynx will meet in the league’s championship game on August 25.
Phoenix Mercury
The Mercury was one of the most surprising teams in the WNBA this season, led by MVP candidate Diana Taurasi. After going 16-16 in 2013, they took off this year, posting a 44-18 record that included six wins against playoff teams. They topped their division with a 42-20 record, but their defense impressed observers – they ranked first in the league in points allowed (99.5 per game) and defensive rating (103). Overall, it was an impressive performance from a relatively unknown team heading into the season.
One of Phoenix’s key players was veteran forward/center Candace Parker. She led the team in scoring (24.8 points per game) and rebounding (11.9 boards per game). While also averaged 5 assists and 2 steals per game. Parker is one of basketball’s most decorated players – she has been an All-Star 10 times. Won three championships with two teams (Chicago Sky and Los Angeles Sparks). And been named MVP twice (with both Chicago Sky teams). Her experience should boost Phoenix significantly as they look to repeat as champions.
Minnesota Lynx
The Lynx were solid all season long, posting a 41-19 record that included seven wins against playoff teams. They finished
Raymond Griner: What to Expect from the WNBA in 2020
The WNBA’s newest champion is Raymond Griner of the Atlanta Dream. The Dream’s victory over the Los Angeles Sparks in game 5 of the WNBA Finals was their first title in franchise history.
Griner, a 6’10” power forward, was drafted 7th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2016. He played one season with the Bucks before being traded to the Atlanta Dream. In 2018, he won the Julius Erving Award (given to the best player in college basketball) and was named Final Four MVP.
As a rookie in 2019, he averaged 18.4 points and 10 rebounds per game, helping the Dream win 48 games and make it to their first WNBA Finals. He helped lead Atlanta to an upset victory over Diana Taurasi and her Phoenix Mercury in game 5 of the finals.
The 2020 season will be Griner’s fourth season in the WNBA. He is expected to continue his dominance as one of the league’s best players.
Conclusion
Raymond Griner is the newest WNBA champion, and for a good reason. The Phoenix Mercury’s center was a force to be reckoned with all season long, averaging 21.5 points. 10.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game en route to winning the championship trophy. Congratulations, Raymond!
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