Q and A with Brittney Griner on the Mercury’s defense, improving her offense

The star Phoenix Mercury center shares some insight about her career path.

Brittney Griner has improved every season that she’s been in the WNBA.

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And that’s not an exaggeration. Check out the numbers. They never lie, right?

Griner, 28, hit a career-high in points per-game last season, putting up 21.9. That’s six points higher than her previous per-game total, from her sophomore season.

At 6’9, she’s arguably the league’s best shot blocker and one of its best rebounders. Scoring in the paint on the Phoenix Mercury isn’t easy, mostly because of Griner.

The Baylor product has kept up her production on both ends of the floor this season and has helped the Mercury win eight games in a row, now sitting at 10-3 for the season. Griner is posting per-game averages of 20.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and 1.4 assists.

Griner is adding tools to her offensive game too. She’s nearly perfected her own version of Dirk Nowitzki’s trademark shot, turning around and fading away from the post, and she’s expanding her range too. This is Griner’s sixth WNBA season, but a June 5 win over the New York Liberty marked the first time in her career she had hit a three-pointer. Before this season, she had never attempted a three-point shot.

“I think she’s just been a little bit more focused on the mental side of things,” Diana Tuarasi told High Post Hoops when asked about Griner’s improvement. “You know, this league takes time. Nobody comes into this league and plays at the highest level really quick. There’s a maturity and growth that has to happen and I think you can see it with her numbers, with her confidence and things she wants to get done.”

High Post Hoops caught up with Griner and the Mercury after their June 3 win over the Atlanta Dream. Griner tallied 17 points, seven rebounds and three blocks, and Phoenix won 78-71.

Northam: Your team was 10^th in defensive rating coming into this game. How are y’all improving on the defensive end?

Griner: Just keeping the other team from not scoring that much, (laughs) trying to at least. I mean, that’s it. At the end of day, if we’re ranked 100^th and we’re winning, then we’re doing something right.

Northam: Y’all had a little losing streak there, three in a row, and then you’ve bounced back with this win and the win over Minnesota. It seems like the defense has been a lot better in those wins. Has there been a change in your mindset or something more tangibly and tactically on the floor?

Griner: We’re just getting used to the team, getting our chemistry together. I think winning in Minnesota – we haven’t won there since forever – that has kind of jumpstarted us and gave us a little boost of confidence and showed us that, you know, we can win.

Northam: Most of the centers in this league are pretty tall – you’re still taller than most of them – but Elizabeth Williams is smaller than most of them. Does she present a unique challenge in trying to guard her because she’s shorter than the typical person you’re trying to guard?

Griner: What she doesn’t have in height she makes up in strength. I’ve always like going up against her. We went up against each other at USA Camp when I was overseas and came back, and I like her game. Sometimes it isn’t everybody’s night. I had a bad game when Seattle beat us on our home court. We all have our nights. It’s normally a battle with me and her.

Northam: I was looking at your career numbers and it seems like the points keep going up each season. You had a career-high last year in points per-game. What’s improved about your offensive game since you’ve been a pro?

Griner: Just being more comfortable, honestly, with taking the shot. Not thinking that I don’t need to do anything and can just slide back. Just being more comfortable with taking the shot, even if I have two people on me. My teammates give me that confidence in doing that and I think that’s helped me start to score more.

Northam: It seems that turnaround jumper from the post is something you use a lot. Is that something your practice often?

Griner: Dirk. That’s his move. When you’re that tall and you’re able to fadeaway it’s hard to get to that. I needed something, I was getting my shot blocked. It’s been a minute since that’s happened.