Brittney Griner is trying out something new during the third season of Unrivaled. When things kick off in January, she'll still be on the court as an athlete, but she'll also lead the team's Player Coach Development Program. This will give her the opportunity to "develop her leadership and coaching skills while continuing to compete on the court." Griner will be mentored by the league's head coaches, and she'll also have the chance to coach a few games on her own.
This is a really cool step for Griner to take, and doubly cool of Unrivaled to facilitate — and it very likely signals the beginning of Griner's career in coaching.
While Griner is expected to play at least one more season in the WNBA, it's unclear how long she may want to stay in the league in general. Griner has made it clear that she's happy to return to her home state, Texas, by way of the Connecticut Sun-turned-Houston Comets next season, but she hasn't offered much beyond saying that she's looking forward to playing where her family can come to her games.
In fact, reports indicate that Griner has been working toward a coaching role for some time. The Sporting News reported that she sat in on film sessions during the 2026 season with the Sun and participated in a kind of coaching internship. She'll be able to rely on the same mentor team next year in Houston, as the Comets have retained Rachid Meziane as their head coach.
In addition to hiring an associate head coach and two assistants, WNBA teams can bring on another assistant coach if that person is a former WNBA player. Griner, who has enjoyed a lengthy and successful career in the league, would be a natural fit for such a role with any team that might want to bring her on board. In fact, it's entirely possible the Comets could bring Griner on board.
The Comets have so far only confirmed that Meziane will remain on staff. He worked with associate head coach Roneeka Hodges and assistant coaches Pascal Angillis and Ashlee McGee during the 2026 season. That leaves one assistant coach spot open for a former WNBA player — and it may be Griner's to fill.
Griner's career in the WNBA has been the stuff of legend. She was drafted as the No. 1 overall pick in 2013 by the Phoenix Mercury, and in her first WNBA game she became the first player to dunk twice in one match. She helped lead the Mercury to a championship the following season, and is a 10 time WNBA All-Star.
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