Brittney Griner plans to sign with the Atlanta Dream, a person familiar with the agreement told The Associated Press on Tuesday night.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made. WNBA free agents can't sign contracts until Feb. 1.
Griner has spent her entire 11-year career with Phoenix since getting drafted No. 1 in 2013. The 6-foot-9 center decided this offseason to test free agency for the first time. Griner will sign a one-year deal because a new collective bargaining agreement featuring potentially massive salary increases is expected to take effect in 2026.
The 34-year-old Griner missed the 2022 season when she was detained for nearly 10 months in Russia after authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis. She was freed in a prisoner swap when the United States released notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Griner averaged 17.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks this past season with Phoenix. She's third on the WNBA's career blocks list, 65 behind leader Margo Dydek.
ESPN first reported Griner's agreement with the Dream.
Griner becomes the most prominent free-agent signing in Atlanta's history, and she joins a talented squad led by Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. The Dream made a coaching change this offseason, bringing in Karl Smesko from Florida Gulf Coast. Griner, Howard and Gray are playing in the new 3-on-3 league Unrivaled this offseason.
The Dream went 15-25 last season and made the playoffs for the second straight year. They were eliminated in the first round by eventual WNBA champion New York.
Griner, a 10-time All-Star, also had discussions with Dallas and Las Vegas.
It has been an offseason of change for Phoenix. Earlier Tuesday, the Mercury were finalizing a deal to acquire Alyssa Thomas from the Connecticut Sun, a person familiar with that trade told the AP. It’s also not clear whether veteran Diana Taurasi will play again or retire.
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