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Brittney Griner looking toward 2028 Olympics in L.A. with move to Dream having her feel revitalized

After 11 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, Brittney Griner begins her 12th WNBA campaign with the Atlanta Dream on Friday night.

Though she was initially surprised and disappointed that the Mercury told her that the team would be moving in a different direction, Griner feels reenergized by playing for a new club. That renewed energy also has her looking at playing in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

"It's a goal of mine," Griner told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. "It hasn't been in the U.S. for a while now, so I think to be able to play at the Olympics in your home country would be amazing.

"My parents have never been to the Olympics," she added. "So I'm going to strive for it and try to do what I need to do so I can get that call-up or at least be at the camp and help out the ones that will go, whatever it's going to be."

Griner will be 37 when the L.A. Summer Games are played in July 2028 and it's possible she won't be playing in the WNBA by then. She signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Dream.

Yet based on her performance last season, Griner could easily be productive for another four years. She averaged 17.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 blocks in 2024 and showed off a long-range game as well, shooting 50% on 18 3-point attempts. That figures to continue in Dream coach Karl Smesko's offense.

"We're playing five-out. I'm learning how to move better out on the perimeter, where my spots are on the perimeter, instead of just being down low," Griner said to Shelburne.

The 2028 Summer Games would be Griner's fourth Olympics and provide an opportunity for her fourth gold medal. She didn't play big minutes for Team USA in 2024 and her numbers reflected that. She averaged 7.3 points and 4.2 rebounds while playing 14.2 minutes per game.

The career reset has her feeling rejuvenated. But she'll call it a career if she feels her skills declining.

"As long as I can put up numbers and I can help my team out, I want to play," Griner told ESPN. "When I can't do that, or we have to hide me in the corner or put me on the easiest matchup, I will walk away. I

"I don't want to be a liability on the court and there's too many good players coming along too," she added. "I'm not going to sit there and just hold on to a spot because I just can't let go."