At Mohegan Sun Arena, Brittney Griner passed Margo Dydek’s long-standing all-time WNBA blocks record with 878 career blocks in a Connecticut Sun win over the Chicago Sky.
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — When the Connecticut Sun’s season rolled into its fourth victory, Brittney Griner also took over the WNBA’s record book in a way that was hard to miss.
With 6:09 left in the third quarter. she blocked Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardosa’s layup at Mohegan Sun Arena—an impact moment that ended up carrying a larger weight. The league later confirmed the milestone: Griner passed the late Margo Dydek on the all-time blocks list Monday. finishing with 878 career blocks.
Dydek had held the record since 2008, reaching 877 blocks in 323 games over 11 seasons. Griner reached the mark in 364 games.
“Super excited, like I said, it’s something I have always went after, the one record I really care about and pay attention to,” Griner said postgame. “It just means everything.”
The Sun beat the Chicago Sky 92-68, with Griner posting 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists and four blocks.
“Blocking shots, I am helping my team out with defense,” Griner said. “Challenging shots and keeping them out of the paint. … I am just excited to have (the record) and to share it with this group.”
After the officials announced the record at the next overtime, the crowd responded with a loud ovation. Griner’s postgame interview followed with her son in her lap. He clapped when she talked about the game.
“Everything I do, I do for my family, (my son) being able to see that, sitting their courtside … I have a lot of emotions right now,” Griner said.
The shot that swung the record happened with the game already moving quickly, but the context made it last. Griner also owns the single-game WNBA blocks record, with 11 blocks during a Phoenix Mercury and Tulsa Shock matchup in June 2014. Across her 13-season career, she’s led the league in blocks five separate times: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018.
This season, her history-making run isn’t limited to blocks. On May 30, the 6-foot-9 center became the 18th player in WNBA history to reach 6,000 career points. The milestone arrived on a four-foot turnaround jumper during a Los Angeles Sparks matchup at PeoplesBank Arena.
Griner’s contract and path through the league also frame why this year carries extra meaning. She joined the Sun on a one-year, $1.19 million contract this season. She played her first 11 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury before spending a year with the Atlanta Dream last year. She was selected No. 1 by the Mercury in the 2013 WNBA Draft.
The 35-year-old center plans to play with the Sun this season before the franchise relocates to her hometown of Houston next season. A 10-time All-Star, Griner won a championship with the Mercury in 2014 and holds two Defensive Player of the Year titles. During her career, she has averaged 16.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks.
Brittney Griner WNBA blocks record Margo Dydek Connecticut Sun Chicago Sky Mohegan Sun Arena Paige Bueckers Phoenix Mercury Atlanta Dream Houston relocation Defensive Player of the Year
Wait she passed Dydek already? That’s wild, WNBA records be flying.
I didn’t know it was only blocks until I saw this. Kinda cool she did it at like 6 minutes left or whatever. Also 92-68 is a blowout, so yeah she had time to get it.
So Dydek held the record since 2008 right. But I feel like records should be harder than that? 878 blocks in 364 games sounds like it’s not even that crazy… unless they count something else. Anyway congrats to Griner.
The way they announced it at overtime is kinda extra ngl. And having her son there clapping, that’s gonna make everybody emotional. I hope people realize that defense is literally the whole game like if you can block you control the paint. Also Mohegan Sun?? Why does that sound like a concert venue lol.