Candace Parker was named the WNBA MVP last week, but the Brittney Griner takeover has begun sooner than she expected. Griner's addition to a squad that featured two former No. 1 overall pick was expected to put the Phoenix Mercury over the hump and that's exactly what she did. At 6-8, she has a unique size advantage near the basket. On top of that, Lady Wilt is more than just a statue in the post.
After Parker slithered her way to the basket for a lay-in that gave the L.A. Sparks a one-point lead, Griner came right down the floor and crushed Parker's heart into dust by draining a mid-range baseline dagger off the inbounds pass with 4.9 seconds remaining. There was no hesitation. Parker's desperation heave never came close and the Mercury advanced to the Western Conference Finals. Until that shot Griner had been a third wheel to Diana Taurasi and Candice Dupree throughout her rookie season. It won't happen overnight, however, something tells me that hierarchy may change soon.
