Brittney Griner is arguably the best female basketball player in the world, but shooting hoops is not her only passion. What most people do not know about Griner is that she is also an avid skateboarder. As you might expect, this causes a bit of anxiety for the Phoenix Mercury, who took Griner with the top overall pick in the WNBA draft last month.
According to TMZ, Griner’s contract with the Mercury includes a clause about her skateboarding habits that is aimed at decreasing her risk of injury.
“I agreed with the Mercury that I would only ride in a controlled environment,” Griner said. “No tricks or hill bombing. I know what is at stake, so I’ll just be cruising. I’ll get my adrenaline rush on the court.”
That’s probably for the best. Griner once broke her wrist while riding in a parking structure while she was playing for Baylor. Griner and her 6-foot-8 frame will not only ideally turn the Mercury into a top contender in the WNBA, but she is also a major marketing tool because of her ability to throw down dunks like this one and ignite the crowd. The last thing the team needs is her breaking her ankle attempting a kick-flip.
“Once my basketball career is over though, I will be building a skate ramp in my yard, that’s for sure,” she said.
As long as her days of dominating the sport are over, I’m sure that will be just fine with her employer.
Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE
