PHOENIX — Brittney Griner stood in front of a wall of screens on one end of a dark arena, waiting for her name to be announced in front of one the largest crowds in Phoenix Mercury history as a video tribute played throughout the Footprint Center on Sunday afternoon.
It took the first three words of the song “Coming Home” by Diddy and Dirty Money, played over the montage, for Griner to start tearing up.
“I’m coming home…” the song played as Griner stood watching.
“Oh my god,” Griner said after scoring 27 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the Mercury’s 75-69 loss to the Chicago Sky. “Oh my god.
“It was emotional in the back, just hearing, seeing some of the clips and then coming out. … But, no, it was really good. It was really good. Part of the process of healing is just kind of letting it out. So, yeah, nah, I got choked up a little bit.”
She tried to hide her emotion but wiped away a tear just before the opening tip. Even coach Vanessa Nygaard admitted after the game that she teared up, as well. Sunday was also the first time Griner played in front of her parents in more than a decade, another part of a…
