For decades, women’s basketball has battled an unfair stereotype: that dunks were rare, maybe even impossible at the professional level. Then came Brittney Griner — a 6’9” powerhouse whose above-the-rim play redefined what was possible in the WNBA.
But no dunk in her career carried the same shock factor as the one she unleashed during the 2014 season opener against the Los Angeles Sparks.
It happened in the second quarter. With Phoenix Mercury pushing the tempo, Diana Taurasi spotted Griner streaking down the middle of the floor. Taurasi lobbed a perfect pass into the lane, and with two Sparks defenders closing in, Griner rose effortlessly, palmed the ball, and threw down a two-handed slam with such force that the backboard seemed to tremble.
The crowd inside US Airways Center exploded. Fans jumped to their feet, teammates mobbed her, and the highlight instantly went viral across every sports outlet. ESPN replayed the dunk repeatedly, and social media lit up with the clip. For many casual viewers who had never watched a WNBA game, it was their first introduction — and it shattered old misconceptions.
What made the dunk even more impactful was its timing. Women’s basketball was in a growth phase, fighting for bigger TV deals and larger mainstream respect. Griner’s thunderous slam became a cultural moment, proving the WNBA could deliver highlights that rivaled the NBA.
The dunk wasn’t just about athleticism — it was symbolic. It represented the progress of the women’s game, showcasing a level of power, finesse, and excitement that skeptics could no longer ignore.
Brittney herself downplayed it after the game, saying simply:
“It’s just basketball. I saw the lane, I went up, and I finished.”
But for fans — and for the league — it was much more than that. Even years later, clips of the dunk still circulate online whenever the conversation about women dunking resurfaces. It remains a reminder of the night Brittney Griner didn’t just dunk — she redefined the conversation about what women’s basketball could be.
