After 'whirlwind' stops, Griner seeks to leverage 'bigger' platform for good - ESPN

PHOENIX — After spending a few days mingling with a who's who of A-list celebrities, Mercury star Brittney Griner said Wednesday that the product of her newfound fame can be «a little overwhelming» at times but is also something she is embracing as a «bigger» platform to help others.

Griner shared her feelings during the Mercury's media day on Wednesday in Phoenix, which came a couple days attending the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington D.C. on Saturday night and the Met Gala in New York City on Monday night. In both places, Griner was a celebrity in her own right, meeting everyone from President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to Usher to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

With Griner's name having been amplified through social media, the news and by word-of-mouth while she was detained in Russia for 10 months, she's as well-known as some of the celebrities she met over the weekend.

«I didn't think it could get that big, but I mean it's cool because now I'm able to reach even more people and bring them into the WNBA and then also keep them aware of other detainees that are still left behind right now and that we're trying to get home,» Griner said. «So, just using that bigger outlet to continue to support others that are in need or don't have the spotlight or the media coverage that they should be able to get.»

At the Met Gala, Mahomes approached Griner, she was able to meet Usher — which she said was «pretty dope» — and spent time talking to Dwayne Wade.

«It was an honor to be there,» Griner said. «It was magical, just meeting everybody, seeing all the stars that were there was, I mean, it was pretty dope.»

It was also exhausting being Griner during a «crazy» few days.

She flew home