A’ja Wilson, Jewell Loyd, Nneka Ogwumike, Jacckie Young- each one walked into the W as a No. 1 pick, carrying a ton of hype and even more talent. But no amount of college dominance can fully prep you for that “Welcome to the W” moment. You know the one, when the lights are brighter, the bodies are stronger, and the pace is no joke. For years, the Minnesota Lynx were the ones handing out those reality checks. But if there’s another name always in that conversation, it’s Brittney Griner. And as she enters her 12th year, she’s still doing it. A rookie just got hit with the same “initiation” Caitlin Clark did last year.

During preseason clash between the Washington Mystics and Atlanta Dream, Citron ran straight into a screen set by 6’9″ Griner. And by ‘ran into,’ we mean full-body collision, wind knocked out, need-a-minute-to-remember-your-name kind of hit. It was the kind of impact that makes your whole team stop for a second.

The classic “Welcome to the WNBA.”

If this feels familiar, it should. Last season, it was Caitlin Clark in her 11th game, blindsided by a Breanna Stewart screen so perfectly placed, it literally popped her eardrum. “Somebody [Breanna Stewart] set a screen on me, and I hit my ear just perfect on the girl where my eardrum popped. And it ruptured,” Clark shared later. “It didn’t bleed, but my hearing wasn’t the same for a few weeks.” 

Truly, screens are no joke. In fact, most rookies say it’s one of the biggest shocks coming from college. These are grown women in the W, with years of pro-level strength and strategy. And if Griner is the one setting that screen, your chances of survival drop significantly. Just ask Young. She once shared how running into Griner in her Mercury days nearly shook her soul loose.

Now, in Citron’s case, the screen was actually called illegal, which handed Washington the ball. But nobody really blamed Griner. Analyst Rachel DeMita summed it up perfectly, “This was actually a moment that I didn’t think that this was overtly physical. This was her teammate not speaking to her.”

She added, “I don’t think this was malicious in any way on Brittney Griner’s part. She’s just such a bigger person than Sonia Citron (6’1), and honestly I would blame her teammate for not calling out the screen.” This wasn’t Griner going rogue, it was just a rookie lesson in communication. The 6x WNBA All-Star even helped Citron up right away, proving there was no bad blood, just hardwood reality. To her credit, Citron took it like a champ. She was down for a moment, sure, but not out. After a few breaths and probably some internal cursing, she bounced back and finished the game.

Judging by her teammates’ laughter and her own post-game humor, Citron was already laughing it off. “I feel so, so welcomed to the league,” she said. “I mean, I’m just trying to defend my person, and clearly, I didn’t see her [Griner]. She’s a big, strong woman. So she definitely got me good.” The Washington rookie star did share that she got hit in the ribs and she couldn’t really breathe but she just gathered herself.

Although Mystics lost by 70-80, their rookie will probably remember this game for a long time. Going forward, like the analyst pointed out, developing that sixth sense on the court and having teammates who communicate well to call out those sneaky screens is key to adjusting to the next level and avoiding getting blindsided.

However, for now, even her fellow rookie Paige Bueckers is especially mindful of that.

Paige Bueckers already watching her back, won’t risk a Caitlin Clark repeat

After all 13 teams kicked off their 2025 season with training camps, Caitlin Clark’s presumed new rival Bueckers hit the court with her new Dallas Wings squad. Between slick passes and non-stop buckets, Paige looked right at home. But off the court, she had some hilariously real thoughts about the pro jump.

“Honestly, [the] screens I got hit by,” she said with a grin. “That would be the first ‘Wow, this is different.’” And she’s not wrong. The W is full of seasoned vets with NBA-level conditioning. These aren’t college defenders chasing you through traffic cones. These are freight trains in sneakers, and the screen game is brutal.

Even for someone like Paige, who’s been pro-ready for a while, it’s a whole new level of physical. Still, she looked solid in her first preseason appearance, dropping 10 points and flashing that signature offensive finesse. Her defense is coming. She improved big time in college, and there’s no reason she won’t level up even more in the W.

But after watching what just happened to Sonia Citron, fans are already whispering about a potential “Griner screen” moment coming for Paige too. It’s almost like a rite of passage now. Caitlin Clark got it, Citron just joined the club, and well… we’re all waiting to see if Bueckers completes the trio.

For now, though, Paige seems alert and ready. That might just save her from eating hardwood next time (this month only) the Wings face Phoenix. Meanwhile, the Dream and Mystics face off again for their opener. Will Sonia Citron come out swinging this time? Probably. Will Brittney Griner set another soul-snatching screen? Possibly. Let’s see what happens.