PHOENIX -- As Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner prepares to enter free agency, she doesn't want to go anywhere.
Griner said Thursday, a day after the Mercury were eliminated from the WNBA playoffs by the Chicago Sky, that she plans on returning to Phoenix next season.
"You will see me next year," Griner said. "I plan on signing back. If they want me back, I plan on signing here."
Griner then said the Mercury told her during her exit interview that they wanted the six-time All-Star back in Arizona in 2020.
Griner made it clear that if she doesn't play for the Mercury, her WNBA career will be over.
"Let me just say this and I mean this: If I don't play here, I won't play anywhere, and I mean that," Griner said. "I'm not playing for any other organization. I'm Phoenix Mercury until I'm done."
Griner, who made $113,000 this past season, according to Spotrac, led the WNBA in scoring this season for the second time in her career and made the All-Defensive second team for the third time in her career. She found herself shouldering a larger part of the Mercury's offense as guard Diana Taurasi was limited to just six games because of injuries.
The 28-year-old Griner said her loyalty to the franchise stems from its loyalty to her.
"Everything I've been through -- I've had ups and downs -- and they were always behind me 100%," Griner said.
Griner pointed to the Mercury's response to her wanting to help her hometown of Houston after Hurricane Harvey in 2017. She brought up wanting to raise money for the recovery and victims, and said the team quickly organized a luncheon and auction to help. Her teammates even donated items for the auction, she said.
"You don't get that everywhere," she said. "That is just how I've always been treated here. Just a class act."