NEW YORK — Aubrey Griffin sat on a stool in the bowels of Barclays Center, grinning ear-to-ear.

Six days earlier, she’d been cut from the first WNBA team that gave her a chance. Now, less than a week later, she’d been given a second chance – this time by her home-state team.

“It means a lot. I mean, this whole thing, just, I’m grateful for the opportunity,” said Griffin Friday evening. “I’m grateful to be here and given the chance to play out there. I’m happy.”

The former UConn women’s basketball standout made her WNBA debut Friday night in the New York Liberty’s season-opening win over the Connecticut Sun in Brooklyn. While she only got in for the game’s final five minutes, Griffin is expected to remain with the Liberty for at least the following week, per the terms of her hardship contract with the franchise.

Griffin, from Ossining, N.Y., understands her time with the Liberty may not be long, but after spending the past year recovering from knee surgery, all that matters to her is being healthy enough to once again play the sport she loves most.

“Just given what I’ve been through; I’ve had to fight through a lot of adversity the past year, and just being able to get this opportunity is just, I’m super thankful for it,” said Griffin.

Griffin was drafted in the third round of last year’s draft by Minnesota. The Lynx understood drafting the former Husky was an investment, as she needed arthroscopic knee surgery less than a month after joining the franchise.

While the combo guard/forward helped lead the Huskies to the 2025 national championship, she wasn’t fully healthy and still suffering lingering issues from her January 2024 ACL injury.

Griffin knew she had to get her body right if she wanted a chance to achieve her dream of playing in the WNBA. She spent all last season recovering and utilizing Minnesota’s resources for her rehabilitation work. During the winter, she continued to work hard to get back in shape and split her time between Storrs and New York to get in extra workouts. Griffin said she spent time at UConn before training camp this spring playing in pick-up games. She said that it wasn’t until this past February that she felt 100% healthy.

She impressed in Minnesota’s first preseason game during training camp last month by finishing with six points, two rebounds, one block and one steal in 15 minutes against Washington. Yet, she didn’t compare to the Lynx’s depth and was ultimately waived. While getting cut was disappointing, Griffin was simply happy to have finally gotten back on the court.

“I mean, first of all, I got to play. I got to practice (for the first time in) a long time, and this is the healthiest I’ve ever felt and been,” she said. “I’m grateful for the experience they gave me and the opportunity. … I mean, it felt good. I just miss being out there and just playing ball, like, I love it. So, I was just happy to be out there.”

Griffin said she was up in Storrs, working out at UConn’s campus this week, when her agent reached out and said New York was interested in signing her to a hardship contract. She drove back down into the city Thursday night and joined the team officially Friday morning.

“I mean, it’s been a crazy past 24 hours,” said Griffin, laughing at the whirlwind of it all.

It was a full-circle moment for Griffin, who watched her second-ever WNBA game as a fan at a New York Liberty game. Despite the short notice, Griffin said she had a handful of family and friends get tickets to Friday’s game, including her mom and stepdad.

Griffin said fellow Husky and Liberty great Breanna Stewart welcomed her to the team Friday morning with a huge hug. Since it was too short notice to teach Griffin the team’s system, Griffin said her new teammates encouraged her to trust her instincts and “don’t overthink it” if she got time in the game.

“She’s been very helpful, actually, like, just earlier at shoot-around she was saying, like, what to do, where to go,” said Griffin of Stewart. “… I feel like I’ve always looked up to her since she went to UConn, and just like when they won those back-to-back-to-backs. I’m very familiar with her and her game, and what she’s accomplished, like, it’s amazing.”

Griffin checked into Friday’s game with five minutes remaining and New York up 91-66. The former Husky checked into the game for Stewart (game-high 31 points and 10 rebounds). The two hugged briefly at halfcourt before joining the Liberty’s huddle for a timeout.

Griffin sprinted up and down the floor freely. She was aggressive, but smart with her movements and didn’t show any hesitation in her first game as a professional. With 36 seconds left, she got the ball on the wing and made her move, driving effortlessly into the lane. She weaved around a Sun defender and threw up the layup for the first pro-bucket of her career.

“I’ve been working for this, like, my whole career, so I definitely will take advantage of the opportunity,” said Griffin. “… I’ve been through injuries and stuff. So, for me to still be here, I want other girls to look up to me and be like, ‘I can still do it, even if I do get hurt or face any sort of adversity.'”

When Griffin’s hardship contract expires next Friday, New York will have the option to renew her for a second week if the team is still below the league minimum of 10 available players.