Sep 12, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner (left) and guard Diana Taurasi (right) celebrate with the WNBA championship trophy after defeating the Chicago Sky 87-82 in game three of the 2014 WNBA Finals at UIC Pavilion.
Sep 12, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner (left) and guard Diana Taurasi (right) celebrate with the WNBA championship trophy after defeating the Chicago Sky 87-82 in game three of the 2014 WNBA Finals at UIC Pavilion. REUTERS

WNBA star and 2013 number one draft pick Brittney Griner was the victim of random attack of a knife-wielding man in China Tuesday. The Phoenix Mercury star was on the way to the team bus from the practice facility along with several other teammates when a random stranger assailed their group nicking Griner in the elbow area. The 6-foot-8 player was wearing a winter coat that prevented the knife damage from necessitating a hospital visit and stitches.

The player who guided the Mercury to the championship in the WNBA last September immediately took to social media her thanks for being left unharmed in the incident. "First let me say I'm ok!!!! But last night me and 3 my teammates got chase and attack by a man with a big ass knife got a little scratch and my teammates walk away unharmed!" Griner posted in her Instagram page.

ESPNW Columnist Kate Fegan reported that the man was either drunk or mentally incapable given that he was shouting that the group supposedly attacked his wife, a clear indication that the man did not know who Griner and her company were. Apart from Griner, the man also stabbed one of Griner's teammates but her jacket was also thick that the knife did not go through. The team was stranded for a couple of minutes in the bus before the man voluntarily left. He was later arrested by authorities. As of press time, the identity of the assailant has not yet been released.

Griner relayed that she still feels safe in China where is she is committed to play for the Beijing Great Wall for the second straight year. She also relayed that security was tighter the next day, citing that three to four policemen were already stationed at the entrances of the practice facility. The team is also cooperating with authorities and has already submitted the surveillance videos of the incident.

The former Baylor star's mother team in the NBA also expressed its relief that their best player was left unharmed in the unfortunate mishap. Griner led the league last season with a record of 129 blocks and was named the league's best defensive player. During the off season, she maintains her conditioning by playing for the Biejing Great Wall where she is posting close to double-double numbers in points and rebounds. The young center-forward was also the key cogs of the women's basketball team that captured the gold medal in the recently concluded FIBA World Cup of Basketball last month.