It's been nearly 300 days since the WNBA star was arrested at Moscow's Airport in February, when customs officials said they found vape canisters of cannabis oil in her luggage. She was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison in August. Now, four months later, he is returning home after the US and Russia held a high-level prisoner exchange on Thursday. The swap did not include the return of another American, Paul , who has been incarcerated for nearly four years. My family is complete today, but as you know, there are many other families that aren't, Brittney's wife Cherelle said during a White House briefing. BG and I will remain committed to creating a home for all Americans including Paul, whose family is in our hearts today as we celebrate that BG is home.
Griner who turned 32 in October, returned to Russia in February to play for his foreign club. She went to Russia to supplement her WNBA salary and earned over $1 million to play in Russia.
There hasn't been a day in the past 10 months that all of us haven't had Brittney Griner in our minds and hearts, and that has now turned into a collective surge of joy and relief knowing that she will soon be there. Reunited with her family, the WNBA playing community and her friends, said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who admitted she was very excited when she heard the news this morning. BG has shown a courage and a extraordinary dignities in the face of enormous adversity.
While it's unclear at this time if Griner wants to play basketball again, the WNBA and USA Basketball will welcome her with open arms. The WNBA season begins May 19. Engelbert said he would give Griner and his family space and time before any discussions about his return to the league. It's been a long and horrific ordeal and we really can't wait for you to come back and hear her voice, Engelbert said.
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has been a prominent advocate of Griner return. Staley, who coached Griner on the 2020 Olympic team, believes playing again could be beneficial for the dominant center.
It has been a place where we can block everything else, bond with our teammates. Hear from the incredible crowd that supports our game. There is so much love the basketball community has for Brittney that they want to show it to her, Staley said. “We want you to go back to your happy place. So I hope Brittney hooks them up. But if you don't, you'd really understand why. We will still support it. We will raise it again."
Staley said she burst into tears of joy when he heard the news Thursday morning. WNBA players have done everything they can to keep Griner name in the national spotlight over the past eight months by talking about her in interviews and posting about her on social media. On Thursday, they flooded social media with their joy.
“My heart is really singing with joy right now. Our sister is finally free," said WNBA player Ogwumike. "This is a monumental moment for everyone who has shown compassion to our WNBA sister in the past 294 days since BG was wrongfully detained."
Griner is under contract to the Phoenix Mercury, who were allowed by the league to pay his entire salary of nearly $228,000 last season without it counting against their salary cap. The team was thrilled to see their eight-time All-Star return home.
"Miraculously, fortunately, the count of days in custody ended at 294, and our friend, our sister is back home where she belongs,Mercury said in a statement. “The emotions for our organization, as well as for our fans and so many around the world, are one of joyous celebration, deep gratitude, sorrow for lost time and sincere hope for all the families who are still waiting for the return of a loved one. BG's strength in this process, his firm belief that resolution would come and the hope he showed every day is what made us believe this day would come".
Lindsay Colas has pledged that "BG and our coalition of activist athletes" will lend their voices to help free other Americans detained overseas
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