Brittney Griner shows off her skills at the pre-WNBA return photoshoot with the Phoenix Mercury… just two months after being released from the Russian penal colony
Brittney Griner appeared on court in a photoshoot with the Phoenix Mercury ahead of her return to the WNBA franchise.
Griner recently enjoyed her freedom, seen at the Super Bowl with wife Cherelle, a week before reports of her return to the Mercury on a one-year contract.
The deal was confirmed by Phoenix on Tuesday, something general manager Jim Pitman was very proud of.
“It’s a great day for all of us to announce that Brittney Griner has officially signed to play for the Mercury in 2023,” Pitman said.
“We missed BG every day that she was gone and while basketball wasn’t our primary concern, her presence on the floor, in our locker room, in our organization and in our community was greatly missed.”
“We will continue to leverage our organization’s resources to support her on and off the floor, and we are happy for her that she can return to the basketball she loves so much.” This is a special signing and today is a special day for all of us.’
Brittney Griner signed a one-year deal with her former team Phoenix earlier this week
Griner has not played for the Mercury since 2021, when she led Phoenix to the WNBA Finals before losing to Chicago Sky. Regardless, Griner has been nearly unstoppable this season, averaging 20.5 points, 1.9 blocks, 2.7 assists and career-best 9.5 rebounds per game
The 32-year-old hasn’t played for the Phoenix franchise since 2021, when she guided them to the WNBA Finals before losing to Chicago Sky.
Meanwhile, Griner was held in Russia for a period of 10 months. She was released from a Russian penal colony on December 8 after President Biden approved an exchange, returning convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout to Russia.
The deal drew criticism from Republicans, who were upset that Biden was letting go of “The Merchant of Death” while also leaving jailed Marine Paul Whelan – who was arrested nearly four years ago – behind.
Griner, who had been playing professionally in Russia since 2014, was returning to the country in February when she was stopped at Moscow Airport with what authorities claimed were vape cartridges containing cannabis oil.
She had been assigned to a penal colony in Mordovia, a region known for its brutal prison system, until the Biden administration secured her release.
Ultimately, Griner was convicted in August and sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony. A later appeal was rejected in October.
The 6-foot-9 griner is an eight-time USA All-Star and one of only 11 players to have won an Olympic gold medal, a FIBA World Championship gold medal, a WNBA title, and an NCAA title she won at Baylor in 2012.
Griner was great in her final season, averaging 20.5 points, 1.9 blocks, 2.7 assists and a career-best 9.5 rebounds per game.
The 32-year-old was held in Russia for 10 months before being released in a prison swap