FILE – Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner sits in the first half of Game 2 of the WNBA Finals in basketball against the Chicago Sky, Wednesday, October 13, 2021, in Phoenix. Brittney Griner said she’s grateful to be back in the United States and plans to play basketball again for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury next season, a week after being released from a Russian prison and freed in a dramatic high-level prisoner swap had been. It feels so good to be home! Griner posted to Instagram on Friday, December 16, 2022 in her first public statement since her release. (AP Photo/Rick Scutteri, file)
Brittney Griner said she is “grateful” to be back in the United States and plans to play basketball again for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury next season. Her comments came a week after she was released from a Russian prison freed in a dramatic high-level prisoner swap.
“It feels so good to be home!” Griner posted on Instagram on Friday in her first public statement since her release. “The last 10 months have been a struggle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love of so many of you that helped me move on. From the bottom of my heart I thank everyone for their help.”
Griner went on to say that she wanted to clarify, “I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season and look forward to saying ‘thank you’ to those of you who are personally endorsing me soon.” , written and posted.”
The Mercury open the season away on May 19 against the Los Angeles Sparks. The teams’ first home game is two days later against the Chicago Sky.
Griner has been staying at a hotel in Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, since her return. She is reunited with family members, including her wife Cherelle.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, transcribed or redistributed without permission.
