CNN
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Nearly 10 Months After Being Imprisoned in Russia, WNBA Star Brittany Griner is making her return to basketball in the upcoming season, signing a one-year deal with the Phoenix Mercury, a source with direct knowledge told CNN.
was a two-time Olympic gold medalist released in december – After spending nearly 300 days in Russian custody – in a prisoner exchange with Russia.
And as soon as she got back home, she Vows to play in the WNBA again.
“It feels so good to be home! The last 10 months have been a fight at every turn,” she wrote in December Post on Instagram. “I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that kept me going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all for your help.
“I want to make one thing very clear: I want to play basketball for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA this season, and in doing so, I hope to be able to say ‘thank you’ to the people who advocated,” she wrote. , and soon posted for me personally,” Griner said.
Griner – who for years Played for the Russian women’s basketball team in the WNBA off-season – was arrested in February 2022 at an airport in the Moscow region on charges of drug trafficking. He was taken into custody, which became an international cause during a tense time between the United States and the United States. Russia, was misunderstood by the American authorities.
And despite his testimony that he had inadvertently packed the cannabis oil found in his luggage, he was sentenced to nine years in prison in early August and moved to a penal colony in the Republic of Mordovia in mid-November. Was gone After losing his appeal.
The 32-year-old last played with the Mercury in 2021, helping lead the team to the WNBA Finals, which they lost to the Chicago Sky.
Prior to this, the seven-time All-Star had played all nine seasons with the franchise since being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft.
Phoenix is scheduled to open the season on May 19 against the Los Angeles Sparks. The team will play their first home match against Sky on 21 May.
CNN has reached out to representatives for Griner and the Phoenix Mercury, but did not immediately receive a response.