Brittney Griner says she’s “grateful” to be again within the United States and plans on taking part in basketball once more subsequent season for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.
Her feedback got here every week after she was launched from a Russian jail, freed in a dramatic high-level prisoner change.
“It feels so good to be home!” Griner posted to Instagram on Friday in her first public assertion since her launch.
“The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for your help.”
Griner was arrested in February in Russia on drug-related expenses and was later convicted and sentenced to 9 years in a Russian jail.
After months of strained negotiations, and an awfully uncommon public revelation by the Biden administration that it had made a “substantial proposal” to deliver residence Griner and one other detained American, Paul Whelan, the case resolved final week with a prisoner swap.
The WNBA star was exchanged within the United Arab Emirates for Russian arms seller Viktor Bout.
“President Biden, you brought me home and I know you are committed to bringing Paul Whelan and all Americans home too,” Griner stated.
“I will use my platform to do whatever I can to help you. I also encourage everyone that played a part in bringing me home to continue their efforts to bring all Americans home. Every family deserves to be whole.”
Griner thanked the navy employees and medical crew in Texas, the place she was receiving care after returning to the US final week.
She wrote that she would “transition home to enjoy the holidays with my family” however didn’t say the place.
While WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated she was going to offer Griner on a regular basis she wanted to resolve whether or not she wished to play basketball once more, Griner made it clear that she’s going to play.
“I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look forward to being able to say ‘thank you’ to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon,” she stated.
“Amazing timing for her to be home before the holidays,” Engelbert stated on Thursday. “It’s a great story for all who know her.”
The Mercury open the season on the highway in opposition to the Los Angeles Sparks on May 19. The crew’s first residence sport is 2 days later in opposition to the Chicago Sky.
