Brittney Griner hails ‘great day’ as US prisoners released from Russian detention

Brittney Griner knows the emotions that come with a prisoner exchange all too well, and she said Thursday night that she is “absolutely in love” that her countrymen have returned from Russia.

“Great day. It’s a great day. It’s a great day,” Griner said after the U.S. women defeated Belgium 87-74 to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the Paris Games. “We’ll talk more about it later. But right now, we’re overjoyed for the families. Every day Americans come home, that’s a victory. That’s a victory.”

The two-time Olympic gold medalist herself underwent a prisoner swap with Russia in 2022 after being sentenced to nine years in prison for drug possession and smuggling.

Her comments came shortly after news broke that Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and ex-Marine Paul Whelan, both convicted on espionage charges that the U.S. government deemed baseless, were returning to the U.S. from Russia. The freed detainees were greeted by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris when they landed in Washington, D.C., late Thursday.

Griner did not say how she heard about the prisoner swap, but she said she was “definitely emotional” when she heard the news.

“I’m sure it’ll be more emotional later,” Griner said. “Yeah. I’m just happy. Like this is a big win. A huge win.”

Griner returned to the U.S. in December 2022. She now plays for the national team, which won its 57th straight Olympic game on Thursday. Griner scored seven points as she helped the Americans continue their quest for an eighth straight Olympic gold medal.

Since her return to America, Griner has taken an active role in helping other Americans held abroad. She has worked with Bring Our Families Home, a campaign founded in 2022 by family members of American hostages and wrongfully held prisoners abroad. She has also spoken to Biden twice to keep the prisoners “at the forefront of everyone’s minds.”

Griner has also had to deal with adjusting to life in the US, something she is still working on.

“I know they have a great group of people who will help them in any way they can, and their families,” Griner said of the resources that will be available to Gershkovich and Whelan. “And I’m glad I was able to go through that program and get back to my daily life.”

The Paris Olympics will be her first overseas since her ordeal in Russia. Griner was feeling anxious on the train ride from London to Paris with her American teammates. It was her first time on a train since her trip to a Russian prison.

“When I walked to the train, I felt fine,” Griner said. “When I sat down and looked out the window, I thought, ‘Damn, last time I was here, I was on my way to jail.’ The fear started to set in. Then I realized I was good, there were no bars. I’m going to win gold.”

U.S. women’s basketball coach Cheryl Reeve spent time with Griner in the locker room after Thursday’s game.

“This is a great day because she knows what [the prisoner release] “It was like,” Reeve said. “And now that I know and imagine them going through the experience, she seemed okay. But that’s Brittney. She always seems okay… But we’ll definitely keep an eye on her.”