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Brittney Griner shows off her skills in a photo shoot ahead of the WNBA return with the Phoenix Mercury…just two months after her release from the Russian penal colony
Brittney Griner was shown in a photo shoot with the Phoenix Mercury ahead of her return to the court for the WNBA franchise.
Griner has been enjoying his freedom recently, seen at the Super Bowl with his wife, Cherelle, a week before reports of his return to the Mercury on a one-year deal.
The deal was confirmed Tuesday by Phoenix, which was a great source of pride for general manager Jim Pitman.
“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 he was away, and while basketball was not our primary concern, we greatly missed his presence on the court, in our locker room, around our organization and within our community.”
We will continue to use the resources of our organization to support her, on and off the court, and we are thrilled for her that she is able to 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 hasn’t played for the Mercury since 2021, when she led Phoenix to the WNBA Finals before losing to the Chicago Sky. Regardless, Griner was nearly unstoppable that season, averaging 20.5 points, 1.9 blocks, 2.7 assists and a career-high 9.5 rebounds per game.
The 32-year-old hasn’t played for the Phoenix franchise since 2021, when she led them to the WNBA Finals before losing to the Chicago Sky.
Meanwhile, Griner was detained in Russia for a period of 10 months. She was released from a Russian penal colony on December 8 after President Biden sanctioned a trade, returning convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout to Russia.
The deal has drawn criticism from Republicans, who were upset that Biden let “The Merchant of Death” go while leaving behind detained Marine Paul Whelan, who was arrested nearly four years ago.
Griner, who had played professionally in Russia since 2014, was returning to the country in February when she was stopped at the 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 was able to secure her release.
Ultimately, Griner was found guilty in August and sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony. A subsequent appeal was denied in October.
The 6-foot-9 Griner is an eight-time US All-Star and one of only 11 players to win an Olympic gold medal, FIBA World Cup gold medal, FIBA World Cup title, WNBA and NCAA title, which she captured at Baylor. in 2012.
Griner was terrific in his most recent season, averaging 20.5 points, 1.9 blocks, 2.7 assists and a career-high 9.5 rebounds per game.
The 32-year-old woman was detained in Russia for 10 months before her release in a prison exchange.