Salt Lake City (United States), 19 Feb. – After almost a year imprisoned in Russia, Brittney Griner will return to play in the WNBA and will do so with her team, the Phoenix Mercury, with whom she has signed a one-season deal.
The news of Griner’s return to basketball was announced this Saturday by the specialized portal Her Hoop Stats and later also confirmed by ESPN.
Griner, 32, will earn $165,100 this season to return to competition with the franchise she played for from 2013-2021 and won the WNBA title with in 2014 in addition to being picked eight times for the All Star.
Arrested in February 2022 at a Russian airport, Griner was sentenced in August to nine years in prison for drug possession and trafficking after being arrested for carrying canisters of hash oil to vape as she boarded a plane. .
US authorities announced in December an agreement with Russian authorities to release her in exchange for arms dealer Viktor But.
“It’s so good to be home! The last ten months have been a constant battle,” he said in a statement released upon his return to the United States.
Griner then assured that his idea was to return to the courts with the Phoenix Mercury.
“I also want to make one thing clear: I intend to play basketball for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA this season and in doing so, I look forward to saying ‘thank you’ in person and soon to those of you. you who defended me, wrote or published for me,” he said.
In 2021, the last season Griner played in the WNBA, the Phoenix Mercury reached the finals but lost in the title fight to Chicago Sky.