As anticipated, Brittney Griner is returning to the Phoenix Mercury.
After being detained in Russia for 10 months, the 32-year-old free agent has signed a one-year deal with the workforce, sources instructed ESPN. Spokespeople for Griner’s company and the workforce didn’t instantly reply to DailyMail.com’s request for affirmation.
Griner has not performed for the Mercury since 2021, when she led Phoenix to the WNBA Finals earlier than shedding to the Chicago Sky. Regardless, Griner was practically unstoppable that season, averaging 20.5 factors, 1.9 blocks, 2.7 assists, and career-highs with 9.5 rebounds per recreation.
And there was extra good news on Saturday for the Mercury, who additionally introduced that Diana Taurasi – the league’s all-time main scorer – is returning on a multi-year deal.
Since her return from a Russian penal colony, the place she was imprisoned on drug fees, Griner was seen with her spouse Cherelle at Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona.
Since her return from a Russian penal colony, the place she was imprisoned on drug fees, Griner was seen with her spouse Cherelle at Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona
Griner acknowledged followers as she watched some golf on the Phoenix Open the day earlier than
The former Baylor star was launched from a Russian penal colony in December after being acquired in a US-Russian prisoner swap type convicted arms supplier Viktor Bout.
Griner, who had performed professionally in Russia since 2014, was returning to the nation in February when she was stopped on the Moscow airport with what authorities claimed to be vape cartridges containing hashish oil. Ultimately Griner was convicted in August and sentenced to 9 years in a Russian penal colony. A subsequent enchantment was denied in October.
She had been assigned to a penal colony in Mordovia, a area identified for its brutal prison system, till the Biden administration was in a position to safe her launch earlier his month.
‘President Biden, you introduced me dwelling and I do know you might be dedicated to bringing Paul Whelan and all Americans dwelling too,’ she mentioned in December. ‘I’ll use my platform to do no matter I can that will help you. I additionally encourage everybody that performed an element in bringing me dwelling to proceed their efforts to convey all Americans dwelling. Every household deserves to be entire.’
The Biden administration negotiated with the Kremlin for months to get Griner and Whelan again from Russia, however solely managed to get the WNBA star in trade for Bout.
Griner has not performed for the Mercury since 2021, when she led Phoenix to the WNBA Finals earlier than shedding to the Chicago Sky. Regardless, Griner was practically unstoppable that season, averaging 20.5 factors, 1.9 blocks, 2.7 assists, and career-highs with 9.5 rebounds per recreation
Brittney Griner is pictured hugging her spouse after returning to the US from Russia by the use of the United Arab Emirates
Alleged arms smuggler Viktor Bout from Russia seems to be on from behind bars at a prison court docket in Bangkok October 4, 2010
Paul Whelan, a former US Marine accused of espionage and arrested in Russia, listens to his attorneys whereas standing inside a defendants’ cage throughout a listening to at a court docket in Moscow on January 22, 2019. Griner mentioned she is ‘assured’ that the White House can convey him dwelling too
Griner and Bout crossed paths on a tarmac within the United Arab Emirates to finish the commerce. Bout, referred to by some because the ‘Merchant of Death,’ was arrested on terrorism fees in 2008 and later convicted within the US.
The deal has drawn criticism from Republicans, who had been upset that the White House didn’t get Whelan as effectively. In response to assaults from the fitting, White House officers acknowledged prisoner swaps are pricey, including that they felt compelled to convey Griner dwelling whereas that they had the possibility.
The 6-foot-9 Griner is an eight-time All-Star within the US and certainly one of solely 11 gamers to win an Olympic gold medal, FIBA World Cup gold medal, WNBA title, and an NCAA title, which she captured at Baylor in 2012.
‘I additionally need to make one factor very clear: I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look ahead to being in a position to say ”thanks” to these of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in individual quickly,’ Griner mentioned in her December assertion.