Brittney Griner’s return to the courtroom is coming.
The Phoenix Mercury All-Star took to Instagram on Friday to disclose that she’s going to return to the group for the 2023-24 season in her first assertion since returning dwelling from Russia final week.
“It feels so good to be dwelling!” Griner wrote in her submit, together with a photograph of her stepping off a airplane onto U.S. soil after being detained in Russian prisons for practically 10 months following her arrest on drug smuggling fees at a Moscow airport in February. “The final 10 months have been a battle at each flip. I dug deep to maintain my religion and it was the love from so a lot of you that helped preserve me going. From the underside of my coronary heart, thanks to everybody on your assist.
“… 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 having the ability to say ‘thanks’ to these of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in particular person quickly.”
The Mercury shared Griner’s assertion on Instagram, writing, “Love At all times, BG #42.”
Griner additionally included a photograph of her hugging her spouse, Cherelle Griner of their first embrace following her return. Mercury basic supervisor Jim Pitman, group president Vince Kozar and Griner’s teammate, Diana Taurasi stunned her on the tarmac in San Antonio, in keeping with ESPN’s T.J. Quinn.
In her letter, Griner expressed her gratitude to those that advocated for her launch, together with her fellow WNBA friends and the complete WNBA household, alongside along with her brokers at Wasserman, her Russian authorized group, activists and grassroots organizations.
Griner gave a particular due to President Biden, Vice President Harris, Secretary Blinken and the complete Biden-Harris Administration for facilitating her return dwelling. She additionally famous the President’s work to carry dwelling U.S. marine Paul Whelan, who stays imprisoned in Russia.
“As I transition dwelling to benefit from the holidays with my household, I need to acknowledge and thank the complete PISA workers and medical group on the San Antonio Fort Sam Houston Base,” Griner wrote, referring to the navy medical base she attended upon her launch. “I recognize the time and care to ensure I used to be okay and outfitted with the instruments for this new journey.”
In an announcement, Griner’s agent, Lindsay Colas mentioned Tuesday, “Brittany Griner pulled on a pair of black Chuck Taylor sneakers, Phoenix Suns shorts and a T-shirt touting Title IX, and picked up a basketball Sunday for the primary time in nearly 10 months. Her first act was a dunk.”
President Biden tweeted about Griner’s launch final Thursday, writing on the time that she was on her manner again to the USA. The submit included smiling photographs of the president and Vice President Harris within the Oval Workplace with Cherelle.
