Brittney Griner took to Instagram for the first time since her arrest in Russia nearly a year ago, thanking those who assisted in her return and promising to resume her WNBA career this summer.
“It feels great to be home!” Griner wrote in her first Instagram post since Feb. 5, roughly two weeks before her arrest. “Every step of the way over the last ten months has been a battle.” I had to dig deep to keep my faith, and it was the love of so many of you that kept me going. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone for their assistance.”
Griner was arrested on February 17 at a Russian airport while playing professionally during the WNBA’s offseason. According to Russian authorities, she was carrying vape cartridges and cannabis oil in her luggage. Last week, President Joe Biden and his administration brought her home in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who was imprisoned.
Some objected to the move because former US Marine Paul Whelan is still being held captive in Russia.
“President Biden, you brought me home, and I know you are committed to bringing Paul Whelan and all Americans home as well,” Griner wrote on Facebook. “I will use my platform to assist you in any way I can. I also encourage everyone who helped bring me home to continue working to bring all Americans home. Every family has the right to be whole.”
Griner said she’ll spend the holidays with her family after being treated at San Antonio’s Fort Sam Houston Base, and she plans to play in the WNBA, which begins its season on May 19.
“I also want to be clear: I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look forward to being able to say ‘thank you’ in person to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me,” Griner wrote.
Griner was one of Houston’s most celebrated high school athletes, leading Nimitz High School to the state championship game in 2009 to cap a career that saw fans flock to local gymnasiums to see the 6-foot-9 teenager dunk during games.
She went on to play four seasons at Baylor, where she won a national championship and was named AP Player of the Year twice. Griner went on to win two Olympic gold medals with Team USA and a WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury after graduating from college. She was an eight-time WNBA All-Star and twice led the women’s professional league in scoring.
