LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: WNBA star Brittney Griner, who recently returned to the US after being imprisoned in Russia for 10 months, made her official comeback with the Phoenix Mercury in their game on Friday, May 19. Despite their loss to the Los Angeles Sparks, Griner had an impressive performance, scoring 18 points, grabbing six rebounds, and providing two assists.
A number of basketball stars and notable figures attended the game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles to show support for Griner's comeback. Among them were Magic Johnson, Billie Jean King, Dawn Staley, Pau Gasol, and Lakers coach Darvin Ham. Prior to the game, Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, visited the locker rooms of both teams. During the meeting, WNBA president Nneka Ogwumike expressed gratitude to Vice President Harris and the Biden administration for their efforts in bringing Griner back home.
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'So nice being here again'
During the Mercury's media day last week, Griner spoke with reporters about her return to the team and the profound impact that her imprisonment had on her life. She expressed surprise at the extensive media coverage her arrest received and the subsequent ten-month ordeal that followed, stating that she hadn't anticipated it would become such a significant event.
As the Phoenix Mercury geared up for the upcoming WNBA season, Griner expressed her sentiments about returning to the team. She described the experience as "surreal" and highlighted the joy she felt being back in her jersey and in the familiar surroundings of the team's arena. "I didn't think that it would come this quickly, I was prepared for the long haul, but it's so nice being here, being up here doing media again, wearing this jersey," as per CNN. She added that the adjustment back to her everyday life has been "a little overwhelming."
"It's cool because now I'm able to reach even more people," Griner expressed her belief in her ability to attract new attention to the WNBA and keep people informed about the plight of other Americans who are currently detained, which she advocates for alongside her wife Cherelle. Griner is grateful for the "bigger outlet" that her situation has given her as she continues to "support others who are in need and don't have the spotlight or the media coverage that they should be able to get."
'Glad she’s home and safe and playing again'
Griner's return to the court received an outpouring of support on Twitter, with fans and followers flooding the platform to express their encouragement. "Welcome back Brittney," one wrote, while another added, "Great 1st step." A third said, "Sending love and peace in all the media hubbub," with a fourth adding, "Glad she’s home and safe and playing again." "And she stood for the anthem. Welcome back," wrote one. "Hell yeah," another fan wrote.
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