After spending ten months abroad, playing basketball in Russia, WNBA sensation Brittney Griner has finally returned to her native Texas.
Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images
Houston-born basketball icon Brittney Griner has been released from Russian custody in a prisoner exchange, as confirmed by President Joe Biden on Thursday morning.
Griner had been detained in Moscow since February for carrying cannabis oil, and her release came in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout on Thursday.
She was flown back to San Antonio, where she is set to receive necessary medical care. According to John Kirby from the White House, Griner is in high spirits and in good health.
President Joe Biden initially broke the news of Griner’s return on Thursday, and her wife, Cherelle Griner, who was present at the White House announcement, was expected to reunite with her in San Antonio.
Brittney has had to endure an unimaginable situation, and we are elated that she is now on her way back to her family and friends,” stated NBA commissioner Adam Silver, expressing relief about her return.
Griner’s detention occurred in February, just days before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She is among the most prominent athletes in the nation, boasting two Olympic championships and serving as the center for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA during the U.S. basketball season. Her journey to Moscow was part of her off-season play in Russia, and during her trial in Russia, she asserted that the discovery of cannabis oil in her purse had been an “honest mistake.”
In July, the Biden administration put forth a proposal for a prisoner exchange, recognizing Moscow’s longstanding desire to secure the release of Viktor Bout, a convicted arms dealer known as the “Merchant of Death,” who had been incarcerated in an American prison for 12 years.
Footage aired on Russian state media depicted the exchange taking place on the tarmac, with the respective teams of Griner and Bout. In the video, presumably provided by Russian security services, Bout received a warm welcome from two Russian officials, while Griner, towering at 6 feet 9 inches (206 cm), observed the proceedings. Part of the swap was redacted from the video, after which it showed the two parties going their separate ways.
During a press conference on Thursday, President Biden revealed that he had spoken with Griner over the phone. He noted that she was now safe and relieved but emphasized her need for peace and rest. American officials also assured that she would receive specialized medical care and counseling as part of her reintegration process.
