Brittney Griner, the renowned lesbian basketball player, is set to return to the Phoenix Mercury. After spending 10 months in detainment in Russia, Griner became a free agent but has now signed a one-year contract with the Mercury, according to the Associated Press. Her return to the team was first reported by the basketball site Her Hoops Stats.
Griner, 32, had announced on social media in December that she intended to play for the Mercury again after her wrongful detainment in a Russian penal colony. She wrote, “It feels so good to be home! The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith, and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for your help.”
The Olympian was arrested at an airport outside Moscow in February 2022 for carrying small amounts of cannabis oil. Russian authorities originally sentenced her to nine years in a penal colony until she was freed in a prisoner exchange in December. Griner had been in Russia to play for a local team during the WNBA offseason.
Griner has been an essential player for the Phoenix Mercury, helping the team reach the WNBA finals in 2021, where she averaged 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. With her return to the Mercury, fans are excited to see what she will achieve in the upcoming season.
