Brittney Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA all-star, is set to release a memoir in spring 2024 about her nearly 10-month-long incarceration in Russia on drug-related charges.
Griner had flown to Moscow in February 2022 to rejoin UMMC Ekaterinburg, a Russian women’s team she has played for in the off-season since 2014. However, she was arrested at the airport and detained for much of her time in prison while Russia was invading Ukraine, which heightened tensions between Russia and the United States. Griner was eventually released in exchange for notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
In her upcoming memoir, Griner will provide an intimate and moving account of her experience in the Russian prison system. She will detail the difficulties of navigating the Russian legal system in a language she did not speak, living in a foreign prison, and the day-to-day life in a women’s penal colony. Griner also aims to raise awareness about the many Americans detained overseas, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, businessman Kai Li, and Paul Whelan, a corporate security executive imprisoned in Russia on spying charges.
Griner hopes that her memoir will inspire readers and raise awareness about the many challenges faced by those detained overseas. The book is set to be published in a young adult edition, with financial terms not yet disclosed.
At the heart of the book, Griner highlights the personal turmoil she experienced during the ordeal and the resilience that carried her through. As a prominent advocate for pay equity for women athletes and the first openly gay athlete to reach an endorsement deal with Nike, Griner’s memoir also sheds light on the experiences of LGBTQ individuals who face discrimination and persecution in many parts of the world.
Griner’s upcoming memoir is an important reflection on the difficulties faced by Americans detained overseas and the resilience needed to overcome adversity.