WNBA star Brittney Griner spoke publicly Friday in a lengthy post to her Instagram account about her return to the U.S.
The basketball player spent more than nine months in a Russian prison after receiving a nine years sentence on a drug charge conviction, according to a New York Times report. Griner pleaded guilty in a Moscow court to having vape cartridges containing hashish oil. The cartridges were found during a search of her luggage at an airport near Moscow while traveling to join UMMC Ekaterinburg.
After months of public speculation, President Joe Biden announced a prisoner exchange that would return Griner to the U.S. and arms dealer Viktor Bout to Russia.
“It feels so good to be home!” Griner said in a statement on her Instagram. “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 women’s basketball star added she was grateful to all the people who advocated for her release from a Russian prison. She began by thanking her wife Cherelle and her family before naming a lengthy list of others.
Her thanks extended to her agent Lindsay Colas and her firm Wasserman, her team the Phoenix Mercury, WNBA players, players association staff, her Russian legal team and activists and grassroots organizations. Former Gov, Bill Richardson (D-NM) was included for his part in gaining her release, along with Mickey Bergman of the Richardson Center. Griner further thanked the Bring Our Families Home campaign and Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens.
The recently released prisoner added a special thank you to President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“President Biden, you brought me home and I know you are committed to bringing Paul Whelan and all Americans home too,” Griner said. “I will use my platform to do whatever I can to help you. I also encourage everyone that played a part in bringing me home to continue their efforts to bring all Americans home. Every family deserves to be whole.”
She said her transition home to enjoy the holiday season with her family was aided by Fort Sam Houston’s medical team. Griner noted their time and care equipped her to help her reintegrate with her former life.
“I also want to make one thing very clear:” declared Griner. “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’ to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon.”
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