Brittney Griner and her wife, Cherelle Griner, were honored at Saturday’s NAACP Image Awards and received standing ovations when they appeared together onstage with Queen Latifah.
During the appearance, Brittney took the time to once again rally support for all Americans being detained overseas, as she had been in Russia before being released a few months back.
“I want to thank everyone,” Griner said, moments after being welcomed onstage. “And let’s fight to bring home every American detained overseas.”
That moment when Brittney Griner and her wife Cherelle Griner took the stage at the 54th #NAACPImageAwards to roaring applause.👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/lDkqHWokrR
— NAACP (@NAACP) February 26, 2023
After the show, Cherelle posted a message of her own on Instagram.
“Full circle! To be beside you will never get old!” she wrote. “Thank you [NAACP Image Awards] for having us tonight! It was an honor to see black excellence! I’m in [awe] of what we’ve done and continue to do.”
Griner spent over nine months in Russian jails and was sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges that many experts agreed were excessive and politically motivated. The United States and Russia agreed to a prisoner swap for Griner and she has spent much of her time back home pushing for more efforts to be made to help others in her situation.
The Phoenix Mercury re-signed Griner to a one-year deal last week and the eight-time All-Star expects to play in the WNBA this season.
