Last year, Brittney Griner missed the entire WNBA season after she was arrested and kept in Russian custody for 10 months when authorities found a small amount of prescription hashish oil in her luggage and gave her a brutal prison sentence of nine years in a penal colony. But after a prisoner swap, she’s back in the United States. And as of Friday, she’s officially back on the court.
On Friday night, Brittney Griner officially returned to the hardwood as she was in the starting lineup for the Pheonix Mercury’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Sparks. And it was an emotional night for everyone.
“We looked at each other and we just had chills,” Mercury head coach Vanessa Nygaard said according to ABC News. “We were here last year for all of it. I’m getting emotional about it now. Just to see her back out there — it’s an absolute miracle. It was amazing. It’s giving me chills again.”
The whole scene went absolutely viral on social media.
the sisterhood of the @WNBA 🧡 pic.twitter.com/X6LC8ONCKu
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) May 13, 2023
𝐍𝐨. 𝟒𝟐 back on her home court! pic.twitter.com/2dfItAciHI
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) May 13, 2023
Brittney Griner introduced in front of the home crowd in Phoenix…
I know it’s preseason, but I got chills…
BG is back.@Sports360AZ @brittneygriner #WNBATwitter pic.twitter.com/yZ8TqFFUsR
— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) May 13, 2023
#ValleyTogether always 🤞🏻 pic.twitter.com/4tnTc8FByO
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) May 13, 2023
Brittney Griner made her return to the WNBA tonight.
The last time she played in a game for the Mercury was in October 2021.
🎥 @PhoenixMercury pic.twitter.com/TyvoKOgl51
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 13, 2023
I’m so happy for and proud of Brittney Griner. The fact that she’s even on the court after what she went through is admirable. One of my favorite people. Love this for her. ❤️ #WNBA https://t.co/pqjFFz4gyz
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) May 13, 2023
While she was undoubtedly a little rustier than she would have liked, Griner still played 17 minutes of action and made her presence felt. The WNBA superstar finished the game with 10 points on a 2-for-5 shooting performance from the field, going 6-for-8 from the free-throw line. She also had three rebounds in the game.
Griner will play her first regular season game since her detainment next week when the Mercury takes on the Sparks once again in a nationally televised game.
[ABC News]
