Brittney Griner missed last season in the WNBA basketball league. She was in prison in Russia. Now Griner made her comeback. Losing to the Los Angeles Sparks with Phoenix Mercury was secondary.
It was as if she had never been away. At the tip-off jumped Brittney Griner highest, secured Phoenix Mercury, thus possession of the ball. Then the 32-year-old was played under the basket, fit out on the free-standing Moriah Jefferson, who scored a threesome to give the visitors a 3-0 lead. A little later built grinner extended the lead to 5:0 with a middle-distance throw. “That was her first throw attempt from the field after 579 days”ESPN commentator Mark Jones pointed out.
The comeback of Brittney Yevette Griner after ten months in Russian prisons and courtrooms, the dominant theme at the start of the season was the WNBA. The guest performance of Phoenix Mercury both Los Angeles Sparks was live at ESPN transfer. The Sparks-players Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike even came grinner– Jersey to the hall. “Today was very special. We’ve known her since we were ten years old – and she’s always inspired us”said Chiney Ogwumike.
USVice President Harris in the audience
Among the 10,396 fans in the arena were “Magic” Johnson, Billie Jean King and Kamala Harris. The US Vice President had the guests out Phoenix before the start of the game in the dressing room, thanks the players that they “at this brutal time for Brittney” stuck together as a team. And that they keep coming back up grinners story made aware by wearing t-shirts and history so “Kept alive.”
she is very happy “to be here again”said grinner after the 71:94 defeat at the press conference. Sitting on the podium, she not only gave an insight into her emotional world, but also into the 294-day ordeal last year in Russia. Among other things, she was locked in a cell that was just 4.5 square meters in size. “It was a small cage I couldn’t stand in the way I wanted to”said the 2.06 meter tall grinner. It was sometimes difficult “Don’t give up hope”. But then she kept getting letters from friends and strangers who encouraged her.
A touch of Hollywood
grinners story was something of a Hollywood thriller. It was about secret services and dark arms deals. And right in the middle she, one of the best basketball players in the world, who just wanted to work in Russia. grinner played in the since 2015 WNBA– Season break for UGMK Yekaterinburg in the extremely lucrative Russian Superleague. According to the online portal “The Athletic” fraud grinners base salary in Phoenix $221,450 total for the 2021 season. In Yekaterinburg it is said to have been more than a million dollars per season.
On February 17, 2022, she was arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, coming from New York, after customs officials found hashish oil in her luggage, possession of which is illegal in Russia. grinner pleaded guilty in court, alleging that he had the drugs “unintentionally” on him. Judge Anna Sotnikova didn’t believe her – and sentenced the Texan to nine years in a penal colony.
Basketball player Brittney Griner is handcuffed at Moscow airport
Arm wrestling between Moscow and Washington
So far the facts. But in case grinner it wasn’t just a crime. Or that an American had broken Russian law and was convicted as a result. The matter became a political issue with worldwide attention. A kind of arm wrestling between Moscow and Washington. The USA had always emphasized that the basketball player “unlawfully detained” may be. At the end of July, Washington offered the Kremlin in exchange for grinner Release Viktor Bout.
The 56-year-old, nickname “Merchant of Death”, is a global Russian arms dealer and has been in US custody since 2008. On December 8, the prisoner exchange took place at an airport in the United Arab Emirates. He’s just with me grinner on the phone. The US President said she was on a plane on her way home Joe Biden noticeably relieved when it was announced live on US television that day.
100-day plan for the comeback
You know now “appreciate everything a little more”said grinner after her comeback. And besides, she learned that it “no guarantee of a tomorrow” give. The American last had that on October 17, 2021 Mercuryjersey worn. Her hair was long then.
Now the two-time Olympic champion presented herself with a short haircut. along with her club grinner set up a 100-day plan for her comeback after her release. She had lost a lot of weight in captivity. To build muscle again, worked grinner with athletic trainers, psychologists, nutritionists and also got a cook. “You have been given every conceivable resource”it said ESPN.
Best again points collector
grinner see “great looking”stressed WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “It’s great to have her back, a relief for everyone”like that Engelbert further. You got your first hit “really good” felt, meant grinner. Just like her last one back in October 2021. With a total of 18 points she was Phoenix‘ top points-scorer in loss to LA. Added six rebounds and four blocks.
But all those numbers were secondary this time. ESPN-Commentator Jones ended the transmission by saying: “By and large, this loss may not hurt Griner and Mercury as much. Because having Griner back is a win for her and Phoenix.”