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Brittney Griner is returning to her home in Phoenix, Arizona where she'll be greeted with the freedoms she once enjoyed after spending months imprisoned at a Russian penal colony.
The 32-year-old WNBA star was detained in Russia since being arrested in February on charges that she had carried cannabis oil into the country in vape cartridges. In August, she was sentenced to nine years in prison and had an appeal denied in October.
On Thursday, it was announced that she would be exchanged for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, and a video released by Russia's Federal Security Service showed the pair crossing paths on a runway in the United Arab Emirates before she boarded a flight back to the United States.
After touching down at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, Griner will now need time to resume her life and possibly her pro basketball career, as well as make up for time lost with her wife, Cherelle Griner.
President Joe Biden announced Griner's release in a statement from the White House and pledged that he would continue working to free retired marine Paul Whelan, who has spent four years imprisoned in Russia on charges of espionage.
Biden said: "Moments ago, standing together with her wife Cherelle in the Oval Office, I spoke with Brittney Griner. She's safe, she's on a plane, she's on her way home after months of being unjustly detained in Russia, held under intolerable circumstances. Brittney will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones, and she should have been there all along."
What's next for Brittney Griner?
Griner's life can finally come off pause again after her time spent imprisoned. For now, though, it would seem that time and space will be the order of the day.
When announcing her safe return to the U.S., Biden said that time to "recover" is on the agenda.
The president said: "I'm glad to be able to say that Brittney is in good spirits. She's relieved to finally be heading home and the fact remains that she's lost months of her life [and] experienced needless trauma. She deserves space, privacy and time with their loved ones to recover and heal from her time being wrongfully detained."
After that, there could be a return to the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA, and the league's commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, said in her Thursday press conference that they will be doing whatever they can to help assist Griner's return.
"I kind of knew for a couple of days that something might be happening, but you never know until it happens in that moment because things can fall through at the last minute. In that moment, I was emotional and that's all I can say," Engelbert said.
"I think the players will want to see her and they'll fly anywhere to go see her. We're going to give some time and space, but she'll know we're all ready to help."
It is believed that after being reunited with her wife and her parents in Texas, Griner will receive mental and physical evaluation and care through a repatriation system. She will also have access to other mental health resources from the WNBA.
"We're obviously going to respect the privacy of this intricate and critical time of her coming back home," Engelbert said. "I'd love to call her and see her, but we're going to give her the appropriate space and time for that. We'll follow what Brittney and her family want to do about re-engaging with the WNBA and our players."
What has the Phoenix Mercury said about Griner's future?
The Phoenix Mercury, for which Griner plays center, posted a statement on social media celebrating her release.
The team's post read: "Miraculously, mercifully, the count of days detained has ended at 294, and our friend, our sister is headed back home where she belongs. The emotions for our organization, just like for our fans and so many across the world, are those of joyous celebration, deep gratitude, grief for the time lost, and sincere hope for all families still awaiting the return of a loved one.
"BG's strength in this process, her unwavering belief that resolution would come, and the hope she displayed every day is what kept all of us believing this day would come.
"We are eternally grateful for the combined work of President Biden and Vice President Harris and the Administration, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, to Cherelle Griner, Ray and Sandra Griner, Brittney's agent Lindsay Colas, Brittney's Russian counsel, the WNBA and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, the WNBA Players Association, and everyone—from players to fans to media—who kept Brittney's story top-of-mind."
The post concluded: "The fight to bring her home has illustrated the power of the WNBA, its players, platform, and mission. We no longer have to Bring BG Home—she's on her way."
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