US basketball player Brittney Griner, who was released from Russian prison, has announced that she wants to play for her team in the American professional league WNBA again in 2023. Olympic champion Griner, 32, who returned from Russia a week ago, wrote on Instagram: “I want to make one thing very clear, I intend to play for Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA this season.” She is happy to be able to thank everyone who has supported her in this way. Phoenix’s new season begins on May 19 with the Los Angeles Sparks game.
In her statement, Griner thanked US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, her wife Cherelle Griner and their attorneys in Russia. Griner was released last week as part of a prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States. In return, the former Russian arms dealer Viktor But was released. Griner had been in prison for drug smuggling since February 2022 after cannabis cartridges were found in her luggage.
