Brittney Griner’s relatives celebrated her release and await her arrival in the US

loved ones of Brittney Griner and women’s basketball these united They celebrated this Thursday the news that the player had been released from prison in Russia and he was already back in his country.

almost passed 300 days since the star of women’s basketball of the United States was arrested in February at the Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow, where customs agents said they found cartridges with extract of cannabis for vape.

In August, Griner was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison. Now, four months later, she is returning to her home after the United States and Russia held a high level prisoner exchange.

The trade did not include another American, Paul Whelanwho has been imprisoned in Russia for four years.

“Today, my family is complete, but as you all know, that’s not the case with many other families,” said Brittney’s wife, Cherelle Grinnerduring a press conference at the White House.

“BG and I will remain committed to working to bring home all Americans, including Paul, whose family is in our hearts today as we celebrate BG at home.”

Griner, who turned 32 in October, returned to Russia in February to play for the team. UMKC of Yekaterinburgo. For playing in Russia he earned more than one million dollars apart from his pay in the WNBAthe professional women’s basketball league in the United States.

“There hasn’t been a day in the last 10 months that we haven’t had Brittney Griner on our minds and our hearts, and it has all turned into a collective wave of joy and relief knowing that she will soon be reunited with her family, with the gaming community of the WNBA and their friends,” said the commissioner of the WNBA, Cathy Engelbert. She added that she was overcome with emotion when she heard the news in the morning.

“BG has shown extraordinary courage and dignity in the face of enormous adversity,” he said.

Although it is currently unknown if Griner wishes to play basketball again, both the WNBA as USA Basketball – governing body of the US women’s team – are ready to welcome her with open arms.

“It’s been a long and horrible ordeal, we really look forward to his return and hearing his voice,” Engelbert said.

The coach of the women’s basketball team University of South CarolinaDawn Staley was a strong supporter of Griner’s repatriation.

Staley, who managed Griner on the 2020 Olympic team, thinks getting back on the court could help the center, who is a dominant player at her position.

Staley said she shed tears of joy upon learning of the Griner’s Release.

Like Staley, the players in the WNBA they did everything they could to keep Griner’s name in the national spotlight for the past eight months.

“My heart is overflowing with joy. Our sister is finally freesaid the WNBA player, Chiney Ogwumike. “This is a great moment for everyone who has shown compassion for our WNBA sister in the last 294 days since GB was wrongfully detained.”

Griner has a contract with the women’s team Mercury de Phoenixwho was allowed by the women’s league to pay the full salary of $228,000 last season without it counting against his salary cap.

His club expressed his emotion of the return to the country of his eight-time All-Star Game nominee.

“Miraculously and fortunately, her days in detention have ended at 294, and our friend, sister, is coming back to the country where she belongs,” the Mercury said in a statement.

Griner’s agent, Lindsay Colas, said that “BG and our coalition of athlete activists” will raise their voices to contribute to the freedom of other americans detained abroad, like Whelan.

“Throughout this ordeal, BG conducted herself with courage, grace and determination; the President Biden He had made us a promise and he kept his word, he did what was necessary to bring her back to the country,” Colas said in a statement.

“We are eternally grateful to him for having fulfilled that commitment,” he said.

(With information from The Associated Press)

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