After ten months in Russia, WNBA star Brittney Griner is now home with her family.
The WNBA star was discharged from Brooke Army Medical Center Friday, where she had spent the past week since her return to the U.S. following a prisoner exchange with Russia. She posted a statement on social media, her first since being detained in Russia in February.
View this post on Instagram
“It feels so good to be home! The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn,” she wrote in the message posted to Instagram. “I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going.”
In the message, Griner thanked a number of individuals, including her wife, Cherelle, her WNBA teammates, her Russian legal team, “and the entire Biden-Harris Administration.”
She added a message to President Biden, encouraging him to work on behalf of fellow American Paul Whelan, who has been detained in Russia since 2018.
“President Biden, you brought me home and I know you are committed to bringing Paul Whelan and all Americans home,” she wrote. “I will use my platform to do whatever I can to help you. I also encourage everyone that played a part in bringing me home to continue their efforts to bring all Americans home. Every family deserves to be whole.”
She also revealed that she anticipates a return to the WNBA. “I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look forward to being able to say ‘thank you’ to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon,” she wrote.
What Do You Think?