Brittney Griner left the navy medical facility the place she spent the previous week on Friday, heading to Arizona to attempt to restart her life, which she mentioned will embrace a return to the Phoenix Mercury.
“It feels so good to be home! The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn,” Griner wrote in an Instagram submit. “I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for your help.”
Griner was launched every week in the past from detention in a penal colony in Russia, the place she was convicted on drug expenses and sentenced to 9 years in jail. She was arrested in February at an airport close to Moscow when vape cartridges containing hashish oil have been present in her baggage.
CNN reported that Griner took off from San Antonio on Friday morning, and the Mercury despatched a contingent to welcome her on the Texas tarmac: group president Vince Kozar, basic supervisor Jim Pitman and longtime teammate Diana Taurasi.
She might be seeing extra of them, in response to her Instagram submit.
“I also want to make one thing very clear: 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,” Griner, 32, mentioned.
A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Griner was returned to the United States after the Biden administration agreed to swap convicted Russian arms supplier Viktor Bout for her. The deal was criticized by many observers, who believed both that Bout should not have been launched due to a menace he may pose, or that extra detainees ought to have returned house with Griner.
Among them was Paul Whelan, a former Marine who was arrested on espionage expenses in Russia on Dec. 28, 2018. He was convicted in June 2020 and sentenced to 16 years of onerous labor.
Griner mentioned she appreciates the efforts to convey her house and vowed to work for Whelan’s launch.
“President Biden, you brought me home and I know you are committed to bringing Paul Whelan and all Americans home too,” she mentioned. “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.”
