Brittney Griner Articles - Page 5

Brittney Griner is truly and finally back in the WNBA, and she made her first bucket after over a year of wait in the Phoenix Mercury’s opening showdown with the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday. Griner didn’t waste time getting into action with the Mercury. Early in the first quarter, the 32-year-old center found herself […]

Brittney Griner went through an unthinkable time while under Russian detention last year. Griner, who played for Russian women’s basketball club UMMC Ekaterinberg in the offseason, was arrested at Sheremetyevo Airport outside Moscow in Feb. 2022. The Russian Federal Customs Service said officials found vape cartridges that contained hashish oil in Griner’s luggage. Brittney Griner […]

Brittney Griner returned to the United States from Russian detention and will be back in the WNBA this season. Griner, who is 32 years old, will play with the Phoenix Mercury after she signed a 1-year, $165,100 contract in February. She helped lead the Mercury to the 2021 NBA Finals before she was arrested in […]

Brittney Griner played her first professional basketball game in almost two years in the Phoenix Mercury‘s preseason game against the Los Angeles Sparks Friday night. Griner, who was detained in Russia for most of last year but released in December, recorded 10 points on 2-for-5 shooting (she shot 6 of 8 from the free-throw line) […]

With the 2023 WNBA regular season rapidly approaching, Brittney Griner is set to make her much anticipated return to the court with the Phoenix Mercury. The last time Griner appeared in the WNBA was during the 2021 season when the Mercury reached the WNBA Finals albeit losing to the Chicago Sky. Although Griner is clearly […]

Basketball star Brittney Griner made a statement at the 2023 Met Gala by attending with her wife, Cherelle following Griner’s Russia detention release. The couple arrived at the star-studded event in coordinated custom Calvin Klein outfits, with Brittney sporting a long beige coat, matching trousers, and a sheer top, per PEOPLE. Griner, who previously stated […]

The last time Brittney Griner suited up for the Phoenix Mercury, it was 2021. The Mercury reached the WNBA Finals that season but fell short against the Chicago Sky. As most WNBA players do in the offseason, Griner headed overseas to Russia as she’s done many times before. Only this time, Russia was involved in […]

Phoenix Mercury superstar Brittney Griner spent nearly a year in Russia due to drug charges. The Russian authorities first detained her at an airport back in February 2022, and she wasn’t released until December of that year when the United States decided to do a prisoner swap and freed Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in […]

Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner thanked the media for covering her detainment and eventual imprisonment in Russia in her first press conference since she returned to the United States Thursday at Footprint Center in Phoenix. Via NBA TV: "Thank y'all for covering me and all the exposure…to get me home." Brittney Griner thanks the media […]

Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner is reportedly going to release a memoir about her arrest in Russia in the spring of 2024, per Hillel Italie of AP News. Griner made a statement in reference to her upcoming memoir as well, per apnews.com. “That day (in February) was the beginning of an unfathomable period in my […]

Brittney Griner understands what it’s like to spend time in a Russian prison, and she understands what Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is going through. Brittney Griner is calling on the U.S. to do "everything in our power" to bring home a detained reporter who Moscow is accusing of espionage.https://t.co/j8PUJqA1fe — NPR (@NPR) April […]

Sophie Cunningham was all smiles during her introductory press conference on March 10. The forward had just signed a two-year deal to stay with the Phoenix Mercury and was asked about what it means to have Brittney Griner back with the team. “It is so amazing. Like it’s night and day, for real,” Cunningham said […]

The 2023 WNBA season starts on May 19, and fans will quickly get to see Brittney Griner in action as she suits up for Phoenix Mercury. Phoenix is set to play in the season opener against the Los Angeles Sparks, with the showdown slated to be aired on ESPN and ABC. Griner is expected to […]

Phoenix Suns’ superstar Kevin Durant is set to make his debut with the team on Wednesday night. Prior to the game, Durant shared a special moment with Phoenix Mercury’s star Brittney Griner, per the Mercury’s Twitter. All love between BG x KD 🧡 It’s a new dawn in the desert. pic.twitter.com/OOeZqavWQV — Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) […]

It’s been a couple months since Brittney Griner’s return to the United States and yet it feels like there is more to celebrate after she spent nearly 10 months in Russian prison. Mercury President Vince Kozar spoke with Business Insider to discuss the emotions the organization has felt throughout the entire process and its plans […]

Tennis icon Serena Williams and Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner were honored by the NAACP Image Awards yesterday. Williams, who retired last year after dominating women’s tennis for over two decades, received the Jackie Robinson Sports Award that goes to a person whose “high achievement in athletics along with their pursuit of social justice, civil […]

Brittney Griner’s return to the United States was one of the biggest stories in the WNBA, and for good reason. The Phoenix Mercury star was detained in Russia for over half a year. After months of diplomatic negotiations, Griner was eventually sent back to the US in a prisoner swap with Viktor Bout. A few […]

Brittney Griner is just ecstatic to be back in the WNBA and with the Phoenix Mercury. If that wasn’t clear with her latest workout photos with the team, then her locker room message to her teammates should erase all doubts. After it was announced Tuesday that Griner is signing a one-year deal with the Mercury, […]

Brittney Griner is back in the WNBA with the Phoenix Mercury, and the team gave everyone their first look at the center as she returns to playing top-flight basketball in the US. On Tuesday, the Mercury uploaded photos of Griner in Mercury gear as she worked out with the team. The 32-year-old was full of […]

Brittney Griner is officially coming back to the WNBA. The Phoenix Mercury announced today it re-signed the two-time defensive player of the year. According to Richard Cohen of Her Hoops Stats, the deal is for one-year at $165,000. After Griner was wrongfully detained in Russian prison for 10 months, the organization expressed its elation to […]

After an intense diplomatic battle, Brittney Griner was finally able to return to the United States a couple of months ago. The Phoenix Mercury star forward was detained in Russia for almost a year after being caught with a vape pen with marijuana canisters at the airport. While it’s great news that Griner was able […]

After spending her entire 18-year WNBA career with the Phoenix Mercury, Diana Taurasi hasn’t made any decisions about her future with the team; she has been in constant communication with teammate Brittney Griner, who also has spent her entire WNBA career in Arizona. Taurasi told ESPN on Tuesday that Griner had texted her on Tuesday […]

When the Golden State Warriors made their White House visit as 2021-22 NBA champions, Stephen Curry also took the opportunity to thank US President Joe Biden for his role in bringing Brittney Griner home. Taking the podium as he addressed the media and everyone in attendance for the annual champs visit, Curry gave credit to […]

Cherelle Griner is more than ecstatic to have her partner Brittney Griner back, but she admitted that the situation has its own challenges. Speaking on PEOPLE weeks after the WNBA star was released from Russian prison in a prisoner swap, Cherelle shared that she and Brittney are still figuring out their new reality. She admitted […]

The WNBA might not be back in action until May but it is never too early to get excited about its next season. There are going to be plenty of firsts for the league in 2023. It will be without icons Sylvia Fowles and Sue Bird following their retirement but it will also embark on […]

Thanks to the efforts of the United States government, WNBA star Brittney Griner will get to spend her Christmas with her family back in the U.S. The 32-year-old is also well aware of the fact that a lot of Americans supported her during her incarceration and she is more than thankful for the same. Griner […]

Brittney Griner broke her silence on returning from Russia and playing for the Phoenix Mercury this season, per her Instagram. “It feels so good to be home! The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you […]

Count former United States President Donald Trump out from those who are celebrating the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner from her Russian nightmare. Trump recently came out with a scathing rant on how he really feels about the government negotiating Griner’s release in exchange for a convicted Russian arms dealer. According to the ex-commander-in-chief, […]

The Phoenix Mercury are understandably going to exercise patience with Brittney Griner. They are simply happy to have her back in the US. Mercury head coach Vanessa Nygaard commented on Griner’s potential return to basketball, per The Wall Street Journal. “With her return, there is a collective feeling of relief, but most importantly, joy and […]

Personalities from in and around the NBA have already spoken out about Brittney Griner’s recent release from prison. The WNBA star spent nearly 10 months detained in Russia before the United States government was finally able to negotiate her release with the Kremlin. This time around, it’s Brooklyn Nets All-Star Kyrie Irving who’s taken the […]

As Brittney Griner re-acclimates herself to life in the United States after being in Russian prison for 294 days, she is getting the quality time with her family she was robbed of since last February. In her first workout since she was detained, Griner threw down a dunk, signaling she has the spark that has […]

Brittney Griner hadn’t touched a basketball in 10 months before she made her way back to the hardwood yesterday. She laced up her black Chuck Taylors and did what every WNBA fan looks forward to when they go to a Phoenix Mercury game: dunk. Griner’s status for the 2023 WNBA season and beyond is unknown. […]

After the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night, LeBron James and Anthony Davis had a forum to discuss WNBA star Brittney Griner’s return home after 10 months imprisoned in Russia. “It’s amazing,” LeBron said, via ESPN. “Especially around the holidays, she can be with her family and get back. For us, […]

When Brittney Griner was exchanged for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in a prisoner swap on Thursday, the so-called “Merchant of Death” appeared to say something to the WNBA star. Now in an interview with Russian media, Bout revealed that he only wished Griner good luck. However, he also noted how the Phoenix Mercury player […]

After 10 months in Russian prison, Brittney Griner has safely made it home to the United States. However, Roger Carstens, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, shared a heart warming story about Griner, who is known for being friendly and outgoing. Carstens was on CNN when he described the moment he and Griner got […]

The entire basketball world was absolutely delighted to learn about Brittney Griner’s release from imprisonment. After nearly 300 days in a Russian prison, the WNBA star has finally come home to the United States after the government was able to successfully negotiate a prisoner swap with the Kremlin. NBA Hall of Famer turned analyst/broadcaster Charles […]

When she finally returned home following a hellish prison stint in Russia, Brittney Griner’s trademark dreadlocks were gone. She looked like a different person without it, and more than a few folks were curious about the timing of her decision to cut it. As it turns out, it had a lot to do with Griner’s […]

It’s official. Brittney Griner is back in the United States after a successful negotiation and exchange with the Russian government for arms dealer Viktor Bout. According to CBS News, Griner arrived at Kelly Field located in San Antonio, Texas early Friday morning. Even with the news of her release being imminent, actually getting her home […]

Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry was among the hundreds of pro athletes who used their voices to try and help bring Brittney Griner home. With the news that the U.S. government was able to negotiate her return, Curry was clearly relieved to see it happen when asked about the matter at the Sports […]