Phoenix Mercury all-pro C Brittney Griner has been through more than most within the past several months. One can only imagine the trauma that’s been set in place due to her encounter with Russian prisons and officials. According to Yahoo Sports, upon Griner’s arrival, she picked up a basketball immediately and proceed to dunk it in Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.
It’s been nearly a year since she’s suited and played basketball. To be exact, it has been 10 months since she’s suited up. However, it appears Griner has no intentions of leaving Fort Sam Houston anytime soon told by her agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas to ESPN. Griner landed on Friday morning and shortly was released from the Russian prison.
Once she departs from Fort Sam Houston, it’s reported that she and her wife will go to a private location. Instead of returning to their Phoenix home. At the moment, there’s no timetable for when Griner will speak, however, her agent expresses many can expect a statement within the upcoming days.
“There’s no timeline on her return at this point. She’s reintegrating into a world that has changed for her now,” Colas said, via ESPN. “From a pure security standpoint, she’s not going to be able to move in the world the way she did. It’s not a fate that she asked for, but I think she’s going to try to utilize her fame for good.”
Brittney Griner’s Journey
Griner has been released from a Russian penal colony last week after President Biden struck a deal to return home the “Merchant of Death.” The deal was finalized on Thursday and Griner reportedly spoke with American officials and flight crew for 12 hours. Naturally, she was forced to cut her hair in prison, and promptly returning to Texas she received a haircut in the meantime.
While in Texas, she’s been reuniting with family at the arm base in “private quarters”. Griner’s also been showered in amazing food and gifts from Nike and teammates. Until a statement is released, many are curious as to what’s next for Griner as far as her playing career.
“If she wants to play, it will be for her to share. She has the holidays to rest and decide what’s next without any pressure,” Colas said, via ESPN. “She’s doing really, really well. She seems to have endured this in pretty incredible ways.”
