Brittney Griner is returning back to the WNBA and rejoins her former team, the Phoenix Mercury.
According to Her Hoop Stats, the WNBA star has reportedly signed a one-year deal with Phoenix Mercury worth $165,100.
The news isn’t too much of a surprise seeing as though Griner vowed to play for Mercury after she was released from a Russian prison.
“I also want to make one thing very clear: I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season,” Griner said. “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 was released in December 2022 after spending 300 days inside of a Russian prison on drug smuggling charges. Griner claimed she accidentally packed two cartridges of cannabis oil into her luggage and was ultimately detained by customs.
In August, Griner was sentenced to nine-years behind bars and was transferred to a Russian penal colony in Mordovia.
A few months later, the United States authorities announced they had struck a deal with Russia. The agreement consisted of exchanging Griner for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
“It feels so good to be home! The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn,” Griner wrote on Instagram back in December. “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 previously played for Mercury back in 2021. During that time, she assisted in leading the team to the WNBA finals where they lost to the Chicago Sky.
Send her back to Russia! Pathetic excuse for a human being. One who talks down on the US and then is rescued over a Marine.