Brittney Griner reportedly signed to return to WBNA Phoenix Mercury after release from Russian prison | Basketball News

After being released from a Russian prison, Brittney Griner was aiming for a return to the WNBA this year; According to reports, Griner has now joined his Phoenix Mercury team; Griner has played for Mercury since they selected her with the first draft pick a decade ago.

Brittney Griner has signed a one-year contract to play for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, we have learned.

The American was released from a Russian penal colony last December as part of a prisoner exchange.

According to ESPN, which cited a source, the 32-year-old free agent signed the deal on Saturday to return to the only WNBA team she’s played for since they selected her with the first draft pick. of 2013.

A photo provided by the US military shows WNBA star Brittney Griner arriving at Kelly Field in San Antonio after being released in a prisoner exchange with Russia

The Mercurys, who open their 2023 WNBA season on May 19 at the Los Angeles Sparks, did not immediately respond when asked by Reuters to confirm the report.

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and eight-time Women’s National Basketball Association All-Star, was arrested in February 2022 at an airport outside Moscow for carrying vape cartridges containing hash oil. in his luggage.

She was later convicted of drug trafficking and later transferred to one of Russia’s most notorious penal colonies, where former inmates described torture, beatings and slave labor conditions.

Brittney Griner was transferred to one of Russia’s most notorious penal colonies

Griner was released last December in a prisoner swap with Russia for arms dealer Viktor Bout, a deal reached after months of talks during a period of high tension between the two countries following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February.

In her first public statement since her release, Griner said last December that she would stand up for Americans detained overseas and planned to return to her WNBA team.

“I plan 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 have advocated, written and posted for me in no one soon,” Griner writes.

Griner last played for the Mercury in the 2021 WNBA season when she had one of the best years of her career and averaged 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists. in 30 games.