Brittney Griner Makes Return to Basketball Court After Detainment in Russia

Brittney Griner made her long-awaited return to the basketball court docket Friday evening after her 10-month detainment in Russia final yr, but it surely did not have the ending her followers have been hoping for.

The Phoenix Mercury middle nonetheless scored 10 factors and pulled down 3 rebounds because the Mercury fell to the LA Sparks by a rating of 90 to 71 within the WNBA preseason recreation.

Griner solely performed for 17 minutes, however she made essentially the most of it, and her teammates have been psyched to see her again on the court docket, hugging and high-fiving whereas additionally giving one another chest bumps.

The crowd was ecstatic to see Brittney … they erupted in applause when her identify was first introduced contained in the Footprint Center in Phoenix.

After the sport, Griner advised reporters that she was “grateful” to have the chance to play once more and wouldn’t take a single day as a right.

She additionally stated she had a special expertise listening to the nationwide anthem earlier than the sport obtained underway.

“Hearing the nationwide anthem, it positively hit completely different,” she stated, including, “It’s like once you go for the Olympics.”

Griner was essential of her on-court efficiency, explaining, “Not the place I would like it to be, however heading in the right direction. We’re making the suitable strikes.”

But, given what’s Griner’s been via, it should have felt not directly like a victory.