Brittney Griner announces plans to return to the WNBA for 2023 season

In her first Instagram post since returning home, Brittney Griner thanked those that advocated for her and announced her return to the WNBA next season.

Brittney Griner announced her return to basketball today. “I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season,” Griner wrote on Instagram, adding “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 recently returned to the United States after being wrongfully detained in Russia for 10 months. She was arrested after Russian officials found vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage in February. Griner was attempting to leave the country amid rising political tensions between Russia and Ukraine. She had been playing for the Russian basketball team UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA offseason, as she had done every year since 2014. Griner was freed in December in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

“It feels so good to be home,” Griner wrote. “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 that helped keep me going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for your help.”

Brittney Griner expressed gratitude for those who had advocated on her behalf

The former WNBA champion thanked many of those that had been fighting on her behalf during her ordeal. Griner also stated she will be using her platform to bring awareness and action to other detainees across the world, writing:

"President Biden, you brought me home and I know you are committed to bringing Paul Whelan and all Americans home too. I will use my platform to do whatever I can to help you. I also encourage everyone that played a part in bringing me home to continue their efforts to bring all Americans home. Every family deserves to be whole."

Griner intends to return to the Mercury, the team she has played her entire WNBA career with.