Brittney Griner returns to Phoenix Mercury court for first time since being released

Brittney Griner has returned to WNBA action for the first time since her release from her detainment in a Russian penal colony, as the Phoenix Mercury prepare for next week’s season opener against the Los Angeles Sparks. 

The 32-year-old made her way into the paint with her back to the basket and pulled up a jumper right before being double-teamed by two Sparks players to mark her basketball comeback, three months after landing in U.S. soil following her arrest in Moscow for drug smuggling charges in February of last year. 

‘No. 42 back on her home court!,’ shared the Mercury’s official account on Twitter. 

Last month, in April, Griner caught a flight to Washington, D.C., to attend the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner before landing back in Phoenix around 4 a.m. and was up five hours later for the start of training camp.

After going through her first workout with the Phoenix Mercury, she hopped on a plane to New York to attend the Met Gala, schmoozing with Usher, Patrick Mahomes and Dwyane Wade before returning to the desert. Griner didn’t get back until after 1 a.m. and was back on the court with the Mercury later that morning.

Phoenix’s Brittney Griner had 8 points on 1-4 shooting in the first half against the L.A. Sparks

The Mercury center marked her WNBA comeback after attending the MET Gala earlier in May

‘It’s been a whirlwind,’ Griner said on May 3 at the Mercury’s media day. ‘I have a lot of respect for the stars that do that. It’s not me. I don’t how they do it. 

‘It was amazing, two big honors to be able to go and be there, but I’m taking a big nap today.’ 

Now that the WNBA season is just around the corner, with the Mercury’s opening game against the Sparks to be broadcasted on ESPN on May 19, Phoenix will hope Griner’s return will rekindle hope that the franchise can make another run to the Finals. 

Griner drives at Sparks forward Chiney Ogwumike in the first half of a preseason WNBA game between the Spark and Mercury

Griner, center, celebrates from the bench as she watches on her teammates vs. the Sparks

Additionally, the extra exposure from being detained in Russia for having vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage has given Griner a platform to advocate for other Americans being detained abroad.

‘It’s cool because now I’m able to reach even more people and bring them into the WNBA, but then also keep them aware of other people that are still left behind right now and trying to get home,’ Griner said. 

‘Just using that bigger outlet to continue to support others that don’t have the spotlight or the media coverage that they should be able to get.’

Griner has been an LGBTQ+ activist since publicly coming out in 2013 and became the first openly gay athlete to be sponsored by Nike. 

She made an appearance last month at a women’s empowerment luncheon held during the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network event and earlier in May said she will use her elevated platform to continue fighting for LGBTQ+ rights during her first news conference since being released.