Brittney Griner plays in first WNBA preseason game since her arrest in Russia

Brittney Griner walked the sideline about an hour and a half before the Phoenix Mercury game on Friday night, giving hugs and high-fives to her teammates, coaches and opposing players.

Then it was some stretching, some shooting, and some agility work to get me ready for a game of basketball.

Like old times.

“I’m grateful to be here, that’s for sure,” Griner said. “I’m not going to take a day for granted.”

Griner returned to gaming action for the first time since a nearly 10-month detention in Russia on drug-related charges ended with a prisoner exchange in December. The seven-time All-Star, who missed the entire 2022 season due to her detention, finished with 10 points and three rebounds in a WNBA preseason game against the Los Angeles Sparks.

The 6-foot-9 Griner looked good, especially considering the long rest, casually throwing a one-handed dunk during warmups. He stood with his teammates as the national anthem was played and received a standing ovation from the home crowd when he was introduced before kick-off.

“Hearing the national anthem, it was definitely different,” Griner said. “It’s like when you go to the Olympics, you’re sitting there, about to have gold put around your neck, the flags go up and the anthem plays, it just sounds different.

Mercury coach Vanessa Nygaard said the anthem and performances were emotional for the entire team.

“We looked at each other and just got goosebumps,” Nygaard said. “We were here last year for all of that. I’m getting excited now. Just seeing her out there again, it’s an absolute miracle. It was amazing. She’s giving me the creeps again.”

Once play began, the 32-year-old Griner immediately went to work, scoring on a jumper early in the first quarter. A few minutes later, he was fouled on another round and hit both free throws.

He even had a cameo with the medical staff in the third quarter. Her teammate Sophie Cunningham suffered a knee injury and Griner helped her carry her off the court so she wouldn’t have to put weight on her leg.

“When one of us goes down, we’re always there,” Griner said. “That’s one thing about this team: We’re always there for each other. We have each other’s backs, big time.”

Griner’s return to the Mercury reignites hope that the franchise can make another run to the WNBA Finals. The former Baylor star helped the franchise win its third title in 2014 and has averaged 17.7 points and 7.6 rebounds during his nine-year career. She was the MVP runner-up in 2021, when the Mercury also played in the Finals, but lost to the Chicago Sky.

‘In the correct way’

Griner said she was rustier on the court than expected. But given the trials and emotions of the last 18 months, it was a pretty good night.

“Not where I want it to be, but on the right track,” Griner said. “We are making the right moves.”

The added exposure of being detained in Russia for having vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage has given Griner a platform to defend other Americans detained abroad. She was already an LGBTQ+ activist since she came out publicly in 2013 and became the first openly gay athlete sponsored by Nike.

Griner announced in April that he is working with Bring Our Families Home, a campaign formed last year by relatives of American hostages and wrongfully detained abroad. She said her team has been in contact with the family of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is being held in Russia on espionage charges.