Brittney Griner’s return to Phoenix Mercury is official

Brittney Griner has completed her return to Phoenix Mercury, just two months on from her release from a Russian prison camp.

It was reported last weekend that the WNBA star was set to re-sign with the franchise and on Tuesday the deal was made official.

‘It’s a great day for all of us to announce that Brittney Griner has officially signed to play for the Mercury in 2023,’ Mercury general manager Jim Pitman said.

‘We missed BG every day that she was gone and, while basketball was not our primary concern, her presence on the floor, in our locker room, around our organization, and within our community was greatly missed. 

‘We will continue to use the resources of our organization to support her, on and off the floor, and we are thrilled for her that she gets to return to basketball, which she loves so dearly. This is a special signing and today is a special day for all of us.’ 

Brittney Griner has completed her return to Phoenix Mercury, WNBA team confirmed Tuesday

Griner has not played for the Mercury since 2021, when she led Phoenix to the WNBA Finals

Griner has not played for the Mercury since 2021, when she led Phoenix to the WNBA Finals

Griner arrived at Kelly Field in San Antonio following her release in prisoner swap in December

Griner arrived at Kelly Field in San Antonio following her release in prisoner swap in December

Griner has not played for the Mercury since 2021, when she led Phoenix to the WNBA Finals before losing to the Chicago Sky. 

Regardless, Griner was nearly unstoppable that season, averaging 20.5 points, 1.9 blocks, 2.7 assists, and career-highs with 9.5 rebounds per game. 

The former Baylor star was released from a Russian penal colony in December after being acquired in a US-Russian prisoner swap form convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Griner, who had played professionally in Russia since 2014, was returning to the country in February when she was stopped at the Moscow airport with what authorities claimed to be vape cartridges containing cannabis oil. 

Ultimately Griner was convicted in August and sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony. A subsequent appeal was denied in October.

She had been assigned to a penal colony in Mordovia, a region known for its brutal prison system, until the Biden administration was able to secure her release earlier his month.

‘President Biden, you brought me home and I know you are committed to bringing Paul Whelan and all Americans home too,’ she said in December. 

‘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.’

Since her return from a Russian penal colony, where she was imprisoned on drug charges, Griner was seen with her wife Cherelle at Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona

Since her return from a Russian penal colony, where she was imprisoned on drug charges, Griner was seen with her wife Cherelle at Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona

Griner hugs her wife after returning to US from Russia by way of the United Arab Emirates

Griner hugs her wife after returning to US from Russia by way of the United Arab Emirates

The Biden administration negotiated with the Kremlin for months to get Griner and Whelan back from Russia, but only managed to get the WNBA star in exchange for Bout.

‘I do not think any of us will forget where we were on December 8 when we heard BG was coming home or on December 15 when she announced she intended not only to play basketball in 2023 but that it would be for the Mercury,’ Mercury president of business operations Vince Kozar added on Tuesday.

‘And I know none of us will ever forget what it will feel like to welcome her back onto her home floor on May 21. 

‘To know BG is to love and appreciate BG, and we can’t wait to show her that in person with thousands and thousands of her biggest supporters exactly three months from today at our Welcome Home Opener.’ 

Griner and Bout crossed paths on a tarmac in the United Arab Emirates to complete the trade. Bout, referred to by some as the ‘Merchant of Death,’ was arrested on terrorism charges in 2008 and later convicted in the US.

The deal has drawn criticism from Republicans, who were upset that the White House failed to get Whelan as well. In response to attacks from the right, White House officials acknowledged prisoner swaps are costly, adding that they felt compelled to bring Griner home while they had the chance.

The 6-foot-9 Griner is an eight-time All-Star in the US and one of only 11 players to win an Olympic gold medal, FIBA World Cup gold medal, WNBA title, and an NCAA title, which she captured at Baylor in 2012.

‘I also want to make one thing very clear: I intend 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 advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon,’ Griner said in her December statement.

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