WNBA star Brittney Griner disclosed considering suicide multiple times while detained in a Russian prison after her 2022 arrest on drug charges. Griner's detention included writing a letter of apology to Russian President Putin and enduring harsh conditions in the prison. She was eventually freed in a prisoner exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Griner, who re-signed with the Phoenix Mercury, is expecting a child with her partner Cherelle. She had previously announced her engagement to Cherelle in 2018.
WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was released from a Russian penal colony in 2022 after being detained on drug charges, is expecting her first child with her wife Cherelle in July 2024. The couple announced the news on Instagram, expressing their excitement for their upcoming arrival. Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, had been imprisoned in Russia for nine months before being freed in a prisoner exchange. The basketball player will also release a memoir titled 'Coming Home' in May 2023 detailing her experiences in Russia and her journey to freedom.
WNBA star Brittney Griner and her wife Cherelle are expecting their first child together, with the baby due in July 2024. The couple shared the news on Instagram, receiving congratulatory messages from fans, friends, and the basketball community. This happy announcement follows a tumultuous year for Griner, including her release from a Russian prison after being detained for possession of cannabis oil. Griner returned to the basketball court in May 2023 and is set to release a memoir about her experience in Russia titled 'Coming Home' in May 2024.
WNBA star Brittney Griner, released from Russian detention in a prisoner swap in December 2022, shared her harrowing experience of nearly 300 days in a Russian penal colony where she felt dehumanized, lacking basic necessities like soap and toilet paper. Griner, accused of drug smuggling after cannabis oil was found in her luggage, expressed fear and hopelessness during her confinement. Despite the ordeal, she is back playing in the WNBA, expecting a child with her wife, and advocating for Americans wrongfully detained abroad. Griner's upcoming memoir, "Coming Home," narrates her ordeal and eventual release.
WNBA star Brittney Griner was arrested in a Russian airport for carrying cartridges with cannabis oil, leading to a months-long detention. She attributed it to a 'mental lapse' and was eventually part of a prisoner swap for arms dealer Viktor Bout. Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges, emphasizing it was unintentional. Her family advocated for her release, and top athletes supported her case. Griner is set to release a memoir titled 'Coming Home' detailing her imprisonment and rescue.
WNBA star Brittney Griner was arrested in Russia in February 2022 for cannabis oil possession, leading to a 10-month detainment in a Russian prison where she faced inhumane living conditions. She was released in a prisoner exchange in December 2022. Griner's upcoming memoir, "Coming Home," will detail her ordeal. The controversial prisoner swap traded Griner for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Griner expressed her fear and feelings of being less than human during her time in prison. She aims to raise awareness for other detained Americans through her experiences.
Brittney Griner has signed a one-year protected deal worth $150,000 to stay with the Phoenix Mercury for the 2024 WNBA season, marking her 11th season with the team since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2013. Griner, who returned from a wrongful detention in Russia, had a successful 2023 season and is a key player for the Mercury. The team aims to bolster its roster around Griner, including potential draft picks such as Caitlin Clark and Cameron Brink. Griner is a prominent figure in the WNBA, with multiple accolades and a strong connection to the Mercury franchise.
Brittney Yevette Griner (; born October 18, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist with the U.S. women's national basketball team and a six-time WNBA All-Star. She was additionally named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2023.In 2009, Griner was named the nation's No. 1 high school women's basketball player by Rivals.com. She was selected to the 2009 All-American basketball team. She played college basketball for the Baylor Lady Bears in Waco, Texas. She had a breakout senior year in 2012, as the three-time All-American was named the AP Player of the Year, the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, led Baylor in winning the National Championship, and won the Best Female Athlete ESPY Award. Griner is also the only NCAA basketball player to both score 2,000 points and block 500 shots.Professionally, Griner was selected as the first overall pick in 2013 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury, with whom she won the 2014 WNBA championship. Standing 6 ft 9 in (206 cm) tall, Griner wears a men's U.S. size 17 shoe and has an arm span of 87.5 in (222 cm).Griner led the U.S. national women's basketball team to victory at the Rio Olympics in 2016. In 2020, Griner protested "The Star-Spangled Banner" and stated she would not be on the court while the national anthem was played during game openers. Griner was named to the national team for the 2020 Olympics (held in 2021 in Tokyo, Japan), where she won her second gold medal. She is also a two-time FIBA Women's World Cup winner with Team USA (2014 and 2018).On February 17, 2022, Griner was detained and arrested on smuggling charges by Russian customs officials after cartridges containing less than a gram of medically prescribed hash oil, illegal in Russia, were found in her luggage. She had been playing basketball with the Russian Premier League during the WNBA off-season. Her trial began on July 1, and she pleaded guilty to the charges. On August 4, she was sentenced to nine years in prison. In November 2022, Griner was transferred to the Russian penal colony IK-2. US officials stated that she was "wrongfully detained". On December 8, Griner was released in a prisoner exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. On May 19, 2023, she made her reappearance in the WNBA, and she received a standing ovation from the audience. A number of sport celebrities and politicians also attended the game to support her and celebrate her release.
Brittney Griner, a star player for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA, will have her jersey retired by Baylor University in Texas. Griner, who played for Baylor from 2009 to 2013, led the team to the Final Four twice and had a perfect 40-0 national championship season. She is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist and won the 2014 WNBA title. Griner's jersey retirement ceremony will take place on February 18, 2023, at Baylor's Foster Pavilion. Griner is considered one of Baylor's all-time great athletes and holds the NCAA career record for blocked shots.
The 2023 Phoenix Mercury season was the 26th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the second season under head coach Vanessa Nygaard.In October 2022, Skylar Diggins-Smith announced on Instagram that she was pregnant with her second child.On December 8, 2022, Brittney Griner was successfully returned to the United States of America after the Brittney Griner–Viktor Bout prisoner exchange went through without issues. By extension, Griner returned to action with the Mercury and the WNBA after missing the entire 2022 WNBA season due to her being arrested and imprisoned in Russia (a place she had previously played in for years during the WNBA's offseasons by playing with the UMMC Ekaterinburg without prior issue) for medical cannabis, which is considered an illegal substance there. The Mercury later re-signed Griner to a new deal on February 17, 2023.On December 20, 2022, Mercury team owner Robert Sarver agreed to a deal made by a new ownership group led by United Wholesale Mortgage's CEO Mat Ishbia and his older brother Justin Ishbia where Sarver would sell his majority shares of both the Mercury and Phoenix Suns to them under a joint deal worth a record-high $4 billion. This transition into new ownership was made during the month of September 2022 after an independent investigation led by the National Basketball Association revealed some ugly, disgusting behaviors he had throughout his ownership periods with both the Suns and Mercury, though primarily with the Suns. The NBA approved of the sale to the Ishbia brothers on February 6, 2023, with Sarver's transition out of ownership of both franchises being made official on February 7, 2023. Despite his removal from ownership, Sarver still had to serve his suspension for the 2023 WNBA season until September 13, 2023; he had since disputed that suspension claim during that season because of his lack of team ownership.The Mercury began the season with two losses, but won their third game to finish 1–2 in May. The team continued with its sluggish start losing their first three games in June. After a single win, the team went on a six game losing streak and finishing the month with a 2–9 record Their only two wins in the month came against Indiana. In July the team fared slightly better, losing three straight games before winning three of four. However, the team lost its final three games of the month to finish 3–7. The Mercury showed improvement in August winning three of their first five games. However, that improvement didn't last, as they lost seven straight games to end the month. During their seven game losing streak, a 77–74 loss to the Dallas Wings eliminated the Mercury from playoff contention for the first time since 2012, and ended the longest active playoff streak in the WNBA at 10 straight years. Their losing streak continued as the Mercury lost all four games in September to finish 9–31 and ended the season on an eleven game losing streak. This was only the third season in Mercury history where they finished with single-digit wins, and their .225 winning percentage was the second lowest in franchise history. Their 31 losses were the most in a season in franchise history, though it was the first season the WNBA used a forty game schedule. During this season, it was announced that long-time general manager Jim Pitman (who held his position with the Mercury since October 2013 following Jason Rowley's brief stint there) would resign from his position following the end of this season, being replaced by former Golden State Warriors special assistant and executive Nick U'Ren entering the next season.
On December 8, 2022, Russia and the United States conducted a prisoner exchange, trading Brittney Griner, an American basketball player, for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer. Griner, a WNBA champion star and Team USA Olympic athlete, had been convicted of smuggling and possession of cannabis in Russia earlier in 2022 and sentenced to nine years in prison. Bout had been arrested in Thailand in 2008 and transferred to the custody of the United States, where he was convicted of terrorism-related charges and sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2012. The exchange took place at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, following months of negotiations.The possible release of former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, imprisoned in Russia on espionage charges in 2018, was also part of negotiations. Russia refused to release Whelan along with Griner as part of the prison exchange; U.S. President Joe Biden said that Russia was treating Whelan's case differently "for totally illegitimate reasons". The Russian position was that Whelan was an agent and so required an exchange of comparable value such as assassin Vadim Krasikov. Griner and Bout were just considered criminals and so were of lesser value in their view.Marc Fogel, another American detained in Russia for possessing a small amount of marijuana, was also not included in the prisoner swap. However, Sarah Krivanek, an American detained for a domestic violence dispute, was deported from Russia on the same day as Griner's release.
Griner is a surname that may refer to the following people:Brittney Griner (born 1990), American basketball playerCarolyn S. Griner, former Acting Director of the NASA Marshall Space Flight CenterDan Griner (1888–1950), Major League Baseball pitcherGeorge Wesley Griner, Jr. (1898–1975), American soldierVera Griner (1890–1992), Russian rhythmiticianWendy Griner (born 1944), retired Canadian figure skater
Caitlin Clark marked her one-year milestone with boyfriend Connor McCaffrey, posting affectionate messages on Instagram. She was chosen as the top pick in the WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever, signing a $28 million, eight-year deal with Nike. Despite receiving lower pay compared to male athletes, her contract is the largest sponsorship deal for a female basketball player. Clark's presence has notably increased viewership for the WNBA draft, with expectations high for her impact in the league alongside fellow top pick Aliyah Boston for the Indiana Fever.
Diana Taurasi, a WNBA star, raised doubts about the transition of rookie Caitlin Clark to the professional level, emphasizing the learning curve rookies often face. Taurasi faced criticism for her comments on the star-studded rookie class, including Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink. Clark's impact on college basketball has been significant, breaking attendance records and increasing TV ratings. The hype surrounding a matchup between Taurasi and Clark continues to grow as the WNBA season approaches. Taurasi, a veteran player, defended her statements, asserting that greatness will translate to the WNBA for athletes like Clark.
Caitlin Clark, the first pick of this year's WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever, attended the Pacers' NBA playoff game against the Milwaukee Bucks, where she participated in the pregame tradition of revving up a custom-built IndyCar and received a standing ovation from the crowd. Clark will begin training camp with the Fever and make her official WNBA debut on May 14 against the Connecticut Sun.
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