Brittney Griner live updates: WNBA star swapped for Russian Viktor Bout in prisoner exchange - ABC News

President Joe Biden confirmed that WNBA prima Brittney Griner is connected her mode backmost to the U.S. and volition beryllium backmost wrong 24 hours.

The president said she's successful "good spirits."

"She's safe. She's connected a plane. She's connected her mode home,” Biden said.

“After months of being unjustly detained successful Russia held nether intolerable circumstances, Brittany volition soon beryllium backmost successful the arms of her loved ones and -- and she should person been determination each along," helium said.

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

The member of Paul Whelan, an ex-U.S. Marine presently being held successful Russian prison, said they were told beforehand helium would not beryllium included successful the swap and were "able to mentally hole for what is present a nationalist disappointment for us."

"At immoderate level, our household has steeled ourselves for this likelihood," Whelan's brother, David, wrote successful a statement. "And I think, arsenic the usage of wrongful detentions and hostage diplomacy continues astir the globe, it's wide the US authorities needs to beryllium much assertive. If atrocious actors similar Russia are going to drawback guiltless Americans, the US needs a swifter, much nonstop response, and to beryllium prepared successful advance."

"In Russia's case, this whitethorn mean taking much law-breaking, Kremlin-connected Russians into custody," helium added. "It's not similar determination aren't plentifulness astir the world."

David Whelan besides made definite to enactment helium and his household were blessed Griner has been released and said helium knew the cases "were not intertwined."

"There is nary greater occurrence than for a wrongful detainee to beryllium freed and for them to spell home," helium wrote. "The Biden Administration made the close determination to bring Ms. Griner home, and to marque the woody that was possible, alternatively than waiting for 1 that wasn't going to happen."

The Whelan household issued a akin connection successful April erstwhile U.S. national Trevor Reed was freed from Russia successful a captive swap. David Whelan alluded to that successful his connection Thursday, saying, "The sentiments I shared successful April astir Trevor are unchanged: this is the lawsuit we privation for truthful overmuch for our ain family. She volition beryllium reunited with her family. Brittney is free. And Paul is inactive a hostage."

-ABC News' Cindy Smith

Brittney Griner's wife, Cherelle Griner, called the past months “one of the darkest moments of my life,” but flashed a ample grin connected her look knowing “BG” volition beryllium location soon.

“Today I'm conscionable lasting present overwhelmed with emotions, but the astir important emotion that I person close present is conscionable sincere gratitude for President Biden and his full administration," she said arsenic she stood alongside President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

"It’s a blessed time for maine and my family," she said.

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed that Griner was released and the captive speech was carried retired astatine Abu Dhabi Airport.

"For a agelong time, the Russian Federation has been negotiating with the United States connected the merchandise of V.A. Bout," Lavrov said successful a statement. "Washington categorically refused to prosecute successful dialog connected the inclusion of the Russian successful the speech scheme. Nevertheless, the Russian Federation continued to actively enactment to rescue our compatriot."

"As a effect of the efforts made, it was imaginable to hold with the American broadside connected the enactment of the speech of V.A.Bout for B. Griner," helium continued.

The U.S. has said for months it had offered Bout arsenic portion of a captive swap for Griner and Russian detained ex-Marine Paul Whelan.

Ombudsman of the Russian Federation Tatyana Moskalkova said Putin pardoned Griner earlier her merchandise successful the swap and she and Bout "should not service the remainder of their sentences successful their respective countries."

-ABC News' Tanya Stukalova