Brittney Griner says 'it feels so good to be home' and vows to play this upcoming WNBA season - NBC News

Recently released hoops prima Brittney Griner connected Friday thanked President Joe Biden for securing her state from Russian captors and vowed to play successful the upcoming WNBA season.

In her archetypal comments since she was freed successful a captive exchange past week, the Phoenix Mercury halfway wrote connected Instagram that being successful Russian custody for 10 months was an affectional "battle astatine each turn."

"I dug heavy to support my religion and it was the emotion from truthful galore of you that helped support maine going," Griner wrote. "From the bottommost of my heart, convey you to everyone for your help."

In summation to praising her wife, Cherelle Griner, family, friends, teammates, the aesculapian unit astatine Fort Hood and her Russian ineligible team, Griner besides cited "President Biden, Vice President Harris, Secretary Blinken and the full Biden-Harris Administration" for a "special convey you."

She besides promised to lend her sanction and efforts toward the origin of Paul Whelan, an American businessman and erstwhile Marine imprisoned successful Russia connected suspicion of spying.

"President Biden, you brought maine location and I cognize you are committed to bringing Paul Whelan and each Americans location too. I volition usage my level to bash immoderate I tin to assistance you," Griner added.

"I besides promote everyone that played a portion successful bringing maine location to proceed their efforts to bring each Americans home. Every household deserves to beryllium whole."

Phoenix tips disconnected its 2023 play connected May 19 and Griner near nary uncertainty she'd beryllium successful uniform.

"I besides privation to marque 1 happening precise clear: I mean to play hoops for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and successful doing so, I look guardant to being capable to accidental ‘thank you’ to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for maine successful idiosyncratic soon," she wrote.

Griner, 32, is 1 of basketball's astir decorated stars, with golden medals from the Rio and Tokyo Olympics and a WNBA ringing from 2014. She's a six-time WNBA All-Star and two-time league Defensive Player of the Year.

Griner and different apical players often walk the winters playing overseas, significantly adding to their humble WNBA earnings.

For years, Griner has been playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg successful Russia and was traveling done Sheremetyevo Airport extracurricular of Moscow connected Feb. 17 erstwhile she was detained for allegedly having vape cartridges that contained lipid derived from cannabis.

A week later, Russia launched its unprovoked penetration of Ukraine, ushering a bid of harsh economical sanctions against Moscow and abruptly making Griner a invaluable bargaining spot for the Kremlin.

She was recovered blameworthy of cause charges and sentenced to much than 9 years successful prison connected Aug. 4.

Then past week, successful 1 of the highest-profile captive swaps betwixt Moscow and Washington since the Cold War, Griner was released successful speech for arms trader Viktor Bout, who had served 11 years of a 25-year condemnation successful the United States.