Brittney Griner vows to play this season after prisoner swap

Brittney Griner has said she volition soon instrumentality to playing hoops aft the American prima was freed from a Russian jail.

The WNBA subordinate was released past week successful a captive swap for the notorious Russian arms trader Viktor Bout.

She spoke for the archetypal clip since the speech connected Friday, thanking President Joe Biden and vowing to instrumentality for Phoenix Mercury this season.

"The past 10 months person been a conflict 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."

"I besides privation to marque 1 happening precise clear: I mean to play hoops for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury this season," Griner said.

The two-time Olympic golden medallist said she had departed Brooke Army Medical Center successful San Antonio, Texas, wherever she spent a week recovering aft landing successful the US.

Griner besides pledged to usage her level to assistance Mr Biden unafraid the merchandise of Paul Whelan, an ex-marine who has been successful Russian custody for astir 4 years connected charges of spying.

The Biden medication faced disapproval for failing to see Whelan successful the Griner-Bout captive swap. The US said it had the prime of bringing location Griner oregon nary one.

Mr Biden is "committed to bringing Paul Whelan and each Americans home", Griner said, urging "everyone that played a portion successful bringing maine location to proceed their efforts" to unafraid his release.

"Every household deserves to beryllium whole," she said.

Griner was arrested astatine a Moscow airdrome successful February for possessing cannabis lipid and aboriginal sent to a penal colony.

She spent 10 months successful Russian custody earlier the US authorities - nether unit from activists, politicians and those adjacent to Griner - struck a woody with Russia to merchandise her for Bout, who was flown backmost aft 12 years successful US custody.

The elaborate swap progressive 2 backstage planes bringing the brace to Abu Dhabi airdrome from Moscow and Washington, and past flying them home.

Griner, 32, is 1 of the best-known sportswomen successful America. During the US hoops play the treble Olympic champion is simply a prima centre for Phoenix Mercury successful the WNBA.

Her cause precocious said the prima had played hoops for the archetypal clip since her apprehension during her enactment astatine the US service station successful Texas.