Las Vegas Aces, WNBA Rejoice In Brittney Griner’s Release From Russian Captivity: ‘Thank God BG Is Free’
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By Cassandra Cousineau, LVSportsBiz.com Aces/WNBA Writer
After 294 days in Russian captivity, WNBA star Brittney Griner is on her way back home to the United States.
The Phoenix Mercury All-Star has been freed after the Biden administration negotiated her release from a Russian penal colony in exchange for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout.
President Joe Biden stood with Griner’s wife, Cherelle, and Vice President Kamala Harris in the White House to officially announce her release Thursday.
“She is safe, she is on a plane, she is on her way home,” Biden said.
“She will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones and she should have been there all along. I’m proud that today we have made one more family whole,” Biden said, adding that he will continue to work to free retired U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.
“We’ll keep negotiating for Paul’s relief,” Biden said. “I guarantee it.”
Locally, Las Vegas Aces reacted via Twitter
A’ja Wilson:
And guard Sydney Colson:
The entire Las Vegas Aces family was relieved and overjoyed to be awakened this morning by the news that after 294 days, our sister is finally coming home. To all those who kept Brittney in your thoughts over these 10 long months, and to the members of the Biden Administration who worked tirelessly to secure her release, thank you. Please continue to keep BG, and her loved ones in your prayers, along with the families of those Americans who remain wrongfully detained. — Las Vegas Aces statement
The Phoenix Mercury issued the following joint statement with the NBA’s Suns “The emotions for our organization, just like for our fans and so many across the world, are those of joyous celebrations, deep gratitude, grief for the time lost, and sincere hope for all families still awaiting the return of a loved one.”
Griner’s return to the United States will culminate nearly a year-long saga that began in February when she was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport after Russian authorities claimed they found vape canisters with cannabis oil in her luggage. She was later jailed on drug charges. The 32-year-old pleaded guilty in July and was sentenced Aug. 7 to nine years in prison.
Like many WNBA players, the two-time Olympic gold medalist spent time on international rosters to supplement her salary. When she was detained, she was traveling to rejoin the Russian team UMMC Ekateringurg, one she had been with since 2014, and was earning a reported $1 million.
Here’s the official WNBA Statement
“There has not been a day over the past ten months where we all haven’t had Brittney Griner on our minds and in our hearts and that has now turned into a collective wave of joy and relief knowing that she will soon be reunited with her family, the WNBA player community, and her friends. BG has shown extraordinary courage and dignity in the face of enormous adversity. The WNBA is grateful beyond measure to the Biden Administration, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and all those who played a role in bringing BG home today. Our hope is that Paul Whelan and every wrongfully detained American will be returned home safely and as soon as possible.”
Whelan, who has been imprisoned in Russia since 2018 on espionage charges, was not part of the prisoner swap. David Whelan, Paul’s brother, said gaining the release of Griner was the “right decision” rather than “waiting for one that wasn’t going to happen.”
“It is so important to me that it is clear that we do not begrudge Ms.Griner her freedom,” Whelan said. “As I have often remarked, Brittney’s and Paul’s cases were never really intertwined. It has always been a strong possibility that one might be freed without the other.”
