?If She Wants to Play??: Brittney Griner?s First Dunk After Release Opens Up Future Avenues for the WNBA Star

Brittney Griner missed a whole WNBA season during her time in a Russian prison. So after she finally returned home, there are now questions among fans about her future in the league. After more than ten months in exile, Griner recently touched a basketball for the first time at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.

Griner was allowed one hour of free time outside her cell before she was transferred to the IK-2 penal colony in Mordovia. The prison had a basketball hoop, and even though there were no basketballs available, the WNBA star’s attorney had offered her a basketball. But Griner declined the offer saying she is not ready to think about basketball during such a dark time.

The 2014 WNBA champion was taken to the U.S. Army?s Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio upon arrival. She and her wife have been staying in a hotel on the base ever since her return, with family members visiting.

Brittney Griner returns to the hardwood with a dunk

Brittney Griner touched a basketball after a long time at Fort Sam Houston recently. As per reports, her first move with the basketball was a dunk. The eight-time All-Star’s agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas recently talked about Griner playing basketball after ten months.

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“If she wants to play, it will be for her to share. She has the holidays to rest and decide what’s next without any pressure,” Colas said. “She’s doing really, really well. She seems to have endured this in pretty incredible ways.”

Griner playing basketball immediately after her return could indicate her future path. The well-being of the 32-year-old star and her picking up a basketball again has her fans excited. Many fans are hopeful that the towering center would return to the league pretty soon.

Griner wants to help Paul Whelan

As per reports, Griner’s family members have visited her on the base and discussed what to do with her freedom. Her agent stated that she might use her huge platform to help other wrongfully detained Americans around the world, particularly Paul Whelan.

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The U.S. government reportedly tried to bring back both Griner and Whelan. But Russia allegedly wanted a one-for-one prisoner swap. This meant Whelan could not be brought back home. The former marine was detained on December 2018 and was sentenced to 16 years in prison.